Nissan Rogue

Rather than Rogue, Nissan could have named this redesigned SUV "Mr. Congeniality." True, that's not very macho, but the model stands out as an easy-to-drive, family-friendly vehicle. And it now ranks among the better small SUVs.

The Rogue has grown larger and more accommodating; it has a spacious cabin, easy access, and plenty of room in the rear seat. Refinement has improved dramatically, with a relatively quiet and more comfortable ride than is usual in this class. Other enhancements include more responsive handling, improved fuel economy of 24 mpg overall, and a better-calibrated continuously variable transmission that's smoother and quieter than the previous version.

Power comes from a 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers adequate performance but can get somewhat vocal under hard acceleration. Our vehicle's all-wheel drive worked unobtrusively.