Honda Pilot

If you absolutely must drive an SUV, the Honda Pilot is worth looking at, even though its average consumer-rated fuel economy is only about 19 mpg. The Pilot is a mid-size SUV with Honda reliability and decent trade-in values. It's good for traveling with smaller kids and great for around-town errands, but a bit rough on long distance drives, where road noise can get annoying. Some drivers complain that the Pilot is mostly plastic, although that helps keep the price down.

As far as drivers are concerned, you get what you pay for, and the Pilot doesn't seem to get the rave reviews Honda cars do. The third-row seats are appropriate for short distances or small children only, but they fold flat into the floor instead of having to be removed. Overall, the Pilot offers good power, decent towing ability, and excellent resale value.