2015 Toyota Highlander vs. Its Competition

Martin Padgett Editorial Director

Three-row crossovers are intelligent alternatives to traditional large SUVs; some of them, like the Highlander, still lean toward the sport-ute look, while others retain some of the off-road-capable hardware.

The Honda Pilot has the SUV look down pat--but it's all look, and not a terribly appealing one either.

The Pilot's interior appears cheap, especially compared to other Hondas.

The Dodge Durango is perhaps the crossover most like an old-school SUV in this class: though it can carry a boatload of passengers, it's also equipped with a relatively rugged all-wheel-drive system and has a V-8 option for towing.

The Nissan Pathfinder recently chucked its old SUV bona fides and threw in with the crossover crowd; it's based on the Altima sedan, and has a CVT and a six-cylinder, as well as a four-cylinder hybrid version.

The Chevy Traverse sizes up nicely against the biggie Pathfinder, and it's just as carlike, with only a big V-6 and an option for all-wheel drive.

Finally, the Ford Flex is the crossover closest in concept to a real station wagon.

It's missing only the faux-wood paneling to complete its Fairlane-alike styling--make your own and save up for the fantastic turbocharged EcoBoost powertrain.