Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Full-Size SUV
By Editors of Truck Trend
Winner: Toyota Sequoia Runner-Up: Chevrolet Suburban 2500
Toyota has a winning formula right now: take every competitor's measurements in the segment and make a vehicle that beats it in each category. The new-and-improved Sequoia is as big as a full-size SUV can get, packed with a high-tech DOHC 32-valve V8, a ridiculously rigid frame, and more storage and practical packaging solutions than anyone else. Our only reservation is that it didn't include any fuel-saving technology beyond the six-speed transmission. The thing is a rocket off the line and can tow 10,000 pounds. Enough said, but it's still a one-size-fits-all approach. Running a close second, we chose the Suburban 2500 (about $2000 more than the 1500), which gets bigger brakes, bigger axles, leaf springs, more payload, and much bigger towing numbers. | Full-size SUV, 4WD | | Vehicle | Chevy/GMC Suburban/Yukon XL | Chevy/GMC Tahoe/Yukon | Chrysler Aspen | | Base price | $38,280/$39,085 | $34,995/$35,690 | $32,750 | | Wheelbase, in | 130 | 116 | 119.2 | | Base engine | 5.3L OHV V-8 | 4.8L OHV V-8 | 4.7L SOHC V-8 | | Opt engine | 6.0LV-8 $1095 | 5.3L V-8 $800 | 5.7L V-8 $985 | | Horsepower, SAE | 320 (366) | 295 (320) | 303 (335) | | Torque, SAE | 340 (380) | 305 (340) | 330 (370) | | Airbags | Dual, side | Dual, side | Dual, side, head | | Largest tires | 265/70R17 | 265/70R17 | 265/60R18 | | Fuel capacity | 31 | 26 | 27 | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 14/20 (13/18) | 14/19 (14/20) | 13/17 (13/18) | | Max pass | 8 | 8 | 7 | | Base curb weight, lb | 5608 | 5265 | 4859 | | GVWR, lb | 7000 | 6500 | 6600 | | Max cargo cap, cu ft | 137.4 | 104.6 | 102.4 | | Max towing cap, lb | 8100 | 7700 | 8950 | | Vehicle | Dodge Durango | Ford Expedition | Ford Expedition EL | | Base price | $27,200 | $31,520 | $35,045 | | Wheelbase, in | 119.2 | 119 | 131 | | Base engine | 3.7L SOHC V-6 | 5.4L SOHC V-8 | 5.4L SOHC V-8 | | Opt engine | 4.7L V-8 $985 | N/A | N/A | | Opt engine | 5.7L V-8 $1780 | | | | Horsepower, SAE | 210 (303, 335) | 300 | 300 | | Torque, SAE | 235 (330, 370) | 365 | 365 | | Airbags | Dual, side, head | Dual, side, head | Dual, side, head | | Largest tires | 265/75R17 | 275/55R20 | 275/55R20 | | Fuel capacity | 27 | 28 | 33.5 | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 14/19 (13/17, 13/18) | 12/18 | 11/17 | | Max pass | 8 | 8 | 8 | | Base curb weight, lb | 4659 | 5578 | 5833 | | GVWR, lb | 6600 | 7700 | 7900 | | Max cargo cap, cu ft | 102.4 | 108.2 | 130.8 | | Max towing cap, lb | 8950 | 9200 | 9000 | | Vehicle | Nissan Armada | Toyota Sequoia | | | Base price | $36,075 | $37,290 | | | Wheelbase, in | 123.2 | 118.1 | | | Base engine | 5.6L DOHC V-8 | 4.7L DOHC V-8 | | | Opt engine | N/A | 5.7L V-8 | | | Horsepower, SAE | 317 | 276 (381) | | | Torque, SAE | 385 | 314 (401) | | | Airbags | Dual, head | Dual, side, head | | | Largest tires | 265/70R18 | 265/65R17 | | | Fuel capacity | 28 | 26.4 | | | EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 12/18 | 12/17 (13/18) | | | Max pass | 8 | 8 | | | Base curb weight, lb | 5302 | 5850 | | | GVWR, lb | 7100 | 8100 | | | Max cargo cap, cu ft | 97.1 | 135.1 | | | Max towing cap, lb | 9100 | 10,000 | |
(Related Articles) Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008
It's that time of year again. We've collected the vital information on every pickup, sport/utility vehicle, crossover, and minivan and put all the data into charts for you to sift through. Every Full-Size, Compact, Pickup, SUV, Minivan, and More! |
|
|
Posted May 5 2008 08:24 AM by Mark Williams
Much of our time is spent traveling places to drive a given manufacturer's latest and greatest. Usually that means flying to some familiar place, staying is some familiar hotel, and more times than not driving on some... more
|
Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
|
|
|
|
|
Posted April 11 2008 02:33 PM by Allyson Harwood
While it would make sense for cars, trucks, and SUVs to be painted in simple colors like "red" and "blue," that's never the case. Automakers use their own brand-specific paint mixes, and each one gets its own name.... more
|
Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
|
|
|
|
|
Posted April 11 2008 03:38 PM by thomas_voehringer
Some trucks and SUVs have huge blindspots. Here's a technology that overcomes them. more
|
Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
|
|
|
|
|
Posted Today 04:49 PM by Melissa
Some people consider traveling cross-country a bore, while others consider following the roads that keep our nation moving quite an adventure. I'm one of those adventurous types who see beyond the miles of flat asphalt... more
|
Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you... more
Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in... more
I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what... more
DETROIT - This is an idea whose time has come, and quickly gone. Presidential candidates John McCain (I believe he proposed it first, so he's mentioned first) and Hillary Clinton have proposed a moratorium on the federal... more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|