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Truck Trend's Best In Class 2010
From the June, 2010 issue of Truck Trend
By The Editors of Truck Trend
Every year around this time, the debates begin. Which is the best compact truck on the market? If you want to go ridiculously fast in a pickup or SUV, which one would you choose? They're fun discussions to have, but it's a little too easy for things to get out of hand. However, after much arguing and analysis, the editors of Truck Trend have come up with the winners of this year's Best in Class awards. As is typically the case, we prefer vehicles that provide a lot of value for the money (not necessarily the least expensive), plus those that provide towing and off-road capability. We've also taken cargo-carrying capacity and fuel economy into consideration, as well as the variety of OE options available, including engines, transmissions, body styles, and bed lengths. With this story, we've included the vital specifications of every pickup, sport/utility vehicle, crossover, and van on the market in the U.S., and put that data in charts for each category, so you can sift through the numbers and see why we've chosen what we have. Please note that prices reflect the specific models listed in each category, and for some charts, that may include optional equipment (as specified). Specifications came from the most recent versions of the manufacturers' press materials, accurate as of press time. To the best of our knowledge and the best of our abilities, all the columns line up properly and the information here is correct. If you notice that some vehicles are missing (Durango, Borrego, XL7, B-Series, etc.), it is because they aren't available in the 2010 model year. For now, grab a magnifying glass and get ready to pore over the specs and pricing data of every vehicle a truck guy (or gal) could ever care about.
 | When big jobs need to be done and done right, folks turn to these trucks. Not only are these pickups expected to haul big loads and do hard work, it's taken for granted that they can do it on a daily basis. |  | If you're looking for a truck that has enough towing capacity to carry three heavy-duty trucks and enough payload capacity to carry an Xterra in the bed, this is the category for you. |  | This is the most varied (and largest) pickup-truck segment, making the choice of best in class one of the most difficult. We had to pick from compact, midsize, and full-size trucks, including some based on SUV platforms. |  | Even though rumors are flying that a new Ranger is coming, and Mahindra is supposed to bring its compact truck to market sometime soon, we still haven't seen any significant changes happen to the compact/midsize segment. |  | At a time when many truck-based SUVs are being transformed into car-based crossovers, we're encouraged by the trend that automakers are finding ways to keep big sport/utilities around. |  | Vehicles in this category are expected to do everything: carry gear, go off-road, tow a small trailer or a boat, and provide a comfortable ride during the week. |  | As you would imagine, while the SUV category shrinks, the crossover one grows. |  | This year, we've added full-size vans here. Minivans are functional, but there are plenty of Truck Trend readers who are much more interested in big vans. |  | These aren't rational vehicles. They aren't know for towing capacity or off-road capability. They are about going fast and having fun. |  | So, what qualifies as a midsize SUV, anyway? For the purposes of Best in Class, we've defined it as having a wheelbase longer than 106 inches. |
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