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SUV of the Year Awards

The annual Motor Trend SUV of the Year Award features significant inupt from the editors of Truck Trend magazine and is given to the vehicle that best represents exceptional value, superiority in its class, and most significant developments on the SUV scene each year. Inside you’ll find reviews of all the vehicle candidates, insight into the exhaustive testing process, photos, and more information on the SUV of the Year winner.
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SUV of the Year

2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Winner: Mazda CX-9 2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Winner: Mazda CX-9
As the saying goes, it's all in the details, and that's where the 2008 Mazda CX-9's sporty personality shines. Slide behind the... more
2008 Sport/Utility of the Year Contenders 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year Contenders
The sport/utility vehicle cuts a broad swathe through the 21st-century automotive landscape. more
Motor Trend Names Mazda CX-9 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year Motor Trend Names Mazda CX-9 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year
The CX-9 reigned supreme out of a diverse crowd of 11 contenders, one of the highest quality fields MOTOR TREND has seen since it started... more
2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Contenders 2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Contenders
It's Of the Year time at Motor Trend for 2008, and first up in our annual search for the best of the best is the 2008 Motor Trend Sport... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Jeep Patriot Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Jeep Patriot Photo Gallery
The all-new Patriot, Jeep's newest attempt at wooing the crossover market, shares underpinnings with the Compass and Caliber. more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Nissan Rogue Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Nissan Rogue Photo Gallery
The 2008 Nissan Rogue is designed to add a new dimension to the crossover sport utility segment - satisfying both the functional needs of... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Land Rover LR2 Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Land Rover LR2 Photo Gallery
The LR2 is based on the same unibody chassis architecture as the Volvo XC90 and uses a variant of its transverse-mounted straight-six. But... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Saturn Vue Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Saturn Vue Photo Gallery
The '08 Vue is the fourth all-new Saturn model since the beginning of the 2006 calendar year. more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Subaru Tribeca Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Subaru Tribeca Photo Gallery
The dramatic exterior styling changes reflect the major changes under the skin for the 2008 Subaru Tribeca. more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Toyota Highlander Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Toyota Highlander Photo Gallery
The all-new 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid raise the bar once again in the mid-size SUV segment with a complete redesign that is... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Hyundai Veracruz Photo Gallery
It's only a question of time before Hyundai produces a car or sport/utility or truck worthy of the Motor Trend calipers. We've been saying... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Photo Gallery
As the saying goes, it's all in the details, and that's where the Mazda CX-9's sporty personality shines. Slide behind the leather-wrapped... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Jeep Liberty Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Jeep Liberty Photo Gallery
One look at the all-new Jeep Liberty, and it's clear where Jeep designers turned for inspiration -- the longer, wider, and more macho Dodge... more
2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Buick Enclave Photo Gallery 2008 Motor Trend SUOTY Contender: 2008 Buick Enclave Photo Gallery
On the very first day of our SUOTY competition, before most of us had even driven it, the new Buick Enclave served notice that it's a... more
2007 SUV Of The Year Photo Gallery 2007 SUV Of The Year Photo Gallery
It used to be easy to figure out what was a sport/utility vehicle: Whether it was as bare-bones rugged as a Jeep or dripping with high-tech... more
2007 Sport/Utility Of The Year Testing 2007 Sport/Utility Of The Year Testing
It used to be easy to figure out what was a sport/utility vehicle: Whether it was as bare-bones rugged as a Jeep or dripping with high-tech... more
2007 Sport/Utility of the Year: 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 2007 Sport/Utility of the Year: 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450
Heading into this year's Sport/Utility of the Year competition, nary an editor predicted that the all-new Mercedes-Benz GL450 would roll... more
Motor Trend Names Names 2007 Sport/Utility Of The Year Motor Trend Names Names 2007 Sport/Utility Of The Year
Motor Trend, the world's automotive authority and part of PRIMEDIA's Consumer Automotive Group, today announced that the Mercedes-Benz... more
Video: 2007 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Contender Video: 2007 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Contender
Watch how the editors of Motor Trend Magazine pick the 2007 Motor Trend Sport Utility of the Year. more
2006 Sport/Utility of the Year Road Test & Review 2006 Sport/Utility of the Year Road Test & Review
The Dirty Dozen? Well, at least they looked that way after a day negotiating the sand traps, frame-twisters, hungry rocks, and rutted hills... more
2006 Sport/Utility of the Year Winner: 2006 Nissan Xterra 2006 Sport/Utility of the Year Winner: 2006 Nissan Xterra
With its live rear axle, and--in full off-road specification--tall tires and simple transfer case, the new 2006 Nissan Xterra seems... more
2005 SUV of the Year: Land Rover LR3 2005 SUV of the Year: Land Rover LR3
You're looking at a sport/utility that'll change the way you think about the compromises between on-road refinement and off-road ability. more
Behind the Scenes: 2005 Sport/Utility of the Year Behind the Scenes: 2005 Sport/Utility of the Year
Join the editors of Motor Trend Magazine as they hit the road to discover which of these seven contenders deserves to win the 2005... more
2005 Sport/Utility of the Year Wallpaper Gallery 2005 Sport/Utility of the Year Wallpaper Gallery
A collection of downloadable photography from our Sport/Utility of the Year testing. Check back on Wednesday to find out who will win this... more
2004 SUV of the Year Testing 2004 SUV of the Year Testing
Nothing is evolving faster than the sport/utility vehicle segment. Defining "sport/utility" is like trying to hit several fast-moving... more
SUV of the Year: 2001 Acura MDX SUV of the Year: 2001 Acura MDX
Acura's impressive MDX loomed large on MT's radar screen from the start of this 12-vehicle battle. As thousands of miles of twisting... more
Motor Trend 2004 SUV of the Year Winner - Volkswagen Touareg Motor Trend 2004 SUV of the Year Winner - Volkswagen Touareg
Stylishly designed, masterfully executed, and supremely capable, the Touareg topped a competitive field to be named the 2004 Motor Trend... more
2004 Sport/Utility of the Year - Wallpaper 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year - Wallpaper
Wallpaper from Motor Trend's 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year testing. more
Behind the Scenes: 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year Behind the Scenes: 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year
The Motor Trend editors invite you to join them at the track, on the road, and on dusty trails as they evaluate the 2004 field of... more
Announcing: Motor Trend's 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year Announcing: Motor Trend's 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year
Motor Trend's 2004 Sport/Utility of the Year winner has been selected from a competitive field that included BMW X3, Buick Rainier,... more
2003 SUV of the Year 2003 SUV of the Year
The Sport/Utility Vehicle. What is it? What has it become? The questions have no simple answer. more
Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year: 2003 Volvo XC 90 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year: 2003 Volvo XC 90
More than any other vehicle in the running this year, the Volvo XC90 moves the standard in its market segment. This innovative machine... more
Motor Trend Magazine Names 2003 Sport/Utility of the Year Motor Trend Magazine Names 2003 Sport/Utility of the Year
Motor Trend magazine has announced the selection of the Volvo XC90 as Motor Trend's 2003 Sport/Utility of the Year. more
Behind the Scenes: 2001 Sport/Utility of the Year Behind the Scenes: 2001 Sport/Utility of the Year
The Motor Trend editors drove, inspected, poked, prodded, spanked, and debated over a diverse group for the the 2001 Of the Year... more
Behind the Scenes: 2002 Sport/Utility of the Year Behind the Scenes: 2002 Sport/Utility of the Year
The Motor Trend staff rounded up every all-new or significantly updated vehicle for the 2002 Sport/Utility of the Year competition. more

