2014-Ford-Flex
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Available in 2- and 3-row formats with seating for 5, 6, 7 or 8, the midsize SUV segment offers a wide range of vehicles spanning the gap between the more defined compact and full-size SUV segments. Here we’ve picked an appropriately wide-ranging collection of standouts for 2014.
10) 2014 Ford Flex
Possibly the best kept secret in Ford’s SUV portfolio, the 2014 Flex offers the most car-like driving dynamics of any model on this list. In addition to standout styling that appeals to buyers who aren’t into blending in, the Flex has seating for seven and enough cargo space to carry three surfboards…in the cabin.
9) 2014 Kia Sorento
Kia’s biggest SUV is smaller than most 3-row midsize SUVs, which makes it easier to navigate and more fuel-efficient, if not quite as roomy. Those compact dimensions are paired with big Kia value, thanks to a bevy of features, competitive prices and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
8) 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe
Like its 5-passenger Santa Fe Sport little brother, the 3-row Santa Fe benefits from handsome styling, tons of features and an even more spacious, well-appointed interior. Available in standard 7-passenger configuration or with second-row captain’s chairs in a 6-passenger setup, the latest Santa Fe combines versatility and value.
7) 2014 Dodge Durango
The three-row Dodge Durango mixes the more comfortable ride and handling of a modern crossover with class-leading towing capacity and a more masculine, truck-like persona than many of its competitors. For 2014 the Durango was updated with revised styling, a new 8-speed automatic transmission and enhanced digital offerings inside.
6) 2014 Ford Explorer
The iconic name remains, but today’s Explorer is more comfortable and more efficient than the truck-based models that forged the category last century. The engine lineup has evolved, too. In addition to a 290-horsepower V6 similar to what’s offered in its competitors, the Explorer is also available with a more fuel-efficient turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, or a potent 365-horsepower turbocharged V6.
5) 2014 Chevrolet Traverse
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The biggest vehicle in its class and the roomiest vehicle on this list, the Traverse deftly combines seating for eight with easy and well-mannered driving dynamics. A cleverly folding second row makes it easy to climb into the way back, and the third row folds flat into the floor when not needed.
4) 2014 Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot looks readier for adventure than many of its more sleekly styled competitors, but it’s also more pleasant to drive around town and on the highway. The roomy Pilot is one of the few 8-passenger models in the segment, and offers much of the same level of refinement that has helped elevate names like Accord and Civic to hall-of-fame status.
3) 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The magic of the 2-row Jeep Grand Cherokee is that it’s both the most rugged and the most refined vehicle in its class. Jeep’s resident family hauler had a little work done for 2014, emerging with a refined look, upgraded interior and revised powertrains that include an 8-speed automatic transmission and an available new diesel engine.
2) 2014 Nissan Pathfinder
Similar in several ways to its key competitors, Nissan’s 3-row crossover SUV has two aces up its sleeve: An exclusive Around View Monitor that gives the driver a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of the car in parking situations, plus a second-row seat that allows for easy access to the third row even with a child seat installed. Sometimes it’s the little things.
1) 2014 Toyota Highlander
Toyota’s 3-row SUV is all-new for 2014, with a bolder look, a more refined interior and a roomier cabin that can now seat eight. But the more accommodating new Highlander is still easy around town and even quieter on the highway, making it a well-rounded winner and a must-see for shoppers in search of a family-friendly midsize SUV.
2014 Toyota Highlander
According to Kbb.com
