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have risen from their late-90s lows, a new breed of rugged-looking, family-friendly vehicles has taken the place of the fuel-chugging midsize SUVs, like the once ubiquitous Ford Explorer. The industry calls them crossover utility vehicles CUVs and they are among the hottest sellers on the market. I recently test-drove four contenders in this new segment: the 2007 Mazda CX-7, the 2007 Ford Edge and the veteran of the group, the 2007 Nissan Murano, whose sleek exterior styling and proportions have inspired several rivals. My fourth vehicle was a 2007 Dodge Nitro, which is a sibling of DaimlerChrysler's Jeep Liberty. Like the other three, the Nitro is built on a unibody frame rather than the heavy truck frame of an SUV. Here's how they stacked up.

Dodge Nitro

The Dodge Nitro has a message for you: It ain't no girly car. From its bulky crossbar grille to its spartan dashboard, the Nitro looks like it's ready to play in the mud. The Nitro's styling reflects Chrysler's penchant for "love it or hate it" designs. But owners will spend most of their time inside the Nitro, and that's where the trouble starts the interior crosses the line from utilitarian to crude. The ride is the roughest of these four, and the steering is the most vague. The Nitro rolls with a 3.7-liter single overhead cam V-6, rated at 210 horsepower. Mileage is estimated at 17 mpg city, 23 highway, the weakest EPA rating among these four models (though none of these vehicles will be as efficient in the real world as the sticker indicates). The Nitro does score the lowest base price among the vehicles tested, starting at $19,885 (all prices include destination charge). And if you tow a trailer, the Nitro's 5,000-pound towing capability wins hands down. But the Nitro's demerits put it at the back of this pack.

Nissan Murano

Launched in 2003, the Murano still looks remarkably modern, which goes to show how ahead of its time it was. When other crossovers were still trying to cop the look of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Murano dared to go for something completely different, with a swept-back front and a rounded back. Look at the Mazda CX-7 and you can see how influential the Murano is. The Murano also has the best engine in the group: the 3.5-liter V-6 that Nissan uses to power a wide array of vehicles. In the Murano, the Nissan Six rates 240 horsepower. Mileage is rated at 20 mpg city, 24 highway, and it has a 521-mile highway range, all the best of this bunch. On the road, the Murano moves nimbly and quietly with its continuously variable transmission. Safety features include side-curtain airbags and active front head restraints. Muranos start at $28,400 and pass $30,000 very quickly. The sticker price of my test vehicle, with a $4,700 "SL Touring package," which included heated, leather-trimmed seats and a Bose sound system, edged above $40,000. What keeps the Murano out of second place? Price is one issue. Another is the interior, which looks dated. But given that it's a four-year-old vehicle in a competitive class, it's surprising that it still rates so high.

Ford Edge

The Ford Edge is a confusing vehicle. It's the widest of the four, and at 111.2 inches, it's tied with the Murano for longest wheelbase in the group. Yet it doesn't have the most cargo space, nor does it beat the field for front leg room. The Edge also has the most powerful engine of these four vehicles, a 265 horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. But on the highway, it feels sluggish, particularly compared with the Murano and the Mazda CX-7.That heavy feeling turns out not to be imaginary. A loaded Edge SEL Plus, similar to the one I drove, weighs in at a substantial 4,282 pounds, heaviest of this lot by more than 100 pounds, and it's 289 pounds heftier than the Murano. There's plenty to like about the Edge, however. The interior easily outpoints the Murano and the Nitro. And it's competitively priced, starting at $25,995 for a front-drive SE model ranging up to $31,395 for a loaded SEL Plus all-wheel-drive model. But it needs to hit the gym to be No. 1.

Mazda CX-7

The Mazda CX-7 demonstrates that a vehicle's appeal isn't just a matter of specifications; it's the sum of how the pieces fit together. The CX-7's turbocharged four-cylinder 2.3-liter engine isn't the most potent, at 244 horsepower. But mated to a six-speed automatic, and a vehicle that weighs in at 3,929 pounds for the all-wheel-drive model, the result is delightfully nimble performance for what is basically a station wagon on steroids. The CX-7's steeply raked windshield and swept-up rear quarter give the vehicle a sporty profile, though it makes for some challenges in estimating the location of the nose in parking maneuvers. The orange gauge lighting and the console gearshift play up the sports-car feel. At a starting price of $24,345, the CX-7 is the most pleasing all-around package among these four crossovers.