Oh, believe me, I understand the primal appeal of the legendary, multi-function pocketknife. ("Look! It's a screwdriver!", "Look! It's a can opener!", "Look! It's a digital altimeter!")

No thanks. I'm a firm believer in the practice of using the right tool for the right job.

Same with cars. Required to haul the clan to kingdom come? Get me a minivan, please.

Need to motor up to Tremblant for a ski weekend? A sport utility vehicle with traction at all wheels, s'il vous plaĒt.

Planning a solo drive on a twisty open road? Supply me a sports car, por favor.

Presenting a trio of automotive Swiss Army knives: the 2007 Acura MDX Elite, Audi Q7 3.6 Premium and Mazda CX-9 GT AWD. All three are new to the crossover segment. One that has swiftly evolved since the pioneering Chrysler Pacifica debuted in 2004.

The MDX, Q7 and CX-9 all have similar dimensions and capacities. But which is the best on the road?:

THIRD PLACE: 2007 Acura MDX Elite - GALLERY

With 300 hp and 275 lb.-ft. of torque in the 3.7-litre V6, and a curb weight only 31 kilograms more than the Mazda, the Acura has the best power-to-weight ratio here.

But with only a five-speed manumatic – where the others have six – the MDX's as-tested 13.5 L/100 km fuel consumption was the worst.

Acura's new Super Handling All-Wheel Drive and magnetic self-adjusting shock-absorber systems are both part of the MDX's optional Elite package. It bumps the base price from $53,730 to $63,330.

Acura tuned both of these dynamic systems on Germany's famous Nürburgring circuit, and it shows. Despite the smallest rubber here (255/55 by 18 inches), the Acura's overall feel is very Teutonic, i.e., heavy and deliberate.

On paper, the Acura should have squashed its two crossover compadré like bugs in its Knights-of-the-Round-Table grille. But Acura's high-tech solutions presented their own challenges.

The SH all-wheel drive is unique, in that it allocates torque to each wheel. Problem is, when you go to use all that prodigious power, the system overcompensates at the front end. The result is excessive torque steer like in a front-drive vehicle. (Ugh!)

Likewise, the magnetic shocks offer two settings: "Comfort" felt uncomposed, with lots of longitudinal wheel travel. And "Sport" was too harsh. (Double ugh!!)

WHY BUY? Heraldic styling, high-tech features, lots of performance. WHY NOT? The sum of all the Acura MDX's gee-whiz parts simply doesn't add up to a refined driving experience. MINIVAN ALTERNATIVE: 2007 Honda Odyssey, $33,300-$48,100


SECOND PLACE: 2007 Mazda CX-9 GT AWD - GALLERY

The CX-9 is Mazda's largest, most expensive vehicle ever. It's also the bargain of this trio.

Starting at $41,595, the CX-9 test car was loaded with every available option, save for a DVD entertainment system, totaling $50,325 (front-wheel-drive CX-9's start at $39,595). And don't let the dollar-store pricing scare you: If not as world-class as the Audi, there's nothing low rent about the Mazda's build quality or interior finishes.

Although down on power with its smallish 3.5-litre V6 – producing 263 hp and 249 lb.-ft. – the CX-9 is also the lightest crossover here; 228 kilograms lighter than the avoirdupois Q7.

Not surprisingly, the Mazda's as-tested consumption was the least, at 13.2 L/100 km. And where the Acura and Audi required premium juice, the CX-9 sipped regular.

The CX-9 is surprisingly obedient to a driver's demands. Unlike the MDX, steering is clear, definitive and linear. Regardless of the rubber-band 245/50R20-inch tires, the Mazda's ride is well controlled without the harshness of its competitors.

WHY BUY? Excellent value; a dolphin among whales. WHY NOT? Some may want more power and less body roll in the corners. MINIVAN ALTERNATIVE: 2007 Toyota Sienna, $31,200—$51,375


FIRST PLACE: 2007 Audi Q7 3.6 Premium - GALLERY

Compared to the Acura or the Mazda, the Audi's $55,400 starting price seems reasonable.

But add the Skydome-imitating panorama sunroof, Premium and S-Line packages – like the Q7 3.6 test car – and you're at $70,650 faster than you can say vorsprung durch technik.

More reasonable would be a Q7 3.6 and S-Line package for $59,150. Beyond exterior and interior trim, the package affixes steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles and massive 275/45R20 rubber.

The Audi's 3.6-litre V6 (280 hp and 266 lb.-ft.) may sit between the Acura and Mazda in its power ratings, yet it ranks first in refinement.

The big Audi's straight-line performance is dulled only by its 2,290-kg curb weight. It ends up the slowest in acceleration of this trio and the Q7's 14.5 L/100 km (premium) fuel consumption is average as well.

Unlike the CX-9, the Q7 controls body roll to minimum. There's no feeling that the weight of the vehicle is moving anywhere other than the intended direction.

The AWD Audi steers with precision without any of the unnecessary feedback. The compromise is a ride that's not as forgiving as the Mazda.

WHY BUY? Audi build quality; sports wagon handling. WHY NOT? If you want the additional features of the Acura or Mazda, you'll have to pay (a lot) more. MINIVAN ALTERNATIVE 2007 Nissan Quest, $32,498-$46,998

- John LeBlanc, Publisher