The car debate is still raging. I want something that's highly fuel efficient. I need something with all-wheel or four-wheel drive. As my kids age, I really need something big enough to tote my kids, their friends and everyone's equipment. I'd say I'll have four to six passengers 80 percent of the time I drive. Occasionally, I'll need to schlep eight. And this will be our family-trip car, which means a quick accumulation of miles as we try to tour all the national parks and visit our spread-out family.

That means a big vehicle.

Worse, that means my choice won't be that fuel efficient.

I know I'm going to pay for the choice not only at the pump but also with some moral high ground. I don't particularly wish to be the SUV-driving, CO2-emitting stereotypical American.

But my needs - which are very real - seem to make the choice for me.

We've narrowed it down to about six choices: Acura MDX, Chevy Traverse, Ford Flex, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, and Subaru Tribeca.  I'd like to add a Toyota to the list, but the Highlander did fairly poorly in this nifty safety pdf I found.  The vehicles listed about have at least average reliability and have great safety records (these are in the top nine percent of all vehicles).

Any advice?  I'd love to hear your opinions on the best big family car.