The best thing about a compact-utility vehicle is, it doesn't smell like dirty diapers. A small crossover combines carlike size with trucklike utility, but it doesn't post a sign in the rear window that tells everyone you're a breeder in the making. Sure, it's a practical package for couples, but there's every chance that the cargo area contains a beach chair, a bicycle, a gym bag and a furniture box from Ikea.

By our count, there are already 17 compact vehicles in the class of crossover vehicles and more are on the way. It seems as if every manufacturer has taken to converting its small-car platforms to utility use, and the crossovers have been enthusiastically embraced. Honda put 170,028 CR-Vs on the ground in the U.S. in 2006, and Toyota nearly matched it with 152,047 RAV4s.

These small crossovers are evolving into niches just as distinct as you'll find in the car market. There are practical ones, sporting ones, tough ones and comfortable ones. We've brought together the 2007 Honda CR-V, 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2008 Nissan Rogue and 2007 Toyota RAV4. All share a gestalt of efficiency and social responsibility, yet each has a unique set of qualities and options. We've designed this all-wheel-drive crossover comparison within a frame of affordable enthusiasm, kind of like "gimme all you got for under $30K." Each one delivers a different level of equipment and varying degrees of performance and utility.

4th Place (74.3 points) 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD
As fate would have it, Edmunds actually owns a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander XLS 4WD as part of our long-term test fleet. Its attractive base price of $25,635 quickly inflated to $30,615 with the three major options packages we elected: Luxury, Navigation, and Sun & Sound. You can hypothetically bypass the innovative 30-gigabyte hard drive-based navigation system (including a 6GB music server) to save $1,800 and squeeze the price under the $30K barrier for our test, but it's fair to note that the Honda CR-V still includes navigation for $220 less.

Every Outlander comes with a 220-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and this example has full-time all-wheel drive. The engine sings a sporty song, but it's far from a benchmark in terms of acceleration or fuel efficiency. The best sprint to 60 mph we can manage with this Outlander is 9.0 seconds, and we coaxed only 18 mpg from it over a 1,000-mile distance. These unexpectedly disappointing performances can be attributed to the Outlander V6's weight, a substantial 3,887 pounds that tops our fearsome foursome.

Plan on 5, Not 7
The standard 50/50-split third-row seats for the XLS represent a clever, space-efficient design, but they're so insubstantial in construction, so awkward in operation and so nearly unusable by humans that they might as well be replaced with aluminum-framed beach chairs from the top shelf at your local drug store (right next to the Styrofoam coolers).

But a quick drive in the Outlander V6 makes you forget all that. The transmission shift paddles mounted on the steering column of the XLS model enhance the Outlander's ability to engage a back road with the enthusiasm we expect from a true sport wagon. With its hefty steering effort, leather-wrapped steering wheel, supportive sports seats and adjustable all-wheel-drive system, the Outlander plays to its strengths on a twisting mountain pass, whether you have a pair of skis on the roof or a mountain bike.

The Enthusiast's Choice
Our group of test drivers — driving enthusiasts all — score the Mitsubishi Outlander highest in the categories of braking performance, handling and fun-to-drive, as well as exterior design. The Outlander also earns 2nd place when our editors are asked to select the vehicle they'd purchase if price were not considered. The Outlander XLS is clearly the enthusiast's choice, yet its compromises in comfort, everyday utility and fuel efficiency mean it places 4th in this crossover contest.

3rd Place (75.1 points) 2007 Honda CR-V EX-L Navi
Less than one point ahead of the Mitsubishi on the overall scorecard is the Honda CR-V. For $28,595, the 2007 Honda CR-V 4WD EX-L Navi is distinguished from lesser CR-V models by its all-wheel drive, leather seat upholstery, a DVD-based navigation system with voice recognition and rearview camera, and an upgraded audio system including MP3/aux jack and satellite radio.

There isn't a third-row seat or V6 available in the CR-V line, so the EX-L Navi can offer a lot of features without a noticeable price penalty. A high-revving, 166-hp 2.4-liter inline-4 is mated to a five-speed automatic, and acceleration is adequate but far from inspiring. The engine and transmission combination is perhaps our biggest gripe about the CR-V, and we didn't find the additional 10-hp increase over last year's CR-V's engine to make a difference.

