2009 Chrysler Aspen

Smooth Powertrain
The optional 5.7-liter V8 and five-speed automatic transmission combination is smooth and powerful. The HEMI engine is responsive on the road and strong enough to tow a maximum of 8,900 pounds.

Three-Row Seating
Aspen doesn't have a bad seat in the house. If your passengers complain, it will be about your driving, not their accommodations.

The Aspen has a roomy, refined interior and seats seven to eight people in three rows. Getting in or out of the third row doesn't demand the nimbleness of a gymnast, and those consigned to the third row won't feel slighted. With the maximum number of passengers on board, minimum cargo capacity is 20 cubic feet. Both second- and third-row seats fold nearly flat, and storage space increases accordingly from big (68.4 cubic feet) to bigger (102.4 cubic feet). Lift-over height in back is low, and the opening is usefully wide, but those over six feet tall will need to duck under the liftgate door when loading luggage or lumber.

The latest editions of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator sport enough brightwork on their front ends to make a 1950s car blush but, by comparison, the 2009 Chrysler Aspen's face comes off as conservative – which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The four-bar grille is capped by a winged, heritage badge, and hood strakes are similar to those on Chrysler's Crossfire sports car. Buyers who want to boost Aspen's bling factor can opt for the 20-inch, 10-spoke chrome rims. The Aspen otherwise strikes a traditional SUV profile, with beefy, squared-shoulder styling.

The standard powertrain in the Aspen is a 4.7-liter V8 matched to a five-speed automatic. The 4.7-liter is E85-compatible, and thus able to run on gasoline, ethanol or a mixture of the two. Optional is Chrysler's 5.7-liter HEMI V8; somewhat surprisingly, the bigger engine provides significantly more power and torque with fuel economy that's actually a little better. The 4.7-liter works well in the Aspen platform, but if you can swing the extra money ($990), there's really no incentive not to buy the HEMI, as it offers more "go," more "tow" and better fuel economy than the smaller engine.

4.7-liter V8
303 horsepower @ 5650 rpm
330 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3950 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/19 (2WD, gas), 9/13 (2WD, E85), 13/18 (4WD, gas), 9/12 (4WD, E85)

5.7-liter V8 HEMI
376 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
401 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 (2WD), 13/19 (4WD)

5.7-liter V8 HEMI Hybrid
345 horsepower @ 5300 rpm
380 l.b.-ft. of torque @ 4200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/22