Motor Trend announced Monday that the Mazda CX-9 is Motor Trend's 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year.

The CX-9 was picked from a crowd of 11 contenders, which Motor Trend said was one of the highest-quality fields it has seen since the magazine started evaluating sport/utilities.

A category once reserved for a few off-road specialists, the sport/utility or crossover class now offers a vehicle for practically any driver

Angus MacKenzie, editor in chief of Motor Trend said this year's field, while smaller than last year's, includes significant new entries.

Mazda's victory, however, was a unanimous decision by the panel of judges.

"We wondered if it would be possible for Mazda to inject its sports car DNA into their first-ever three-row crossover -- a crossover that happened to be one of the largest in the lineup," said MacKenzie. "After three days of testing, that question was answered in full. It was arguably the most enjoyable sport/utility to drive, and a great reminder that SUVs can be as exciting as any car."

Sport/Utility of the Year is not a comparison test. Each contender was evaluated against three simple criteria: superiority, significance and value.

Sport/Utility of the Year is only open to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from Nov. 1, 2006. Motor Trend looks for the pick of each year's crop of new SUV's, and does not revisit vehicles that have been on sale for the past few years.

In addition to the Mazda CX-9, Motor Trend evaluated:

• Buick Enclave
• Hyundai Veracruz
• Jeep Liberty
• Jeep Patriot
• Land Rover LR2
• Nissan Rouge
• Saturn Vue
• Subaru Tribeca
• Toyota Highlander
• Toyota Land Cruiser

"Make no mistake, the sport utility or crossover is enmeshed in the American psyche," said MacKenzie. "Despite concerns over the economy and rising gas prices, more than 2 million SUVs rolled off dealer lots in the first six months of 2007 alone."

"The Mazda CX-9 spins the traditional [SUV] in a new direction," said MacKenzie. "It's a sleek, elegant, sophisticated vehicle that is comfortable going to midtown, the market or the mountains."

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