Gear Hunter
We sometimes find the CR-V reluctant to hold a gear while climbing a hill and prone to cycling between ratios at inopportune moments, an indicator of a calibration for fuel efficiency at the expense of drivability. Until the CR-V acquires a torque-enhancing turbocharger for the engine or a "Sport" mode for the transmission shift schedule, the Honda's powertrain will never be far from your consciousness.

Because the CR-V's all-wheel-drive system is the least sophisticated of the bunch and its engine produces the least amount of torque, the CR-V is the only vehicle here that failed to negotiate the steep, slippery dirt trail that comprised our test of minimal off-road capability.

OK, so the CR-V is no off-roader. But what you might not suspect is that it did manage to post the fastest slalom speed in this group. Thanks to its short 103.1-inch wheelbase and relatively light 3,527-pound weight, the Honda responds quickly to its slightly overboosted steering. The flip side of these dimensional and directional assets is a freeway ride that feels a little choppier than the rest.

Industrial Design Award
Where the CR-V really shines is in the way it's designed. It's a tool that makes your life easy and pleasing, a perfect example of intelligent industrial design. Now in its third generation since its U.S. debut in 1997, the CR-V has steadily been improved, and we all feel its build quality deserves special recognition. In other words, Honda gets the stuff right when it comes to how and why a vehicle is screwed together. As a driving appliance (and we mean that as a compliment), the CR-V is as good as it gets in this group. You understand it intuitively, and the CR-V feels completely natural to drive.

2nd Place (76.4 points) 2008 Nissan Rogue SL AWD
It's often hard being the new guy, but the 2008 Nissan Rogue SL AWD manages to turn that awkward moment into an opportunity. The Rogue is based on the platform of the new, stretched Nissan Sentra, only it's better-looking, better riding and more useful. If you're looking for a compact crossover that drives most like a car, this is the one.

The Rogue is outfitted with a 170-hp 2.4-liter inline-4, and this torquey engine is matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Both front- and all-wheel-drive versions are available.

Isolationist Theory
The Rogue's all-independent, long-travel suspension balances a supple ride with polished control. As a result, the Rogue is very stable at speed and confidently tracks a line, and the electric-assist power steering is exceptionally well tuned as well. On looks alone, we never would have guessed that the Rogue's 105.9-inch wheelbase (and 182.9-inch overall length) is the longest of this foursome, but this also plays a role in the Rogue's well-damped, big-car ride.

Its lengthy dimensions combined with a surprisingly light 3,544-pound weight also help explain the Rogue's excellent performance on the skid pad with a mark of 0.79g, but also contributes to its 61.5-mph run in the slalom, a last-place effort in which the Rogue feels a half-step behind driver inputs. Meanwhile, the Rogue stops shortest from 60 mph in a remarkable 123 feet.

The New Economy
The Rogue returns the best observed fuel economy of the test at over 22 mpg, with one tank returning 27 mpg. Frugal, but unfortunately not invigorating. Acceleration from a stop feels like it takes an eternity, even though the Nissan nearly caught the Mitsubishi with its 9.2-second sprint to 60 mph. The CVT feels like it has some components made from elastic, and it's not a feeling you can get away from, since the CVT and 170-hp 2.4-liter inline-4 is the only available powertrain.

We like the long-stroke engine with its balance shaft to reduce vibration, but would rather experience it firsthand than through the bland-o-nator CVT. This is just not the right technology for a small engine when more than a fuel-efficient commute is called for, and it's necessary to use the shift paddles to not only make back roads more interesting but also to soothe the ears.

Quality Where It Matters
The Rogue's interior is one of the vehicle's best qualities, and separates it from this budget-minded group. There's no glare-inducing touchscreen (nor even an available navigation system, by the way), the material colors are warmly tasteful and the well-organized presentation is superior. The six-way power seat that comes with the optional leather upholstery is deemed the best in this group. But if you want a third-row seat, you'll have to look elsewhere. Nissan's estimate of $28,500 (official pricing has not yet been announced) for all this factored heavily in its 2nd-place finish.

First Place (86.4 points) 2007 Toyota RAV4 Limited 4x4
Ever since Toyota introduced the RAV4 to the U.S. in 1996, it has been refining the hardware. It shows, because this 2007 RAV4 Limited 4WD waltzed through our various evaluations. Scanning the logbooks for something other than praise is like trying to drive two miles in Santa Monica without spotting a Starbucks.

Within this group of crossovers, the RAV4 is available in the widest array of prices and models, and this optioned-up RAV4 with all-wheel drive and a V6 comes to $29,374. We'd forgo the $700 third-row seat option to lower the price further; if you need seating for seven, get a Highlander.

