Hate to break it to you, but the large V8 models all suck.

Where the imports have had the advantage is slightly smaller unibody SUVs, such as the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, etc. These all get mid-20s, have available 3rd row seats, drive better on-road, and offer nearly the same interior volume as the bigger American offerings. GM's new trio of the Acadia/Outlook/Enclave is the first real American offering in this segment, and they look to be competitive.

Tobster, it just dawned on me. What the hell does Honda offer with a V8? Both the Pilot and Ridgeline use a 3.5L V6.

Sorry I meant to say Nissan. Look at the Armada.

I would not go so far to say that "having a 3rd row seat" in the imports is the same as the very usable 3rd row seat in the domestic. There is no comparing the foot room in the MDX vs a Tahoe/Yukon.

Also (new) official EPA ratings for the Yukon V8 4x4 are 14/19. The Honda Pilot V6 4x4 is 15/20. Does not sound to me like the fuel efficient 6 buys you all that much. Go to the link I posted and compare.

Judging from the Expedition I have ridden in, the full size models don't have much of a 3rd row seat either.

I've looked at that site before, and I'd be curious where they get their numbers. The numbers seem questionable. Looking at vehicles that I have personally owned, it's not even close.

We considered a Pilot before we bought our SRX, and talked to several owners in our neighborhood. They often saw 24 MPG on the highway. I'd be shocked if the Yukon/Tahoe tops 20. Not to mention the superior ride that a unibody SUV gives you. You do lose some towing capacity, but for most SUV buyers (soccer moms) that isn't an issue.

www.fueleconomy.gov lists the official EPA ratings. They 'get their numbers' by replicatable scientific testing that may or may not replicate real-world driving, but at least provides a consistent relative comparison. The results from that test procedure are the fuel economy numbers you see on the window sticker.

The test procedures changed for 2008 and most gas vehicles were adjusted about 10%, hybrids more.

"No free ride. Trucks have CAFE as well, just different than cars. There is certainly incentive. You can debate the chicken and egg of it, but the market has demanded larger vehicles for years. Even cars - look at the original Honda Accord compared to what it is now. Sounds like you're a fan of government regulation. I'm not."

Yes, free ride. Most SUVs are built on a car chassis not a truck chassis, yet the govt. classifies them as trucks. Thank some lobbying by the car manufacturers for that. Where was the free market that increased the fuel mileage of Escalade-type vehicles the last 10 years?

Without CAFE (govt. reg.), the mileage of cars wouldn't change much, as long as the supply of oil is there, and it was for a long time. Same with emission regs. The free market had little to do with improving air quality. I'm for govt. regs. if the free market doesn't do it.

Sherwood

Agreed, a hybrid SUV has got to be the stupidest thing in awhile.

Also to bring it back to Porsche content I find it embarrassing to other SUVs that the Cayenne turbo w/ 520 hp gets 19 mpg. Seems to me that a 520 hp engine in a SUV should get worse mileage than anything.