My mother cuts coupons. As a kid it annoyed me because it meant that the weekly trip to the supermarket would take forever as my mother hunted diligently for the jar of salsa that matched the one featured on the coupon advertising a whopping $.33 off the regular price. This may be the reason why, as an adult, I don't cut coupons. The thought of spending twice as much time at the supermarket than I normally would, hunting for bargains that would only save me $5.00 or $10.00 at the checkout aisle, is more than I can bear.

This doesn't, however, mean that I like to throw my money away. I'm a diligent saver and am always on the lookout for what I perceive to be a good value. This means that I shop for T-shirts in the fall, when those less thrifty are lining up to buy the season's latest flannels, and I buy my wool suits in the spring, when everyone else is lining up to buy seersucker sport coats and linen slacks.

We get e-mail every day asking what we think is the best value in the sport-utility market. It's always a tough question to answer, because there are so many factors that enter into a person's decision to buy an SUV. Some just want the size associated with these modern day station wagons. They need something that can haul five bodies and a cargo area full of gear to work, school, the mall, and dinner at Grandma's house. Others want a true go-anywhere vehicle to get them to a remote camping space without busting an axle or smashing an oil pan. Still others want a set of hip wheels that looks good and has the right brand name affixed to the tailgate. Our picks for this comparison test include three vehicles that few consumers currently park in suburban garages around the nation. Each is a nice blend of comfortable statusmobile and serious four-wheel drive truck.

Our choices for this test are the all-new Isuzu Rodeo, the slightly revised Mercury Mountaineer, and the freshened Oldsmobile Bravada. Isuzu redesigned their compact SUV for 1998, making it more attractive, comfortable, and powerful than the previous model. Mercury gave the Mountaineer a more distinctive front end and a revised tailgate that includes a larger rear window. The 1998 Mountaineer also comes standard with a high-revving SOHC V-6 and Control-Trac 4WD instead of last year's gas slurping V-8 engine hooked to an all-wheel drive system. Oldsmobile freshened the Bravada's styling and added a passenger airbag this year. None of these trucks come cheap (the MSRP on each of our testers breaks the $30,000 price barrier), but those who have shopped for an SUV lately know that $30,000 is close to the average transaction price for a well-equipped sport ute.

We like the new Rodeo. Observant readers will notice that the one we are featuring in this road test is the same one that we introduced last month as our long-term test vehicle. Our Rodeo is the LS model, featuring standard antilock brakes, a leather interior, shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, an optional CD player, a power moonroof, side steps, and the sport package with cool five-spoke alloy wheels and 16-inch tires. During the last two months, the truck has proven its utility to us by hauling staffers, their families, friends, and pets all over the southwest in all types of weather.

We also like the Mercury Mountaineer. With a cavernous cabin, user-friendly interior design, no-brainer 4WD system, and tasteful two-tone exterior paint treatment, the Mountaineer is the most family-oriented truck in this comparo. Our test truck failed to include some luxury amenities found on the Rodeo; namely leather seats, fake wood trim, a power moonroof, and side steps. But it did have very useful puddle lamps that illuminated the ground under each front door after dark and an Autolamp system that turned on the running lights when ambient outdoor light fell below a pre-set level.

The Oldsmobile Bravada has been our favorite of GM's trio of compact sport-utes. As we've mentioned in previous tests of the Bravada, our only real complaint about the truck has been its abysmal passenger crash test score. Oldsmobile addressed our fears about occupant safety this year by adding an airbag to the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. The vehicle has yet to be crash tested by NHTSA, but we assume that the results can only be better than the mediocre score posted by the old model. The Bravada we tested came to us outfitted to the same basic level as our fancy Rodeo. The main differences on the Bravada are the inclusion of a standard full-time four-wheel drive system and the lack of a moonroof, although one is available as a $695 option.

What struck us first when comparing these vehicles is that although they are large when compared to passenger cars, the Rodeo and Bravada are rather small when compared to the Mountaineer and other vehicles against which they compete. The Oldsmobile Bravada has an overall length of 183.7 inches; the Isuzu Rodeo has an overall length of just 176.7 inches. Compared with the Mercury Mountaineer, which measures 189.7 inches in length, the Oldsmobile and Isuzu look positively puny. Looks can be deceiving, however, as the small on the outside, big on the inside Rodeo proves with its impressive 81.1 cubic foot maximum cargo area, measuring just half a cubic foot short of the Mountaineer's top load-hauling capacity. The Bravada does not match up to the others in this regard, but still offers 71 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the rear seat folded down.

