I am looking for a Jeep Cherokee right now, so perhaps I'd pick that one.
Modern SUV? I'd like to try the Mercedes M-Class. All the creature comforts, decent power, decent mileage, and very well built. A tad out of my price range, though.
Any more, SUVs are just big AWD station wagons. There aren't too many left with a lever-operated transfer case, real low range, decent ground clearance, and cargo/towing capacity.
+1 on honda pilot, they are great. If you need to go bigger then get into a suburban. those infinity QX56 that IndyGuy is talking about AKA Nissan Armada, I have heard nothing but bad things about those.
I am looking for a Jeep Cherokee right now, so perhaps I'd pick that one.
There are 3 Cherokee's within 20 miles of my house with bad motors. They are a 99, a 2000 and a 2001. All under 150K miles. Though if I could pick one up cheap, and drop a new or a junkyard used motor in that it would make a good first car for my boy, who gets his license soon. NOT. Junkyards want 1500 for a motor(4.7L V8) with 150K on it and a factory rebuild is
3000. Now I see why there are so many being sold and not fixed.
I still have my 2001 Cherokee and it's still the favorite vehicle I've owned. I also had a '91 that I loved as well. It's not big and it's not fancy but I've moved and pulled all kinds of things in it and it's never let me down. The inline 6 is hard to kill.