Safe seats

KIA'S SORENTO IS THE SEVEN-SEAT SUV TO BEAT. CAN UPSTARTS FROM MAZDA, JEEP AND CROSS-TOWN RIVAL HYUNDAI KNOCK IT OFF ITS PERCH?

- DYLAN CAMPBELL

IT DOESN'T SEEM that long ago that transporting seven people in a single vehicle required either a commercial-based van-with-seats, or simply outright breaking the law.

These days, however, car makers are helping soothe the deeply troubling introspection that often proceeded the purchase of a 'people mover' by offering seven-seat SUVS instead. But the question is, which one to get?

To help answer this, we've assembled four of the finest mainstream seven-seat SUVs we could muster, two hailing from South Korea, one from Japan and the other, the Land of the Free - all asking under, or around, $80,000.

The seven-seat Jeep Grand Cherokee Night Eagle couldn't be more American if you found it gently rotating in a hot-dog warmer while singing the Star-Spangled Banner. Under the bonnet is Chrysler's familiar Pentastar 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6, producing 210kW and 344Nm at a lofty 6400rpm and 4000rpm respectively. The 5204mm-long GC 7-seat also has a very American-sized price, its $82,750 before on-road costs making it the most expensive vehicle here.

Where the Jeep is imposing, the classy new Mazda CX-90 is handsome. Much like the Grand Cherokee Night Eagle, our D50e Touring is a base grade, starting at $76,400 before on-roads.

With its long wheelbase and gently pumped tracks, the CX-90 wears a little badge on its front guards that reads, delightfully, "Inline-Six".

Under the long bonnet is a 3.3-litre turbo-diesel unit, cranking out 187kW and the most torque of any seven-seater here, 550Nm. With its 48volt architecture, Mazda calls it a 'mild hybrid'; while the CX-90's transmission is a new in-housedeveloped, eight-speed wet multi-clutch auto.

Our next two entrants hail from South Korea, however there's no guessing which market the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Sorento have in their sights especially when you consider they have 19 cupholders between them.