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Truck Trend's 2012 Best In Class: Mainstream SUV - Towing 3500 Pounds and Below
SUVs with a towing capacity of 3500 pounds and below
From the June, 2012 issue of Truck Trend
By The Editors of Truck Trend
Winner: Chevrolet Equinox/GMC Terrain
Runner-Up: Ford Escape These vehicles fall into that gray area between crossover and sport/utility. However, with a towing capacity less than 3500 pounds, they certainly lean more toward the crossover side of the fence. The Equinox/Terrain and Escape provide a lot of capability for the size and money. They both can tow 3500 pounds, but the Equinox edges out the Escape with a lower MSRP, more horsepower, and more torque (except in one instance, when it only has 1 lb-ft less).
| Mainstream SUV -- Chevy to Mazda |
| Vehicle | Chevy Equinox/ GMC Terrain | Dodge Journey | Ford Edge |
| Base price | $24,340/$26,370 | $21,895 | $28,595 |
| Wheelbase | 112.5 in | 113.8 in | 111.2 in |
| Engine | 2.4L DOHC I-4 | 2.4L DOHC I-4 | 3.5L DOHC V-6 |
| Opt engine | 3.0L V-6 $3415/$2900 | 3.6L DOHC V-6 $3,500 | 2.0LT $4305; 3.7L V-6 $9340 |
| Power, SAE | 182 hp (264) | 173 hp (283) | 285 hp (240, 305) |
| Torque, SAE | 172 lb-ft (222) | 166 lb-ft (260) | 253 lb-ft (270, 280) |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 225/65R17 | 225/70R16 | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel cap | 18.8 gal (20.9) | 20.5, 21.1 gal | 18.0, 19.0 gal |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 20-22/29-32 mpg | 16/24 mpg | 18-19/25-27 mpg |
| Opt engine | (16-17/23-24) | -- | (21/30, 17-19/23-26) |
| Seating cap | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Curb weight | 3777 lb | 3818 lb | 3998 lb |
| GVWR | 5202 lb | 5600 lb | 5300 lb |
| Cargo cap | 63.7 cu ft | 67.6 cu ft | 68.9 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 3500 lb | 2500 lb | 3500 lb |
| Vehicle | Ford Escape | Honda CR-V | Hyundai Santa Fe |
| Base price | $22,265 | $23,105 | $24,050 |
| Wheelbase | 103.1 in | 103.1 in | 106.3 in |
| Engine | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | 2.4L DOHC I-4 | 2.4L DOHC I-4 |
| Opt engine | 3.0L V-6 $4625; 2.5L hyb $9130 | None | 3.5L V-6 $1,900 |
| Power, SAE | 171 hp (240, 177) | 185 hp | 175 hp (276) |
| Torque, SAE | 171 lb-ft (223, 136) | 163 lb-ft | 169 lb-ft (248) |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/drum, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 235/70R16 | 215/70R16 | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel cap | 17.5 gal (15.1 hyb) | 15.3 gal | 18.0 gal |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 20-23/27-28 mpg | 22-23/30-31 mpg | 19-20/26-28 mpg |
| Opt engine | (19-20/25-27, 30-34/27-31) | -- | (20/26) |
| Seating cap | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Curb weight | 3229 lb | 3305 lb | 3725 lb |
| GVWR | 4200 lb | 4560 lb | 5202 lb |
| Cargo cap | 67.2 cu ft | 70.9 cu ft | 78.2 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 3500 lb | 1500 lb | 3500 lb |
| Vehicle | Hyundai Tucson | Hyundai Veracruz | Kia Sorento |
| Base price | $19,970 | $29,170 | $22,050 |
| Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 110.4 in | 106.3 in |
| Engine | 2.0L DOHC I-4 | 3.8L DOHC V-6 | 2.4L DOHC I-4 |
| Opt engine | 2.4L I-4 | None | 3.5L V-6 $3,700 |
| Power, SAE | 165 hp (176) | 260 hp | 175 hp (276) |
| Torque, SAE | 146 lb-ft (168) | 257 lb-ft | 169 lb-ft (248) |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 225/60R17 | 245/65R17 | 235/65R17 |
| Fuel cap | 15.3 gal | 20.6 gal | 18.0 gal |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 20-22/27-32 mpg | 16-17/21-22 mpg | 20-22/27-32 mpg |
| Opt engine | (20-23/27-31) | -- | (18-20/24-26) |
| Seating cap | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Curb weight | 3179 lb | 4266 lb | 3605 lb |
| GVWR | 4608 lb | 5908 lb | 5634 lb |
| Cargo cap | 55.8 cu ft | 86.8 cu ft | 72.5 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 2000 lb | 3500 lb | 3500 lb |
| Vehicle | Kia Sportage | Mazda CX-7 | Mazda CX-9 |
| Base price | $19,300 | $22,985 | $30,520 |
| Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 108.3 in | 113.2 in |
| Engine | 2.4L DOHC I-4 | 2.5L DOHC I-4 | 3.7L DOHC V-6 |
| Opt engine | 2.0L T I-4 $8,400 | 2.3L T I-4 $4,265 | None |
| Power, SAE | 176 hp (260) | 161 hp (244) | 27 3 hp |
| Torque, SAE | 168 lb-ft (269) | 161 lb-ft (258) | 270 lb-ft |
| Airbags | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt | Fr, f side, f/r curt |
| Brakes, f/r | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS | Disc/disc, ABS |
| Tires | 215/70R16 | 215/70R17 | 245/60R18 |
| Fuel cap | 14.5 gal | 16.4 gal (18.2) | 20.1 gal |
| EPA fuel econ, city/hwy | 20-22/27-32 mpg | 20/27 mpg | 16-17/22-24 mpg |
| Opt engine | (21-22/26-29) | (17-18/21-24) | -- |
| Seating cap | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Curb weight | 3157 lb | 3543 lb | 4328 lb |
| GVWR | 4608 lb (est) | 4780 lb | 5997 lb |
| Cargo cap | 54.6 cu ft | 58.6 cu ft | 100.7 cu ft |
| Towing cap | 2000 lb | 2000 lb | 3500 lb |
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