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.