A Ford Freestyle is a great choice. I love my '05 SE model, and there are '06 and '07s out there, too. The CVT transmission and efficient V6 get me 27 MPG on long trips (2wd version of the crossover utility vehicle CUV). Consumer Reports shows very few problems in their April 2008 automobile issue per 100 vehicles out there. Very reliable vehicle compared to all other vehicles, above average in reliability. Safety is very good, at http://www.iihs.org then click on Vehicle Ratings, etc. Handling is great, as the stiff body is based on the very expensive Volvo XC90, a company which Ford owned for a while and got the rights to the design from. Buy the Freestyle for the great fuel economy, safety, handling, roominess, and Consumer Reports reliability ratings.
An '06 Nissan Murano would be my second choice, and the Honda Pilot is good, too.
If you like smaller CUVs, then the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4 are very good, or maybe a Subaru Forrester in the small class, too. I would avoid the Ford Escape or Mercury Mariner or Mazda Tribute small CUVs, all three simply clones of each other, as they do not crash-test very well, do not steer or brake well, etc., as car magazine testers have lamented.
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