SUV of the Year (MT)

[jwyshrek]

And the winner is:

Mercedes GL

From the trucktrend website...but WTH???....


""If you look at the sport/utility segment on that basis," said MacKenzie. "All of the vehicles that we drove this year are crossovers. It used to be that the sport/utility was an off-road vehicle, plain and simple. This year, only three vehicles--the Mercedes-Benz GL, the Jeep Wrangler and the Toyota FJ Cruiser--had real off-road capability. Many of this year's new sport/utility models will be offered in two-wheel drive versions that will certainly be popular in states where weather and roads aren't a problem."

If the FJ and Wrangler are 'crossovers' like the CRV and RAV4...what the heck am I driving now???

 

[Jacobzky]

a 4Runner.

 

[greasefingers]

Doesn

 

[Boston_Runner]

The GL is a nice truck, but you can buy 2 4runners for the price of 1 GL.

 

[trpnbillie11]

I understand why they didn't even test the 4Runner, considering the fact its essentially a 4 year old model, but I find it really hard to find any newer reviews of it. Everyone seems to like it at least when it came out but you'd figure they'd at least talk about it in the magazines when it was refreshed last year.

The Mercedes is hideous, and thats saying alot considering the G-Wagon wasn't particularly the cutest girl at the dance. I'd much rather have a G-Wagon over than monstrosity. I know thats just my opinion and my taste and that is really subjective, but really, its foul. I don't understand how it could win the award considering there are much better off-roading vehicles (Range Rover, Cayenne) in that price class and the fact that the FJ is so impressive. The FJ definitely should have won considering its off-road prowess and its value for what it costs.

 

[Uneek]

I understand why they didn't even test the 4Runner, considering the fact its essentially a 4 year old model, but I find it really hard to find any newer reviews of it. Everyone seems to like it at least when it came out but you'd figure they'd at least talk about it in the magazines when it was refreshed last year.

The update for 2006 was mainly cosmetic. There wasn't any mechanical changes or improvements made for any magazine to retest the 4Runner. I haven't seen that MT article, but by the sounds of it, they're probably testing newly introduced SUVs. They should put the 4Runner in the test if they're testing SUVs in the midsize segment.

 

[Thai]

Remember, with MT's competition, only new or major redesign vehicles are allowed to be in it...thus, Range Rover, Cayenne, 4runners, Land Cruisers, etc. are not in the competition.

I am shock that the GL beat out the FJC for this prize! I like the GL, but did not think that it is that good.

What did they say about Wrangler vs. FJC in the article??

 

[OUTRNNR]

I don't actually think the MB GL looks too bad. It has a solid engine line up and good acceleration and handling for its size, which isn't that much bigger than a 4Runner. It looks huge on paper, but I saw it at the Denver Auto Show last year and its really not that big.

I think there should be two classes of SUVOTY, one for value and one for all-out exuberence...