One of the reasons that people buy sport utility vehicles is for the perceived comfort and safety they give drivers on snow-covered or icy roads. In this comparison, the Mountaineer definitely takes home top honors, but just barely. Its Control-Trac 4WD system offers three settings: Auto, 4WD High, and 4WD Low. On Auto, the Mountaineer runs in two-wheel drive until rear wheel slippage is detected. When the rears break loose, a portion of available power is transferred to the front wheels. The two other settings are familiar to off-roaders. 4WD High locks the transfer case clutch, providing a constant 50/50 torque split between the front and rear wheels. 4WD Low is for serious off-roading or situations where engine braking is necessary. The Bravada has a SmartTrak full-time four-wheel drive system, which means that drivers need not worry about engaging the Bravada's differential before venturing onto wet or icy streets because the system is always working. Unfortunately, SmartTrak cuts fuel economy, increases driveline wear, and eliminates a 4WD Low mode. A great system for those interested primarily in beating a blizzard, but not as versatile as the Mountaineer's Control-Trac. The Isuzu has a sophisticated pushbutton shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive system, but it just can't beat the convenience of not having to worry about engaging four-wheel drive altogether. Additionally, the button that engages the system is located uncomfortably close to other secondary switchgear, making it prone to accidental engagement.

We've had ample opportunity to test these trucks in wintry weather conditions, since Colorado has been socked by snowstorm after snowstorm this season. (Run for your lives! It's El Nino!) All three are capable of plowing through the snow. The Bravada's full-time 4WD works best at moving the mass from a snow-packed intersection when the light turns green. The Mountaineer's rear tires spin for just a fraction of a moment before the front tires pull the truck through. The Rodeo requires manual 4WD engagement. All three are adept at stopping swiftly and surely on icy surfaces. It's a toss-up between the Rodeo and Mountaineer for best brakes since both offer superior pedal feel and transparent ABS operation. The Bravada, on the other hand, suffers from mushy pedal modulation and a chattery ABS system. All three handle reasonably well, but the lower-slung Rodeo wins this category despite suffering from the sloppiest steering. The Mountaineer turns on a dime and offers the best feedback from the road but feels uncomfortably tippy in turns. The Bravada offers the driver a numb wheel and a wide turning circle. Overall, we think the Mountaineer provides the best compromise of communication to the driver, handling ability, and go-in-the-snow capability of the three trucks gathered for this test.

All of our staffers agree that the Mountaineer has nicer interior materials: the Rodeo's dark gray color scheme and poorly finished fake wood make for a claustrophobic cabin while the Bravada's innards appear to be sourced from Playskool. Some of us find the more upright driving position of the Bravada and Mountaineer preferable to the Rodeo's beach-chair-on-the-floor front seats. The Mercury and Olds offer multi-adjustable power seats, an option that is conspicuously absent from the Rodeo's list of available features, but the win for comfort is split. The Bravada can be driven all day without a hint of pain, but the Mountaineer's cloth upholstery was much appreciated on cold winter mornings. Since cloth is a no charge option on the Bravada, the Oldsmobile snares our vote for driver comfort. Front seat passengers, however, will prefer the Mountaineer, because a power seat is provided for them as well. In contrast, the Rodeo's front chairs are neither supportive, comfortable, nor adjustable enough to encourage anyone to Go Farther. The Isuzu does get the nod for rear passenger comfort because of the Rodeo's ample aft legroom and a bench seat that can be tilted back slightly to accommodate those who prefer not to sit bolt upright. The Mountaineer also has a comfortable rear bench, but the Bravada's back seat should be limited to children because of tight quarters for adult legs and feet, as well as a short bottom cushion lacking in adult thigh support. In terms of rear passenger room, it seems Oldsmobile took the compact SUV concept a bit too literally. Overall, Mercury gets the nod in this category as well, but those who travel solo the majority of the time and won't worry much about the comfort of those who ride along on rare occasions will want a Bravada.

