LARGE PICKUP TRUCKS

have evolved quickly in the past several years, making a bid to replace your everyday vehicle. This has turned four-door crew-cab models into the fastest-growing segment of the large-truck market. And competition has gotten fierce. Nissan and Honda have entered the field, and later this year, all will have to contend with Toyota's redesigned Tundra (which wasn't available when we did our test-drives). To test some of the large crew-cab trucks on the market now, we hauled an electric fireplace, a Christmas tree, the contents of a one-bedroom apartment and (while ferrying a chef friend) a freshly butchered pig.

Honda Ridgeline RTX

The Honda doesn't lose points for being less capable or powerful because, after all, it is simply a smaller truck but it does get a demerit because it doesn't always reap the advantages of a smaller size. Fuel economy isn't dramatically better than in the Ford or Chevy, and the visibility is actually worse, thanks to the walls of the truck bed, which slope upward to meet the cab. The Ridgeline also lacks some conveniences that are either standard or optional on the other trucks, like auto-dimming mirrors, rear-parking sensors and headlights that turn on automatically after dark. It does offer a more car-like ride, with the same tight, responsive steering as its SUV sibling, the Honda Pilot. And there are also some impressive safety features, including standard head airbags and stability control. It's true that most truck owners don't really need more truck than the Ridgeline they don't go off road, and rarely tow or haul a heavy load. If you can admit that's the sort of driver you are, the Ridgeline may meet your needs, but you'll likely find more comfort and convenience with the Pilot.

Ford F-150 4x4 Supercrew Lariat

The first reaction on climbing (and climbing is the operative word) into the F-150 is, this is big. Despite the fact that the exterior and interior dimensions stack up pretty close to the Titan's and Silverado's, the Ford's aggressive, blocky styling inside and out made it feel more massive in every sense. (Of course, it didn't hurt that the Ford was the only one of the trucks tested that pairs a crew cab with a full-length cargo bed.) Unfortunately, you can really feel the Ford throwing its weight around in turns and parking maneuvers, something you don't sense with the Chevy. And it feels a little more sluggish accelerating from a stop. The Ford's towing and hauling capacity are nothing to sneeze at 9,100 pounds and 1,500 pounds, respectively but in both cases they fall short of the Chevy Silverado's.

Nissan Titan 4WD Crew Cab SE

Nissan is very vocal about the Titan's roomy interior, which is the largest in this class (though the upcoming Toyota Tundra will give it a run for its money). Which might lead you to believe that what's outside deserves less shouting about. It's true that you don't have the same cargo-bed (or, for that matter, engine-size) options as you do with Ford's or Chevy's trucks: Buy the Crew Cab Titan and you get a short bed. But equipped with an optional bed utility package, it's impressive nonetheless a spray-on bed liner protects against scratches; a series of rails mounted with adjustable tie-downs helps secure cargo; and the bed extender, a sort of rail fence that folds down over the lowered tailgate, helps make up for the lost volume. Likewise, the only available engine is a good one. The powerful 5.6-liter V-8 delivers its peak torque at a relatively low 3,400 rpm, so it feels more sprightly off the line. But back to that ballyhooed interior: It is indeed spacious, with the most leg room of this bunch for rear passengers. At the same time, the seats, the dashboard and the rest of the interior fixtures feel as if they're on a human scale, compared with the Brobdingnagian feel of the Ford and Chevy.

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD Crew Cab LT2

2007 Chevy Silverado Base Price: $35,840 (incl. destination charge) Engine: Engine: 5.3-liter V-8, 315 hp Ride/Handling: Int./Ext. Design: Comfort/Utility: Overall Rating: Comments: With plenty of power and a comfortable ride, the best compromise.

The Silverado takes first place because it best straddles the compromise of being a fully capable truck and a comfortable daily ride. For starters, it boasts a massive towing capacity of 10,500 pounds, a 1,692-pound payload limit and a burly V-8 that always has plenty of power in reserve. But it also offers some extras you might not expect, employing "Active Fuel Management," for instance, to shut down four of the eight cylinders when the truck is in cruising mode, to deliver fuel economy that nearly equals that of the V-6 Ridgeline. (On paper anyway; in our experience, it didn't quite reach those numbers.) Its safety profile is also second only to the Ridgeline's, offering standard stability control and optional head airbags (neither is available on the Ford). The interior can go from people hauling to cargo hauling easily, with rear seats that fold up entirely, leaving the floor clear for loading.