A great car choice! (Review after 1 mo. of ownership)

Author's Rating:

Pros: Please, see full review

Cons: Please, see full review

The Bottom Line: 
Highly recommended!

Author's Review
Pros:
- Superb car handling. Rides a lot of better that other comparable sized SUV I have had the opportunity to drive (Nissan's Pathfinder, Hyundai's Santa Fe, Mercury's Mountaineer).
- Navigation System: full of (practical) features, and although takes some time to familiarize will all of them, system includes a help list (very helpful while learning the system!!).
- Ergonomics and interior: my trim is the EX-L (with NAVI), so it has the leather seats, moonroof, heated seats and rearview mirrors, etc. NICE looking interior! Pretty much all the control are very intuitive, and easy to memorize. LOTS of space for keeping change, glasses, cell phone, etc., throughout the three seat rows. The presence of cargo nets, grocery bags hooks (to stop plastic gorcery bags from being running around the back of your car), and similar touches are well received surprises.
- Good braking prowess. Already utilized on few ocassions, due to being accostumed to driving a 93 Altima sedan, which, obviously, has way different inertia and body mass/respond.
- Quiet sound coming from the engine. Very low. Seems like the engine has been turned off in most occassions.
- Good cargo space. Fit 3 adults, 3 kids, and 6 mid to full size luggage bags, with now problem.
- LATCH security features on second AND third row (provides maximum security for child seats on either row).
- EX-L NAVI has a backup (rear) camera, useful when backing up.
- Outside temp indicator: one previous reviewer stated that it was not available, but my unit has it. When pressing the button to change the mileage indicator, one of the stops will display the outside temperature. (In the other hand, the same reviewer stated that his unit had a compass and ECO indicator (when engine is running at the most economic mode), and I have not found those features on my unit (?!?!?!?))

So-and-so:
- Audio system: sound is good normal quality (not superb, not crappy). Systems DOES NOT make randow play of ALL discs (only of tracks within ONE disc). This is kind of obsolete by now. System does not accept MP3s or WMA discs (which are becoming very normal on this type of cars). The Pathfinder has an extremely superior sound system (Bose brand), which accepts MP3 discs (not WMAs), makes random of all discs/one disc, and sounds impressive!
- Acceleration power from a full stop. It is decent, not great (like in the Pathfinder) nor bad.
- The second row does not fold COMPLETELY FLAT. Although not much is lost by this, a completely flat cargo space would make it GREAT!
- The backup camera, although helpful, is a little misleading when getting close to objects, as it displays things looking like farther away than they really are.
- Kind of small rearview mirrors. A few more inches would be definitely welcomed!
- Instantenous mileage, avg mileage, etc., indicators: they are not available, and would have been great additions, to help drivers train into how to defeat the poor mileage (see below) of the car.


Cons:
- Poor mileage. My average MPG has been 17 mpg, with a fairly quiet, conservative driving style (mixing highway, stop-and-go traffic jams, and normal city driving).