2008 Hyundai Santa Fe in Avondale, Arizona

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a practical-size vehicle for prowling the suburban savanna. It's the larger of Hyundai's two compact SUV's, large enough for three-row seating, which the smaller Tucson is not.

Technically, both vehicles are crossovers, meaning they are built like cars, using unibody construction, instead of the body-on-frame technique of a traditional truck. That could prove to be a disadvantage in, say, the Paris-to-Dakar rally; or while outmaneuvering an unwanted military incursion. But in most ways it's better for everyday driving. Compared to a truck-based SUV, a car-based crossover is generally lighter, smoother riding, and more responsive. Crossovers also tend to use less gas than truck-based SUVs. Still, with the right options, the Santa Fe can tow up to 3500 pounds.

The 2008 Santa Fe looks fresh, shapely and attractive. Completely redesigned for 2007, it shed the quirky lumpiness of the pre-2007 models. It's a little bigger than previously, and comes in five- and seven-passenger versions. Yet it retains Hyundai's value quotient. Underway, the Santa Fe handles well on winding, paved roads.