Just personal views here, and I assume off-road ability is something that would be nice but not essential for you on this one...
None will ever make the statement the VX makes, but you need something more family-oriented. All of them are overpriced to me, but so was the VX, and at least the VW and Volvo warrant it more in my view.
The Infiniti is in my opinion flat-out ugly and I just don't see the attraction, but to each their own. It's fast and either the FX35 or FX45 can be had in AWD. But no low-range transfer case and it is not meant for the trails. It's a powerhouse stationwagon. It's a beast, and I'd take it over a Porsche Cayenne. But I'd never want either one. Call me shallow but I still want to like the looks. Also not as spacious. Not sure on safety.
The Volvo is certainly not an off-roader and doesn't pretend to be with no low-range transfer case available. The Volvo is not performance-oriented despite the numbers. Because of its safety considerations alone I'd consider putting my wife and kids in it, but it is a tad underpowered.
The peppier version of the VW isn't as fast but it's still the smart man's Porsche Cayenne. They share the same platform, with different engines and suspension tuning. The VW has more ability off-road. The stock Touareg can ford 23 inches of water and has up to 11.8 in ground clearance. It is the one created most in the spirit of the VX. It is not the best city driver, but it is the most versatile pick. Mileage sucks though.
If going off-road is not a big deal, then for this price range I'd consider the Acura MDX as well. Great safety ratings, good handling, and it's plenty fast.
Just thought I'd throw in a blurb about the Touareg:
But none of those other vehicles would have made it past the parking area during our day trip to Moab, Utah. Known for its breathtaking vistas of red rock and desert scrub, Moab is home to challenging slick-rock off-road trails ? basically, steep expanses of rock face with tire tracks burned into them with names like Hell's Revenge, Lion's Back and Dragon's Tail. Between these boulders are plenty of rocks and ruts that separate the "real" SUVs from those that just look like them.
Here we made use of the Touareg's dual-range, electronic 4XMotion four-wheel-drive system. Unless you fiddle with the dial on the center console, the Touareg is in a 4-Hi mode intended for driving on pavement. The front/rear power split defaults at 50/50 (rather than using a rear bias like the Cayenne), and this ratio is adjusted according to traction needs. The center differential locks automatically on slippery surfaces, but the driver can lock it manually if he likes. Switch to the low-range gearing, and you've got the same flexibility ? let the system lock the differential automatically or do it yourself to deal with tricky situations. A locking rear differential is optional on all Touaregs, and it's worth considering if you're a serious off-roader. The VW also has hill ascent and descent features. The ascent feature keeps the Touareg from rolling back on steep inclines when you're not on the brakes, while the Hill Decline Assistant allows for slow, steady descents down steep grades without brake input from the driver.
On this outing, we only had air suspension-equipped vehicles with us, and an off-road instructor sat next to us, reminding us when to select the "extra" ride height level for maximum clearance. Often, he got out to scout ahead on the trail so that he could give exact instructions on how to maneuver the vehicle. With that kind of help, it's no wonder that the Touaregs we drove mastered these trails without taking damage or even bottoming out (except due to driver error). But having experienced the severity of some of the grades, we wouldn't have wanted to use just any SUV for this task. We only would have considered those with Jeep, Land Rover and Toyota badges, and that puts the unibody VW in good company. One other thing of note: These early-production Touaregs proved to be exceptionally quiet and refined companions on this rugged course ? a few creaks emanated from the B-pillars on the steepest grades, but that was it.
Besides being tough enough for serious off-roading, the Touareg can handle medium-duty towing jobs, which is much more than can be said of the typical crossover SUV. Its maximum tow rating of 7,716 pounds (for both engines) even exceeds that of utilitarian midsize SUVs like the 4Runner, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer and Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT.
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