Finding Your Ideal SUV

Only a stout-hearted trend-setter or deranged driver would have shown up at the country club or the opera in a sport utility vehicle a couple of decades ago. Back then SUVs were largely viewed as workhorse trucks, the tools of woodsmen and blue-collar types who relied on their off-road and towing abilities.

Trendy, sporty SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne would've been inconceivable 20 years ago. + enlarge image  |  view gallery >

Today, SUVs are suburban status symbols that trump supposedly staid station wagons and minivans. As the "sport" in "sport utility vehicle" suggests, owning an SUV can create the auspices of an active lifestyle, often for people who rarely, if ever, venture off road.

Besides the obvious all-terrain prowess, advantages of owning an SUV include a commanding view of the road, versatile cargo holds and the ability to tow a trailer.

There are just as many drawbacks to SUVs. The sheer mass and top-heaviness of many SUVs make them a handful to control on narrow roads, through tight turns and in emergency situations. They're by no means fuel efficient, have less-refined road manners than cars, tend to be more expensive than cars, and the largest ones are too bulky to fit some garages.

This ForbesAutos.com 2006 SUV Buyer's Guide breaks down the essentials, like whether you should opt for expensive four-wheel drive and how it differs from all-wheel drive. As you read, consider carefully whether an SUV will best meet your needs. A wagon or minivan may offer the same — or even more — versatility and a better value.