If you are looking for a full-size sport-utility vehicle that sports a luxury car maker's label without the $100,000 price tag, then you may be in luck.

For a little under $70,000, there is a plethora of vehicles that offer many of the features of their bigger siblings and with names -- Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche -- that have instant cachet.

Lexus GX 470

New to Canada in 2004 is the Lexus GX 470, little brother to the King Kong-sized LX 470. The GX is powered by a 4.7-litre, 235-horsepower V-8 engine that produces 320 lb-ft of torque and is exceptionally smooth and so quiet you might need to check the tachometer to make sure it is still running.

Power is adequate, although the normally smooth five-speed automatic will be hunting for the appropriate gear in hilly country. Acceleration to 100 km/h averaged eight seconds and stopping from the same speed took a longish 39 metres.

Power is normally split 60 per cent to the rear wheels and the balance to the front, with a centre differential adjustment that provides a 50/50 distribution of power. For those who want to try off-roading, you have the option of a low/high range engaged by a separate shifter. Unfortunately, the shifter protrudes awkwardly from the centre console.

Suspension adjustments include a ride-height adjustment via dash-mounted push button and the ability to select one of four different degrees of ride firmness. I found the softest comfort setting was best on smooth and relatively straight highway and around town. Although handling is improved somewhat by selecting the firm settings, for the GX 470, as with most SUVs, good handling is an oxymoron.

Entering the cabin is aided by a built-in "runner board" step that runs underneath both side doors and well-placed grab handles. Once inside, you are treated to a well-designed dash with bird's eye maple trim and lots of leather.

Gauges are easy to read and the "electroluminescent" feature is excellent, especially the neon light at the tip of the speedometer needle.

The seats are multiadjustable, offering reasonable comfort, although I found the base of the seat too short and there is virtually no side bolstering to assist during hard cornering.

Front-seat storage space is limited by the use of the centre console for no fewer than four cup holders. The sound system is the best of the trio and the optional rear-seat DVD is well-positioned for all rear-seat passengers, including the two in the standard third row.

A rear-mounted video camera is activated when the transmission is placed in reverse and provides much-needed assistance to view the area behind the vehicle. Unfortunately, the two seats for the third row are stored on the outboard sides of the rear cargo compartment and compromise both load-carrying capacity and rear vision.

The cargo entrance is hinged on the right side and opens like a door as opposed to a hatch back or tailgate design. If you are doing a lot of curbside loading, you may find the hinging on the right a nuisance or even a safety hazard.

Lexus includes a full-size spare mounted on an alloy wheel, a nice bonus should you ever dent one of the other four wheels.

There is a 48-month or 80,000-km comprehensive warranty, power train coverage for 72 months or 110,000 km, and a roadside assistance program. Safety includes front, side and head curtain airbags. The vehicle has not been tested for crash tests.

If you occasionally need to haul seven people in style or tow 2,100 kg and you have always wanted a Lexus, then the GX 470 is a quiet comfortable SUV built on a truck frame that should provide many kilometres of trouble-free driving.

Mercedes-Benz ML 500

There are only a few automobile manufacturers that enjoy the cache Mercedes commands, especially for luxury sedans. So it was a surprise to many when the company decided to branch into the SUV market and even more interesting when it located its ML series manufacturing plant in Alabama.

The ML 500 is powered by a five-litre, single overhead cam V-8 that produces 325 lb-ft of torque and 288 horsepower able to transport you to 100 km/h in a average of 7.5 seconds, the fastest of the three. Engine power is smooth and there is minimal noise intrusion into the cabin.

The transmission is a four speed with manual override that enables some driver control over shift points, although there is no way to go beyond the red line.

Braking was slightly better than the GX 470, stopping from 100 km/h in 38 metres. However, the brake pedal travel was long and felt a little mushy.

The body-on-frame construction, a two-speed transfer case and massive 275/55R 17 tires combine to give the impression that the ML could do some serious off-roading. However, the ML is better on the road than off.

The inside is a cornucopia of leather and wood trim, with lots of luxury touches. Although not as tall as the GX, the ML offers better outward sight lines. Seats are comfortable and are designed more for comfortable cruising than for abrupt changes in direction.

The centre console is home to the power window and mirror switches with two features that I grew to appreciate. One is the power mirror control that positions the outside mirrors flat against the side windows, helpful in tight parking spots. The other is the power rear-quarter windows that, when opened, help with ventilation and to reduce the buffing noise when driving with the sunroof open.

There is a quality build feel -- the vault-like thud when the door is closed -- that is more noticeable in the ML than the GX 470 or Porsche Cayenne. Gauges are very legible and I found the unique use of a ribbon of light on the speedometer helpful when the cruise control is engaged.

Passive safety includes front and side airbags, head curtains and a SOS button that will call for help if an airbag or seat-belt tensioning device is deployed.

The optional third-row seats are small and, as with the GX 470, limit both the travel time and size of person that can actually get into them. Cargo capacity is the best of the bunch with more than 980 litres even with the second-row seats up.

Mercedes-Benz warranty coverage is similar to the others with 48-month or 80,000-km limited warranty on most items, five years or 120,000 km on major components and a 24-month or 40,000-km "wear-and-tear" coverage.

A car-like ride, surprisingly good handling and numerous luxury accoutrements have proven the ML warrants the Mercedes label as much as the larger G-Class.

Porsche Cayenne

When the Porsche SUV was first announced, it sent a shock wave among many long-time Porsche owners who questioned the wisdom of a true sport-car company flirting with the SUV market. However, the Cayenne has quickly proven it is a performance-oriented vehicle and has attracted plenty of willing purchasers.

A new addition to the powerful Turbo and S models is the "plain" Cayenne powered by a 3.2-litre, 247-hp V-6 that produces 229 lb-ft of torque and claims to have the same towing capacity of its far more powerful siblings -- an awesome 3,500 kg.

Although towing capacity is the best of the three tested, the acceleration is modest at best, averaging just a tick less than 10 seconds to reach 100 km/h.

The six-speed automatic is smooth and, when used with the Tiptronic feature, gives the driver lots of control over shift points.

Braking from 100 km/h was the best of the group, with stops averaging 36 metres.

And then there is the handling. The Cayenne is arguably the best handling SUV on the market today. An active suspension management system and putting 62 per cent of the power to the rear wheels helps contributes to this handling prowess.

The suspension results in a much firmer ride than the GX or ML. Off-roading capability is in the genes, and even the anti-roll bars can be electronically disconnected if you get into a tight spot.

The inside of the Cayenne is a pleasant surprise, with the most comfortable front seats of the trio and plenty of leg room. Lots of storage and special touches like vents on the back-door pillars to enhance air circulation to the rear-seat passengers. No third-row seating is available, which is a good thing given the Cayenne has the least cargo room of the group.

Gauges are easy to read, including the blended analogue and digital speedometer. Controls are all within reach and the grab handles built into the centre console grow on you. Passive safety includes a full array of airbags and head curtains.

Warranty coverage includes four years or 80,000 km on all major components and a roadside-assistance program.

With the dual exhausts, superb handling and braking, and the most towing capability, the base-model Cayenne is most worthy of being called a Porsche.

If you have a big load to tow or if your driving includes lots of twisty highways, the Cayenne is a great choice.