Last year's Outlander was a nice-driving little thing, but it was more like a small 4-cylinder all-wheel drive wagon than an SUV. Like many of its rivals, however, Outlander has grown up in its latest generation. The 2007 version is 90-mm longer, and 50-mm wider, making it almost the length of a Toyota Highlander.

Like direct rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Santa Fe, it can seat up to seven passengers if you buy a version with third-row seating, though the back bench is really only suitable for kids. The sliding second-row seat is a 60/40 split and the front passenger backrest can be folded flat.

While the previous Outlander came only as a 4-cylinder, the '07 comes only as a V6. The 3.0-litre unit makes 220 hp, a little less than some rivals, but the fact that the automatic transmission is a 6-speed should compensate.

As is now the norm in this segment, safety features abound. Standard kit includes 4-disc ABS brakes, skid control, front-seat side-impact airbags, active front head restraints and side-curtain airbags.

The Outlander comes as an LS with front- or all-wheel drive, or as an AWD XLS with the third-row seat. The AWD models can operate in 2WD, 4WD Auto or 4WD Lock modes. Maximum towing capacity is 2,000 lbs. (907 kg) for the FWD and 3,500 lbs. (1,588 kg) for the AWD.

Looks good on paper

[-[] We haven't tried it on pavement