The powertrains of these trucks should be a source of pride for their respective engineering departments. We have been fans of the General Motors Vortec 4300 V-6 for years, and think that it provides excellent throttle response at low speeds. This is an old-school engine, meaning that it is utilizes an overhead valve design instead of an overhead cam design like the Mountaineer and Rodeo. GM takes plenty of heat for using this old technology in its compact trucks, but we feel that it does the job of moving the Bravada down the road far better than some SOHC engines do in competing sport utilities. Making 190 horsepower and 250 lb./ft. of torque, the Bravada's engine produces a considerable rush of acceleration that will satisfy most power-hungry drivers, as long as they stay in town. On the interstate, the Bravada makes lots of noise resulting in little additional forward velocity when the accelerator is mashed to the floor. The SOHC 4.0-liter V-6 engine under the hood of the Mountaineer is a revelation to those who've driven the wheezy old OHV 4.0-liter V-6 in the Explorer. Stomp on the Mountaineer's throttle and the new 205-horsepower engine revs high and accelerates smartly. The SOHC unit makes 250 lb./ft. of torque, allowing the Mountaineer to get off the line quickly. A slick 5-speed automatic transmission makes optimum use of available power, but the motor does thrash at high revs and the Mountaineer isn't exactly a featherweight. There's too much bulk here dampening the engine's spirits. Despite our affection for the Bravada's torquey engine and the Mountaineer's new overhead cam V-6, we like Isuzu's improved 3.2-liter SOHC V-6 a little bit more. The Rodeo has a slight horsepower advantage and a noticeable torque disadvantage when compared to the Mercury and Olds (215 horsepower and 215 lb./ft. of torque), but the power comes on much more smoothly and the automatic gearbox does a better job of choosing the proper gear. The Isuzu's engine note, too, is pleasing rather than irritating as in the other two SUVs. Any one of these trucks should be able to handle all but the most taxing towing duties: the Rodeo can pull 4,500 pounds when properly outfitted, the Bravada can yank 5,000 pounds around, and the Mountaineer musters 5,800 pounds of trailering muscle. The best engine of the trio depends on the buyer's needs. The Oldsmobile provides much-needed point-and-squirt ability for urban traffic. The Mountaineer is the towing king. Refined power delivery is the name of the game with the Isuzu. Choose your weapon.

There isn't much to say about the chassis and suspensions of these sport-utes, other than that they are truck-based components. Let the Nissan Pathfinder and Mercedes ML320 duke it out over which vehicle has the most sophisticated and car-like ride; the Rodeo, Mountaineer and Bravada proudly bang and jitter along with all of the aplomb of your average hay wagon. We exaggerate. The ride isn't particularly bad in any of the tested SUVs, but in a blindfolded comparison test none would be mistaken for your neighbor's new Toyota Camry. The Bravada fares the worst here, because the truck shakes and wiggles across all manner of paved and unpaved roadways. In comparison, the Mountaineer feels more tautly suspended, but the heavy truck bobs and weaves along the highway like a drunken Evander Holyfield. Of the three, the Rodeo provides the smoothest ride, at least until a large bump or frost heave is traversed, at which time the shock of the impact will travel directly to your unsupported spine. None of the trucks tested is particularly adept at tackling the rough stuff without fully extending or compressing the suspension. If your idea of the ultimate sport utility is based on suspension performance, you can save yourself showroom visits by checking out a Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee with the Up-Country Suspension option; it is easily the best combination of on- and off-road ability that we've ever tried. Of the three tested trucks, however, we prefer the Rodeo.

Styling is subjective, and our staff was torn between the look-at-me styling of the new Rodeo and the tastefully conservative Mercury Mountaineer (tasteful, that is, if you can ignore the vast amount of chrome adorning the front end). We used to like the sporty monochromatic look of the Oldsmobile Bravada, until this 1998 restyling. The new headlight cluster, slatted grille, bulky side cladding, and bulging rear bumper turn us completely off. The Mountaineer boasts attractive deep-dish alloy wheels, traditional two-tone paint, and plenty of chrome trim for that "luxury" look. Old Mountaineers wore more cosmetic adornment on their tailgates than Tammy Fae Baker's face. For 1998, a new tailgate with a Lincoln Navigator flavor tones the rear end down. But in the final analysis, we find ourselves handing the beauty pageant crown to the Rodeo. The ruggedly handsome Isuzu has the right blend of angles, flares, edges, swoops, and dips to make people stop and comment on how great the truck looks. It stands out well on Denver's SUV-clogged freeways and makes us feel like individualists when it's parked in a sea of Explorers and Grand Cherokees in the mall parking lot. The tailgate-mounted spare and steeply sloped rear window provide the sport for this sport utility. Thank God it doesn't look like an Hombre.

Oldsmobile's Bravada may come up a bit short in a number of categories, but it offers a whole lot of truck for the money. Standard features like full-time all-wheel drive, dual zone temperature control, leather hides, a multi-adjustable driver's seat, and a full-load of power amenities go a long way toward making us forget about the lousy ride, cheap interior bits, and questionable exterior design cues. The Isuzu Rodeo possesses a blend of style, performance, and function that would make almost any SUV buyer happy. But it's uncomfortable and has the least user-friendly 4WD system of our trio. Additionally, the swing-out hatchgate operation is a real hassle. Mercury provides passenger room, power, and comfort in a very user-friendly, refined, and attractive package. Not a standout in any particular area, the Mountaineer never fails to please either, and it will hold the most groceries after a shopping spree with Mom. Of the three SUVs we tested, we'd buy the value-laden Mountaineer, even without a coupon.