Value
"By any name--Escape, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner--these compact SUVs are Best Buy appealing: solid, spacious, practical, pleasant to drive. Keen pricing makes them high-value alternatives to larger truck-based SUVs that use more gas and aren't much roomier. Hybrid models are pricey, and that premium may take years to offset in fuel savings. But the value consideration must also take into account the hybrid system's exhaust-emissions benefits."

Ride
"Ride-biased chassis tuning gives 4-cyl models good bump absorption, but also sloppy body motions on uneven surfaces. V6s and Hybrid tauter but more comfortable, with minimal wallow or float over high-speed dips and swells; some sharp bumps register abruptly, though."

Noise
"V6 engine much smoother and quieter than 4-cyl, which grows gruff at high rpm--Hybrid included. Wind rush marked at highway speeds in all models, as is tire roar on coarse pavement. Tributes and Mariners seem slightly quieter overall than Escapes."

Comfort - Front
"Airy cabin belies compact exterior size. Adult-size leg space, but surprisingly high seats limit head room for taller occupants beneath optional sunroof. Some testers find seats flat, unsupportive for long-distance driving. Drivers have unimpeded views to sides and rear."

Comfort - Rear
"More knee and foot room than in many larger SUVs. Bench seat supportive, well-contoured, even in center position. Floor nearly flat. Cabin wide enough for short-trip 3-adult comfort. Doorways large, but step-in higher than most rivals. Tribute offers rear DVD entertainment."

Controls
"All versions share a basic dashboard design, so legible gauges, generally well-arranged controls. Interior trim runs from plain to slightly upscale, but all are in line with pricing for finish and materials quality. Top-line Mariner Premier impresses with 2-tone leather/faux-suede upholstery."

Cargo Room
Generous. Rear seatbacks fold flat once headrests are off and seat bottoms are rotated up.