But spokesmen say the standard has not been a priority because the agency has found fewer rollovers among sport utes than among passenger cars.

That seems surprising until you consider the number of cars versus the lower number of sport utes.

"Sometimes I wind up pulling over to the right to let the sport ute pass me."

With 155 horsepower and 160 foot-pounds of torque, this little sport ute should zip right along.

Chrysler sold 12,283 Dodge Durangos, its big new sport ute, last month, nearly offsetting a drop in car sales of 12,470, or 16.8 percent.

But the seats are high, offering the commanding feel of a sport ute.

Or does it suggest that drivers of fancy sport utes, despite the back-to-nature image, are no longer up to the task of mountain biking?

But despite their immense popularity, "sport utes" have drawbacks, and they go beyond being difficult to board.

For even at their best, sport utes are just trucks with better-sprung seats and a great view of the golden arches.

About a dozen of us drove to the drive-in movie theatre in three sport utes.