The Toyota RAV4 established the compact crossover segment way back in 1996, but Nissan is only now fielding an entry, the Rogue. Although the name might suggest an aberrant or at least atypical approach, the Rogue rides comfortably in the wake of the RAV4 and the Honda CR-V.

It's a question no one would ever think to ask, but Porsche has answered it. If a 911 GT3 were to have a wild night with a military-spec Humvee, what would the resulting baby look like? Enter the Cayenne Transsiberia rally edition you see here. Following a very successful performance by two privately-owned and modified Cayennes in last year's rally, Porsche is putting a full factory effort behind this year's event. Twenty-six special models will be built, all painted either silver or black with orange wheels, graphics, and detailing. They'll be loaded up with Porsche's whole arsenal of electronics, including traction management, chassis control, and active suspension systems. At the same time, they'll be stripped down, with no rear seat and minimal creature comforts (other than the soft leather and alcantara covering the interior-it is still a Porsche.) The Cayenne Transsiberia has a full roll cage, reinforced A- and B-pillars, underbody protection, and diamond plated floorboards. Other add-ons include a winch, roof-mounted light bar, and the most streamlined, precision-built snorkel we've ever seen. Two spare tires and a tool kit fill the rear cargo area. It is, without a doubt, the classiest off-roader we've ever looked at--but what else would you expect from Porsche? We only wonder why higher-powered Turbo S models weren't used.

At first glance, the Patriot looks like it's about six years late to its own party, because it's such a faithful evolution of Jeep's Cherokee. It even shares the Cherokee's boxy bluffness, a big part of that vehicle's charm. But back in 2001, the Cherokee was replaced by the Liberty instead, a more gently curved, doe-eyed Jeep-on-Prozac.

Youth triumphs in all things automotive, just as it does in the wider world. So, after a new model debuts, we've come to expect a freshening in year three, a special edition in year four, and an all-new model after five years.

So, there I am, ripping down a Spanish autovia, twin-turbo V-8 wailing away, wind whistling past the roof rails. There I am, downshifting through a roundabout, flat-footing that direct-injected lump and using errant Peugeots as apexes ("Si, policia! Un Porsche grande!"). There I am, doing 150 mph. And not having very much fun.

You can't mention the Lincoln Navigator without bringing up the Cadillac Escalade, the big-personality celebrity wagon that toppled the Navigator as King of All That Is Cool back in the late 1990s. That hierarchy has changed little since, so Lincoln has a new plan: if the latest Escalade is all brash personality, then the Navigator--now offered in regular and long-wheelbase configuration just like the Cadillac--should instead embody refinement and subtle confidence. Not that the gallons of chrome slathered all over the Navigator are exactly subtle. (When pictures of the new Navigator were released early last year, the reaction around here was unanimous: "What the hell happened to the front end?")

Yes, the picture below shows a 2007 Dodge Nitro, but don't be fooled: you're looking at little more than a reskinned Jeep Liberty. And unfortunately, we're not all that fond of the Liberty. (Thrashy, 3.7-liter V-6? Check. Nervous, top-heavy handling? Check. Annoying, cutesy, Wrangler-wannabe styling? Check.) So when Dodge announced that its upcoming Nitro SUV would share the Liberty's platform, we didn't exactly get all Rip Taylor and bust out the confetti.

Like its predecessor, the second-generation X5 disappoints when it goes off the beaten track. Instead of offering a height-adjustable air suspension, it can be had with such pavement-oriented goodies as active steering, adjustable antiroll bars, and switchable dampers. Instead of mechanical differential locks, it features the latest version of the electronically controlled torque-split-by-demand xDrive four-wheel-drive system. And instead of a low-range transfer case, it boasts a new six-speed manu-matic. The key chassis-related innovation is a new multilink front suspension that provides a smoother ride and better handling. Even when the X5 is equipped with the optional $3600 sport package, which includes extrastiff 255/55HR-19 Michelin Latitude run-flat tires, active roll stabilization, and electronic damping control, it responds to arm-thick transverse ridges and crater-deep potholes in a much more compliant manner than it did before.

Since its introduction for the 1997 model year, Subaru's somewhat oddly proportioned Forester has been a welcomed alternative to more traditional SUVs, thanks to its uncanny ability to handle the road like a car, haul cargo like a small sport/utility vehicle, and scramble through a snow drift or a sand dune with equal aplomb. Subaru's multi-talented trucklet enters 2006 with a significant freshening, including revisions to the standard, normally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and the optional turbocharged version. The model range has been simplified, making it easier for buyers to identify the right Forester for them. Together, these changes should help the Forester retain its status as a strong pick in the small-SUV class.