Who makes the world's best diesels, GM or Mercedes?

Posted June 27 2008 04:49 PM by Mark Williams
Mercedes-Benz BluTEC diesel engine
It's almost an epidemic. In the last two weeks, we've listened to three big automakers make thoughtful and detailed presentations about their current and future engine lineups. Clearly, they want us to know they're...  more

Video Find: Rocket-powered Lincoln attempts river jump

  We're not sure how we found this one , but find it we did. While you have likely heard of the late American daredevil Evel Knievel, who once tried to jump the Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls, Idaho on his motorcycle, you...more  

Sales Carnage: Toyota posts bigger drop than GM

  DETROIT - Who's the best swimmer on the Titanic? Turns out to be General Motors, which held on to first place in U.S. sales last month (Toyota slid past it in total global sales last year) with just an 18.5-percent drop...more  

Friday Mud Hole: June 23rd -- June 27th 2008

  Bad news seams to be plaguing the automotive industry from all directions. As if raising gas prices weren't bad enough, auto makers are raising prices on their vehicles, producing less, and denying any rumors of potential...more  

Blissfully missing out on a bad news Thursday

  DETROIT - Chrysler held its annual full-line launch for the 2009 models Thursday, a program planned months in advance, of course. It gave the automotive press a chance to drive updated models, like the '09 Jeep Patriot and...more  

Rumor....Wagoner to resign this week!! any one hear?
I found this on Motor Trend's forums: [QUOTE] TAC Deathwatch is reporting that Redink Rick will... more
The Diesel Dilemma - will it hit or miss?
Good read, check this out:... more
2008 Texas Bike Rally featuring Bret Michaels - Oct. 10-12
[bold]Bret Michaels Adds Texas Bike Rally to 2008 Rock of Love Tour: Tickets on Sale Now for... more