And the Winner Is...
In the end, numbers don't lie. Usually. For now, we've chosen nine scored categories, seven with empirically-based results that we translated into raw scores (the 60-to-80 was observational, not time measured), and two others were completed by consensus among the test drivers who moved in and out of each vehicle over all sorts of terrain and locations. That agreed-upon order allowed us to award points.
That stated, the winner of the first annual Ultimate 4x4 Challenge goes to the Range Rover in first, M-B G55 AMG in second, and the Nissan Titan in third. And although the Range Rover did pretty well in most events, it clearly didn't crush the competition. In fact, the Range Rover only won two of the nine events, the G55 won two, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon won three, and two other vehicles won the remaining two contests. Fairly well spread out among an amazing group of competitors. Clearly the Range Rover has impressive technology and competence, making it our first winner of the Ultimate 4x4 Challenge. And though each vehicle possessed its own strengths, there is only one Truck Trend winner, and we crown the mighty Range Rover king of all 4x4s for 2004.
| Flat Score Results |
| | Wrangler Rubicon | H1 | H2 SUT | Lexus GX 470 | M-B G55 | Nissan Titan | Range Rover| Price | 10 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 6 | | 0-60 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | | 60-0 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 10 | | RTI | 10 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 8 | | Crawl Ratio | 10 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | | Sand Drag | 5 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 6 | | 60-80 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | | On the Road | 5 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 9 | | Off the Road | 9 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 10 | | Point Total | 64 | 45 | 55 | 65 | 70 | 67 | 75 | | Finish Order | Fifth | Seventh | Sixth | Fourth | Second | Third | First | |