Ford Flex, Mazda Cx-9 Rank Among Best Three-Row SUVs

The new Ford Flex and the upgraded Mazda CX-9 now rank among the best three-row SUVs tested by Consumer Reports (CR).

The Flex and CX-9 trail only the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the conventional Highlander, and the Acura MDX in CR's Ratings of 17 midsized models.

At the same time though, the redesigned Honda Pilot has slipped from being one of the magazine's top-rated three-row SUVs to midpack. The Pilot, although still a very competitive SUV, now ranks eleventh out of 17 midsized, three-row SUVs that have been tested by CR.

The Pilot's overall score of 74 was just three points lower than the Flex and two points lower than the CX-9. But, that was enough to place it behind five other competitors-all of which have a 75-point overall score. Those vehicles are the: GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Hyundai Veracruz, Buick Enclave, and Ford Taurus X. Corporate cousins, the Acadia, Outlook and Enclave are all built on the same GM platform and share many components.

In addition to testing the three midsized SUVs, CR also tested two large SUVs, the Toyota Sequoia and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

The Sequoia posted a "Very Good" overall score; it ranks second in the category, just behind the considerably more expensive Mercedes-Benz GL450. The large Tahoe Hybrid returned an impressive 19 MPG overall in CR's fuel economy tests, but still ranks just midpack among the 14 large SUVs that were tested.

Prices of the midsized SUVs range from $35,830 for the Pilot to $38,615 for the CX-9. The large SUVs are priced at $54,005 for the Sequoia and $55,585 for the Tahoe Hybrid.

Ford's new Flex wraps a versatile, cavernous interior in a distinctly boxy styling. It is also lower and more wagon-like than others in this class. The CX-9 has improved considerably since the last one tested by CR last year, helped by a larger engine and improved braking. It is one of the sportiest SUVs that CR's engineers have ever driven, and it has a roomy, quiet, well-crafted interior.

The Pilot remains a very practical vehicle with seating for up to eight, slightly improved fuel economy, and a reasonable price. But pronounced road noise, so-so acceleration and braking, and interior controls and quality that's not as good as the previous generation Pilot cost it points in CR's testing.

The CX-9, Pilot, and Sequoia are the only vehicles in this test group that are recommended by CR. CR recommends only vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR's Annual Car Reliability Survey of its more than seven million print and web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

CR doesn't have reliability data yet on the Flex and Tahoe Hybrid.