Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008Every Full-Size, Compact, Pickup, SUV, Minivan, and More! By Editors of Truck Trend
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. You won't find this information anywhere else on the planet and certainly won't get it broken down as it is in these easy-to-see head-to-head comparison categories. Every important vehicle sold in the U.S. is here, with all the pertinent specifications and prices as well as our choices in each grouping. We lean more toward those vehicles with the most capable four-wheel-drive systems, and highest tow ratings and payload capacities along with those that offer a variety of strong engines. Of course, those priorities may not be yours. That's why we've listed all this data in a single issue. If you think fuel economy or pricing is more important, you can weigh your decision accordingly and make a different choice. All pricing is from the most recent "Kelley Blue Book New Car Price Manual (Third Edition 2008 Models)" with remaining specifications taken from the most recent versions of the manufacturers' press materials. To the best of our knowledge and the best of our abilities, all the columns line up properly and the information here is correct. Of course, that does mean some mistakes may have made it through the nets. Feel free to let us know of any you've found. For now, sit back, kick your shoes off (grab a magnifying glass), and wander through the specs and pricing numbers of every vehicle a truck guy (or gal) could ever care about. And if you think of a few categories we could include in our 2009 Best In Class Awards, feel free to drop us a line. Drum roll please...join us in welcoming the Class of 2008 winners.
Classes Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Work Truck
Work Truck -- This class is about back-breaking heavy-duty work chores and abuse. As such, we look more closely than usual at things like price, GVWR, actual curb weight, and engine options. |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Topline Power Puller
This is the evolutionary equivalent of the biggest, baddest, meanest carnivore on the planet, but raw numbers is just one way we select winners. We've driven them all and graded them according to capability, function, and style. |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Hardcore 4x4
If there's one segment that creates the most debate (a polite term) among our judges, it's this one. Jeep has many advocates with its basic technology and long 4x4 history, as well as its impressive Rubicon off-road package. |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Midsize SUV
We've arbitrarily designated SUVs with a wheelbase over 106 (actually 106.3) inches as midsize SUVs, which makes this the largest chart we've ever assembled. In fact, there are so many entries, we've chopped this category into three separate winners. |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Ultimate Performance SUV
This segment is all about arriving and driving in style, so the money issue isn't the primary consideration. Still, you can't just charge huge amounts and not have the plush comforts to back it up and the capability to separate itself from the pretenders. |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: AWD Crossover
AWD Crossover -- This growing segment should get even bigger in the next few years. For manufacturers, the trick is to make sure these crossovers don't look too much like cars, even though they're typically based off some kind of car platform. |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Minivan
You can almost hear the yelling over the loudspeaker: "Ding, ding, ding--the winner and still champion..." Yes, the Honda is still the winner of this humdrum people-mover category, mostly because of interior quality, quick throttle response, and (believe it or not) fairly good ride and handling char |
Truck Trend's Best in Class 2008: Compact Pickup
Admittedly, this segment of the auto industry hasn't been getting much love over the last few years. Prices of full-size pickups have been so competitive, salesmen are slotting buyers into bigger, stronger, more capable vehicles, sometimes for the same money. |
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Posted July 18 2008 10:31 AM by Mark Williams
If there's any name synonymous with four-wheel-drive capability, it's Jeep. And if there's any question about which Jeep is the most capable player on the team, there shouldn't be. The Wrangler has long been the ultimate... more
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I enjoyed your article in the May/June 2008 issue, " Time To Play ," by Larry Walton. While I like to read about the new toys available and I liked the pictures, I didn't expect to see this kind of story in a magazine... more
In recent side crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma earned the highest rating while the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier faired "okay" and the and the... more
Just recently, I've "volunteered" to help my younger sister with the responsibility of taking my almost two-year-old nephew to daycare for her in the mornings. This has opened an whole new world of questions about safety,... more
You think of the recent spike in gas prices not as a deterrent to buying a gas-hungry SUV, but as incentive to get the hard-core SUV of your dreams for a great price. The market is still full of choices to satiate your... more
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Posted July 11 2008 12:54 PM by Allyson Harwood
Hagerty Insurance recently released its list of 10 cars that will be considered collectible in the future. It includes such trendy cars as the Scion and the Audi TT. The closest thing to a truck is the FJ Cruiser;... more
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I enjoyed your article in the May/June 2008 issue, " Time To Play ," by Larry Walton. While I like to read about the new toys available and I liked the pictures, I didn't expect to see this kind of story in a magazine... more
In recent side crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma earned the highest rating while the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier faired "okay" and the and the... more
Just recently, I've "volunteered" to help my younger sister with the responsibility of taking my almost two-year-old nephew to daycare for her in the mornings. This has opened an whole new world of questions about safety,... more
You think of the recent spike in gas prices not as a deterrent to buying a gas-hungry SUV, but as incentive to get the hard-core SUV of your dreams for a great price. The market is still full of choices to satiate your... more
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Posted July 23 2008 02:41 PM by thomas_voehringer
There are excellent movies that feature trucks prominently in the story line. Truck Trend ran John Pearly Huffman's " Top 10 Truck Movies " in the March/April 2007 issue. As with all lists, there's bound to be... more
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I enjoyed your article in the May/June 2008 issue, " Time To Play ," by Larry Walton. While I like to read about the new toys available and I liked the pictures, I didn't expect to see this kind of story in a magazine... more
In recent side crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma earned the highest rating while the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier faired "okay" and the and the... more
Just recently, I've "volunteered" to help my younger sister with the responsibility of taking my almost two-year-old nephew to daycare for her in the mornings. This has opened an whole new world of questions about safety,... more
You think of the recent spike in gas prices not as a deterrent to buying a gas-hungry SUV, but as incentive to get the hard-core SUV of your dreams for a great price. The market is still full of choices to satiate your... more
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Posted Yesterday 02:09 PM by Melissa
Just recently, I've "volunteered" to help my younger sister with the responsibility of taking my almost two-year-old nephew to daycare for her in the mornings. This has opened an whole new world of questions about safety,... more
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I enjoyed your article in the May/June 2008 issue, " Time To Play ," by Larry Walton. While I like to read about the new toys available and I liked the pictures, I didn't expect to see this kind of story in a magazine... more
In recent side crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2008 Toyota Tacoma earned the highest rating while the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier faired "okay" and the and the... more
You think of the recent spike in gas prices not as a deterrent to buying a gas-hungry SUV, but as incentive to get the hard-core SUV of your dreams for a great price. The market is still full of choices to satiate your... more
There are excellent movies that feature trucks prominently in the story line. Truck Trend ran John Pearly Huffman's " Top 10 Truck Movies " in the March/April 2007 issue. As with all lists, there's bound to be... more
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