High power, lower fuel: 2011 SUVs and crossovers that pair utility and efficiency

The all-new Ford Explorer offers 30 percent better fuel economy than previous models. (Ford)

We're skiers, hikers and boaters in the Pacific Northwest, so our lifestyles are very active. To haul all that gear, we need vehicles with some size. But we also want fuel efficiency.

Those dueling interests haven't gone unnoticed by auto manufacturers. To snag more buyers, the SUV and crossover market is blurring the line between utility and efficiency -- there are even two upcoming crossovers smaller than Honda's CR-V.

I've chosen five 2011 SUVs and crossovers that are part of the evolution and sure to have a big impact on the categories they compete in. Check them out and you may find your perfect urban trail partner.

Clockwise from top left: The Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland's interior; the MINI Countryman; the Nissan Juke; the Kia Sportage.

2011 Ford Explorer
The vehicle that helped ignite America's SUV love affair in the early '90s is reborn. Historically built on a truck frame, the new Explorer has become a unibody rig that shares its architecture with the Taurus. With no more V8 offered, buyers will choose between a base 290-horsepower six-cylinder or an optional 237-hp turbocharged EcoBoost 4. Yes, four cylinders. Properly outfitted, it seats seven and tows 5,000 pounds while offering up to 30 percent better fuel economy. Starting at $29,000, the Explorer will navigate its way into showrooms in December.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The original Grand Cherokee revolutionized SUVs by offering a rugged off-road machine comfortable enough for daily duty. The fourth generation, in showrooms now, takes that mission even more seriously. Interior materials are substantially improved; the Overland model, for example, sports a stitched leather instrument panel. Four more inches of legroom have been added to the back row to help load car seats and growing teens. Three levels of four-wheel drive are available, as well as two engines: the new Pentastar V6 and a V8 Hemi. Comfortable and capable, the Grand Cherokee starts at $31,000.

2011 Kia Sportage
Kia nabbed designer Peter Schreyer from Audi, and it's easy to see his influence. LED daytime running lights and dramatic sheet metal make the Sportage look more expensive than its $19,000 base price. Initially powered by a 176-hp four-cylinder (a 270-hp turbo engine is coming), this stylish crossover rides on the same architecture as the Hyundai Tucson. The Sportage, available now, lives up to its name as it deftly handles curves with firm, athletic handling. Choose between front-wheel drive and Dynamax all-wheel drive that reads the road surface with ESP-like aplomb.

2011 MINI Countryman
The Countryman will no doubt be ribbed as being the big MINI, but loyal Cooper owners with children finally have a vehicle to migrate to. All-wheel drive and seating for five are firsts for the brand. BMW eschews the label of crossover for this compact, but it can take on the snow and Forest Service roads we Northwesterners like to traverse. Propelled by a twin turbo 1.6-liter V4 pumping out 181 hp, the Countryman should be swift and nimble. Prepare to spend north of $30,000 this February if you want your MINI supersized.

2011 Nissan Juke
Smaller than a Volkswagen Golf and styled like a robotic amphibian, the Juke is the most controversial choice on this list. It's sized for those who need all-wheel drive but don't want the mass. Motivated by a 188-hp 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder, the optional AWD system sports a sophisticated rear differential that transfers power between the left and right wheels. Its sporty, athletic driving dynamic is normally reserved for cars such as the Mazda3 and Civic Si. Less hiking boot, more Teva sport sandal, the Juke is available now starting at $19,700.

Tom Voelk is an auto specialist for KING 5 TV and hosts an auto-review podcast called Drive. His website is drivencarreviews.com.