With the top score, Good, in front, side and rear-impact crash tests, the 2009 EX was rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That's not necessarily a competitive advantage — all but three competitors are also Top Safety Picks — but it's commendable all the same. Standard safety features include six airbags, antilock brakes and an electronic stability system. Lane Departure Prevention is optional, as is advanced cruise control with a collision-warning system. Click here for a full list of safety features.

Consumer Reports gives the EX its top score, Much Better Than Average, for overall reliability. Five EX competitors haven't been on the market long enough to rate, but of the four others the publication scored — the RDX, X3, MKX and LR2 — only the MKX did as well. That's impressive.

Available in base and Journey editions, the EX comes standard with leather upholstery, power front seats, a backup camera, push-button start and single-zone automatic climate control. Prices start at $33,800 for a base, rear-wheel-drive EX35; all-wheel drive costs a reasonable $1,400.

The EX35 Journey starts at $36,000 and adds a moonroof, dual-zone climate control, heated seats and more. Other options include the Around View Monitor, Lane Departure Prevention, a navigation system and power-folding rear seats. Load an EX up, and the total runs about $44,000. As this group goes, that's relatively inexpensive: The Acura RDX is a bit less, but if you're liberal with the options it's not hard to spend close to $50,000 on an RX and well past that mark on the German competition.