Automobile Magazine compared eight of the best all-wheel-drive, three-row family crossovers available and put them to the test over 5 days. The list includes the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, 2013 Dodge Durango, 2013 Ford Explorer, 2013 Honda Pilot, 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2013 Mazda CX-9, 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2013 Toyota Highlander. To narrow down the list, editors defined the list of eligible finalist as mid-size vehicles intended for passenger use but also capable of weekend adventure which includes the ability to pack a useful amount of stuff and perform some light-duty towing.
Each vehicle was driven at the same time on the same roads and notes were made, facts were listed and points were argued. Matching vehicles in brackets just like in a tournament, each were compared and losers were knocked out one by one until the winner presented itself.
Many might think that all three-row crossovers are the same. Simply combine a car-like body with truck-like SUV styling, then add all-wheel drive to meet the demands of all-weather driving. Yet, the editors at Automobile Magazine strongly believed that the precise blend of car and truck still varies from vehicle to vehicle and that matters. In summary, this is what they had to say about the list of finalists:
“Some vehicles, like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot, fall toward the truck side of the spectrum, a little less refined than the others. Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander drive exactly like cars, but they give up some utility to do so, notably in the comfortable spaciousness you want, even for the kids in the way-back row.”
“Within the middle, things are evolving quickly, and a vehicle like the Chevrolet Traverse that seemed like an amazing expression of modernity a second ago is now trying to keep up. At the leading edge we find crossovers that match style with refinement, as the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2013 Nissan Pathfinder showed us as we posed them in front of our snappy Euro-style hotel in Holland, Michigan.”
“As a group, we think this is particularly true of the Santa Fe. It has both amenities and the appearance to be a premium vehicle, especially with this model's dramatic saddle-brown seat upholstery and soft-touch trim. The Hyundai also sets itself apart with its exterior styling, since as it maintains the distinctive proportions of a utility vehicle even as it aspires to something more than truckiness.”
The editors at Automobile Magazine strongly believe that the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe points the way forward. It is a vehicle that provides as much utility without sacrificing too much in terms of weight, power and fuel economy in order to do so. Vehicle configurations allow it to adapt whether it be a drive to school, the store, or the tulip farm in Holland, Michigan. Loaded with the technology available to ensure a safe trip for the family, yet at a price that is easy on the pockets. And just as important, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe looks and feels great while doing all that.
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