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Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Factory Power Runner
By Editors of Truck Trend
Winner: Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Runner-Up: Porsche Cayenne Turbo
There's no question that German manufacturers have a long head start in this category, and traditionally, American truck makers competed here by throwing a big V8 in a little truck. Things have changed--nowadays they can offer the whole package. That's exactly what makes the Grand Cherokee SRT8 such a special example. If there's a more balanced and thoughtful execution of monster power and sticky tire grip, we haven't seen it--all for about half the price of the high-dollar German players. That it comes from a brand that's about slow-go all-terrain crawling, makes its existence more special. However, if money was no object, Porsche's twin-turbo (maybe not a surprise to many) does the best job of weaving power output with chassis control and response.
| Factory Power Runners | | Vehicle | BMW X5 AWD | Cadillac Escalade AWD | Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS AWD | | Base price | $55,275 | $58,330 | $34,090 | | Wheelbase, in | 115.5 | 116 | 113 | | Engine | 4.8L DOHC V-8 | 6.2L OHV V-8 | 6.0L OHV V-8 | | Transmission | 6-speed auto | 6-speed auto | 4-speed auto | | 0-60 mph, sec | 6.4 | 6.5 | 5.6 | | Horsepower, SAE | 350 | 403 | 395 | | Torque, SAE | 350 | 417 | 400 | | Airbags | Dual, head, side | Dual, head | Dual, side | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, 4WAL | Disc/disc, 4WAL | Disc/disc, 4WAL | | Tires | 275/40R20 F; 315/35R20 R | 265/65R18 | 255/50R20 | | Fuel cap, gal | 22.5 | 26 | 22 | | Fuel econ, city/hwy | 14/19 | 12/18 | 12/16 | | Max pass | 7 | 7 | 5 | | Curb weight, lb | 5335 | 5665 | 4550 | | GVWR, lb | 6527 | 6700 | 6000 | | Payload, lb | 1150 | 1100 | 1450 | | Towing, lb | 6000 | 8000 | 6600 | | Vehicle | GMC Sierra Denali AWD | Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 AWD | Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG 4WD | | Base price | $42,325 | $41,420 | $87,425 | | Wheelbase, in | 143.5 | 109.5 | 114.7 | | Engine | 6.2L OHV V-8 | 6.1L OHV V-8 | 6.3L DOHC V-8 | | Transmission | 6-speed auto | 5-speed auto | 7-speed auto | | 0-60 mph, sec | 6.2 | 4.8 | 4.5 | | Horsepower, SAE | 403 | 420 | 503 | | Torque, SAE | 417 | 420 | 465 | | Airbags | Dual, head | Dual, head, side | Dual, head, side | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, 4WAL | Disc/disc, 4WAL | Disc/disc, 4WAL AMG | | Tires | 275/55R20 | 255/45R20 F; 285/40R20 R | 295/40ZR20 | | Fuel cap, gal | 26 | 20.8 | 25.1 | | Fuel econ, city/hwy | 12/18 | 11/14 | 11/14 | | Max pass | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Curb weight, lb | 5383 | 4819 | 5093 | | GVWR, lb | 6800 | 6000 | 6000 | | Payload, lb | 1500 | 1150 | 1000 | | Towing, lb | 8600 | 3500 | 7000 | | Vehicle | Porsche Cayenne Turbo 4WD | Range Rover Sport S/C 4WD | Saab 9-7x Aero AWD | | Base price | $94,595 | $71,950 | $41,935 | | Wheelbase, in | 112.4 | 108 | 113 | | Engine | 4.8L DOHC TT V-8 | 4.2L SOHC SC V-8 | 6.0L OHV V-8 | | Transmission | 6-spd auto | 6-speed auto | 4-speed auto | | 0-60 mph, sec | 4.9 | 6.7 | 6 | | Horsepower, SAE | 500 | 390 | 390 | | Torque, SAE | 516 | 410 | 400 | | Airbags | Dual, head, side | Dual, head, side | Dual, head | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, 4WAL | Disc/disc, 4WAL | Disc/disc, 4WAL | | Tires | 275/45R20 | 275/40R20 | 225/50R20 | | Fuel cap, gal | 26.4 | 23.2 | 22 | | Fuel econ, city/hwy | 12/19 | 12/18 | 12/16 | | Max pass | 5 | 5 | 5 | | Curb weight, lb | 5192 | 5500 | 4950 | | GVWR, lb | 6500 | 6800 | 6000 | | Payload, lb | 1300 | 1100 | 1300 | | Towing, lb | 7000 | 7718 | 6500 | | Vehicle | Toyota Tacoma Access Cab X-Runner 2WD | | | | Base price | $24,730 | | | | Wheelbase, in | 127.2 | | | | Engine | 4.0L DOHC V-6 | | | | Transmission | 6-speed man | | | | 0-60 mph, sec | 6.1 | | | | Horsepower, SAE | 236 | | | | Torque, SAE | 266 | | | | Airbags | Dual | | | | Brakes, f/r | Disc/drum, 4WAL | | | | Tires | 255/45R18 | | | | Fuel cap, gal | 21 | | | | Fuel econ, city/hwy | 16/20 | | | | Max pass | 4 | | | | Curb weight, lb | 3735 | | | | GVWR, lb | 4600 | | | | Payload, lb | 910 | | | | Towing, lb | 5000 | | |
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