Here is the list of contenders this year...

Out of this list who would you pick?

   * BMW X6
   * Chevrolet Traverse
   * Dodge Journey
   * Ford Flex
   * Honda Pilot
   * Kia Borrego
   * Infiniti EX
   * Infiniti FX
   * Lexus LX570
   * Nissan Murano
   * Subaru Forester
   * Toyota Sequoia
   * Volkswagen Tiguan

as with every year:

:

As with all of our OTY contests, Sport/Utility of the Year isn't a comparison test. It's also open only to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from November 1, 2007. We look for the pick of each year's crop of new SUVs, not to revisit vehicles that have been on sale for the past five years.

Each SUOTY contender is being evaluated against three simple criteria:

1. Superiority. We look at engineering excellence, advancement in design, utilization of resources, and safety. Vehicle concept and execution are important, as are use of materials, packaging, dynamics, styling, and fuel consumption.
2. Significance. How well the vehicle does the job its maker intended. And how it impacts its particular market segment, influences consumer perceptions, and transforms product-development trends.
3. Value. How each vehicle compares against its direct rivals. A vehicle with a low sticker price might not be as good a value as a more expensive vehicle that delivers outstanding performance, quality, and functionality.

So without further ado, here is this year's field. What do you think? What's your pick as the early favorite? Stay tuned to MotorTrend.com and the December 2008 issue of Motor Trend for the complete story and more on this year's field, our testing process, and the vehicle that will take home the calipers.



http://blogs.trucktrend.com/6274783/suv-of-the-year/2009-motor-trend-sport-utility-of-the-year-this-years-players-a-diverse-group/index.html  

That's a lot of choices, but I'd say for the average person it'd be almost impossible to give a fair response unless we all got the same opportunities to try out all the selections, as you guys are doing. That being said, I'm picking the Tiguan, no particular reason.  

With my limited knowledge of most of the "picks", I'd also have to go with the Volkswagen Tiguan.  Mainly because I saw it "reviewed" on Motor Week, one Sunday.  I've read some reviews in Truck Trend, but "seeing is believing" as the saying goes.