How'd They Do That?
The RAV4's engine makes exactly 103 more horses than the CR-V. But adjusted for 2008 model-year EPA test methods (as each of the 2007 models has been for comparison purposes), the RAV4's V6 earns exactly the same EPA fuel-consumption estimates as the CR-V's inline-4, with a rating of 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. Our real-world experience backs up these numbers, as the Honda's combined average computes to 20 mpg and compares to the Toyota's 19 mpg.

The RAV4's all-wheel-drive system switches unobtrusively between front- and all-wheel drive based on various conditions in order to maximize fuel economy or traction. The system can be locked into a split of 50 percent front/50 percent rear below 25 mph. The Nissan Rogue employs a similarly intelligent system, but it cannot be manipulated. The Mitsubishi AWD system is perhaps the most advanced, with three modes of driver-selectable operation, but no locking feature. ("4WD Lock" is actually a sportier, rear-biased AWD setting.)

Further enhancing the RAV4's off-road competence is an ABS-derived downhill assist (DAC) that maintains a snail's pace in 1st gear down steep inclines without driver intervention. The flip side to DAC is hill-start assist control (HAC), which keeps the vehicle stationary while starting on a steep or slippery surface. All this helps make the Toyota RAV4 the choice for hauling your gear into the forest.

Speed and Space
The Toyota's horsepower advantage played out decisively at the drag strip, outrunning the rest of the field to 60 mph by between 1.7 to 2.2 seconds. An aggressive (and undefeatable) electronic stability control system relegates the RAV4 to the back of the pack when it comes to delivering grip on the skid pad, but it proved largely permissive in the slalom test, allowing the RAV4 to make the second-fastest run overall at 62.5 mph.

Figuratively stretching a tape measure across all the interior dimensions of these crossovers shows them to be remarkably similar in size. The cargo bays also show remarkably similar volumes with the exception of the Rogue, which loses nearly 15 cubic feet to the competition because its second-row seat is more spacious, while a pop-up package organizer raises the height of the cargo floor. Meanwhile the RAV4's low 23-inch liftover height into the cargo area is friendly to your back, as is its rear hatch that swings open like a door.

The combination of subjective superiority, an overachieving 269-hp V6, impressive features and a competitive price adds up to a winner.

Conclusion
Look, people. Each of these sub-$30,000 crossovers is an outstanding do-it-all vehicle, as you can see from the narrow 2.1-point gap that separates 2nd from 4th place. Choose according to your tastes and needs, but do some homework first. If any of the following are deal breakers, don't choose the vehicle in parentheses: No navigation system offered (RAV4 and Rogue); no V6 offered (CR-V and Rogue); need to tow more than 1,500 pounds (CR-V and Rogue); no third-row seat available (CR-V and Rogue).

Mitsubishi usually packs more fun under the greenhouse than any other Japanese manufacturer, and the Outlander is no exception. We love the way it looks and the way it eagerly plays in the twisty bits, and we wish every vehicle had the Outlander's optional hard-drive music server that records and stores a stack of CDs. Just don't expect third-row passengers to be as enthusiastic about any of this as you might be.

If you're the type who doesn't like to take chances, the 2007 Honda CR-V will suit you just fine. It's the cleverest package, the choice for people who think. With its simplified model range and uncomplicated, undemanding personality, the CR-V is a cup of black coffee in a world where there are those who believe a half-caf, half-decaf, soy, latte macchiato over crushed ice almost sounds normal. The CR-V will get you to work and back. It'll do your errands on Saturday. But it doesn't like to get down and dirty.

The 2008 Nissan Rogue does what few all-new vehicles do well, especially in a mature market. Nissan has learned from the mistakes of others and offered an attractive, competitive package at a fair price. Our chief gripe lies with the CVT, a design that we know works well with a V6 in the Nissan Altima but proves distracting and disagreeable when matched with an inline-4. Still, there's a lot to like in the carlike Rogue and that's why it earned 2nd place.

Finally, if you ever find yourself saying, "Sure, I'll take the upgrade," then the 2007 Toyota RAV4 is the best choice for you. It's the benchmark in this segment. It makes a statement with power, but it backs up the message with fuel economy. It rides well, yet goes anywhere. And it combines utility and carlike comfort in a way that fits in your life in every way. The other guys are catching up, but for now, the Toyota RAV4 is still the one to beat.