In the driver seat new models from 2003.

• Author: Westby, Tim
• Position: Locus Luxuryauto

LIKE THE REST OF THE NATION, Utah remains in the throes of a passionate love affair with the SUV. Not even a sluggish economy, ongoing concerns about safety and uncertainty over gas prices have managed to satisfy our penchant for rugged off-road vehicles -- whether we ever leave the pavement with them or not.

But buyers in search of a less substantial vehicle will also be pleased to discover there are new developments outside the world of rugged behemoths. The sedan is hotter than ever as manufacturers work to blur the lines between people haulers and sports cars, and convertibles are seeing a revival as well.

UB looks at six of the latest luxury models to hit dealer showrooms in recent months.

Hummer H2

You probably aren't likely to drive a $50,000 vehicle up a muddy, 70-degree incline even if said vehicle were immensely capable of it. But for some, the thought that they could if they wanted to is reassuring. Other people are excited by the possibility of driving something unlike anything else on the road. That's where General Motors' all-new Hummer H2 comes in. With 35-inch tires, a 6-liter V8 and a base price of $48,800, the "baby hummer" is less than half the price of the military-inspired H1. For that reason, and a few creature comforts the H1 is lacking, GM hopes to sell upwards of 40,000 annually compared to less than a thousand of the H1.

Volvo XC9O

Volvo's first attempt at the SUV market was a relabeled V70 wagon with increased ground clearance called the Cross Country. While that idea might have worked well for Subaru with its Legacy/Outback wagon, Volvo found itself losing ground as high-end customers opted for the real thing. Now, Volvo has the real deal too. With systems like Roll Stability Control, Dynamic Stability Traction Control, side curtain-type airbags and optional infrared Night Vision, it ought to be one of the safest SUVs on the road. "People like the looks and design," says Kelly Railsback, sales manager at Ken Garff Volvo, "but safety is the big selling point." Expect to pay between $38,000 and $43,000.

Porsche Cayenne

Depending on your perspective, Porsche's entry into the SUV field is cause for sheer joy or abject horror. But like it or not, come February 2003, the Cayenne will be here. And it's already proving to be popular. Dave Strong's Porsche expects to have most, if not all, of its allotment sold by then. To make the Cayenne, Porsche teamed up with its sister company Volkswagen. The bodies of the Cayenne...