OFF-ROAD
COMPARISON TEST
REAR-DIFF TYPE
GROUND CLEARANCE (in)
APPROACH ANGLE (deg)
DEPARTURE ANGLE (deg)
full time with auto rear-axle engagement
none
open no no no
8.1
23.5
28.3
HONDA CR-V EX 4WD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement
none
open no no no
7.3
32.0
20.0
HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED 4WD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
open no no no
7.2
31.0
30.0
JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED 4X4
full-time 2-speed with automatic rear-axle engagement
none
open yes yes no
9.5
27.6
29.7
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE 4WD
part or full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
open no no no
8.5
21.0
18.0
NISSAN ROGUE SL AWD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
open no no no
8.3
21.8
21.7
SATURN VUE XE AWD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement
none
open no no no
7.9
18.2
22.7
limited slip with open no no no manual lock
7.9
28.0
25.0
7.5
31.0
22.0
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 4WD XSPORT TOYOTA RAV4 4X4
LENGTH OF PIPE (ft)
SHEET OF PLYWOOD (l x w, in)
FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD
66
29
15/42
10.3
59.0 x 40.5
HONDA CR-V EX 4WD
73
36
20/39
10.3
62.5 x 40.0
HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED 4WD
66
23
13/40
10.3
64.0 x 40.0
JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED
65
31
15/42
10.9
68.0 x 43.0
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE 4WD
73
39
22/40
10.8
71.0 x 34.5
NISSAN ROGUE SL AWD
58
29
12/32
10.1
67.0 x 40.8
SATURN VUE XE AWD
56
29
14/36
10.7
68.5 x 38.0
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 4WD
67
24
18/35
10.3
60.0 x 49.5
TOYOTA RAV4 4X4
73
36
20/42
10.8
70.0 x 43.0
*EST
BEER CASES (seats up/ folded)
CARGO (cu ft) BEHIND REAR
BEST IN TEST
BEHIND FRONT
C/D RESULTS
STOWAGE
CARANDDRIVER.COM
full time/ 2-speed full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
SKID PLATES
CENTER-DIFF TYPE
FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD
OFF-ROAD
HILL HOLDER
TRANSFER CASE
BEST IN TEST *EST
it accomplished with minimal engine or road thrash. Combine that with the only six-speed in the group, not to mention the 181-foot stopping distance from 70 mph, and this Saturn was sure to swagger into victory circle, yes? Well, no. This “compact” ute weighs a shameful 4104 pounds, making it the second heaviest of our trucklets. So it must be bigger, right? Wrong again. Riding on a wheelbase identical to its forebear’s, the new Vue’s extra lard doesn’t result in more passenger or luggage space, and neither does it allow for a third-row seat. In fact, the Vue offers the least cargo volume behind the front seats. And then there’s its observed 17 mpg, the predictable outcome of a largish V-6 attached to two-plus tons of anything. Customers who scrutinize econo-SUVs also scrutinize fuel prices. If gas reaches $4 per gallon, it may well be, “Adieu, Vue.”
HILL DESCENT
$25,000 SOFT-ROADERS
open no no no
FEB 2008
45
REAR-DIFF TYPE
GROUND CLEARANCE (in)
APPROACH ANGLE (deg)
DEPARTURE ANGLE (deg)
full time with auto rear-axle engagement
none
open no no no
8.1
23.5
28.3
HONDA CR-V EX 4WD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement
none
open no no no
7.3
32.0
20.0
HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED 4WD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
open no no no
7.2
31.0
30.0
JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED 4X4
full-time 2-speed with automatic rear-axle engagement
none
open yes yes no
9.5
27.6
29.7
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE 4WD
part or full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
open no no no
8.5
21.0
18.0
NISSAN ROGUE SL AWD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
open no no no
8.3
21.8
21.7
SATURN VUE XE AWD
full time with auto rear-axle engagement
none
open no no no
7.9
18.2
22.7
limited slip with open no no no manual lock
7.9
28.0
25.0
7.5
31.0
22.0
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 4WD XSPORT TOYOTA RAV4 4X4
LENGTH OF PIPE (ft)
SHEET OF PLYWOOD (l x w, in)
FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD
66
29
15/42
10.3
59.0 x 40.5
HONDA CR-V EX 4WD
73
36
20/39
10.3
62.5 x 40.0
HYUNDAI TUCSON LIMITED 4WD
66
23
13/40
10.3
64.0 x 40.0
JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED
65
31
15/42
10.9
68.0 x 43.0
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE 4WD
73
39
22/40
10.8
71.0 x 34.5
NISSAN ROGUE SL AWD
58
29
12/32
10.1
67.0 x 40.8
SATURN VUE XE AWD
56
29
14/36
10.7
68.5 x 38.0
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 4WD
67
24
18/35
10.3
60.0 x 49.5
TOYOTA RAV4 4X4
73
36
20/42
10.8
70.0 x 43.0
*EST
BEER CASES (seats up/ folded)
CARGO (cu ft) BEHIND REAR
BEST IN TEST
BEHIND FRONT
C/D RESULTS
STOWAGE
CARANDDRIVER.COM
full time/ 2-speed full time with auto rear-axle engagement and manual lock
none
SKID PLATES
CENTER-DIFF TYPE
FORD ESCAPE XLT AWD
OFF-ROAD
HILL HOLDER
TRANSFER CASE
BEST IN TEST *EST
it accomplished with minimal engine or road thrash. Combine that with the only six-speed in the group, not to mention the 181-foot stopping distance from 70 mph, and this Saturn was sure to swagger into victory circle, yes? Well, no. This “compact” ute weighs a shameful 4104 pounds, making it the second heaviest of our trucklets. So it must be bigger, right? Wrong again. Riding on a wheelbase identical to its forebear’s, the new Vue’s extra lard doesn’t result in more passenger or luggage space, and neither does it allow for a third-row seat. In fact, the Vue offers the least cargo volume behind the front seats. And then there’s its observed 17 mpg, the predictable outcome of a largish V-6 attached to two-plus tons of anything. Customers who scrutinize econo-SUVs also scrutinize fuel prices. If gas reaches $4 per gallon, it may well be, “Adieu, Vue.”
HILL DESCENT
$25,000 SOFT-ROADERS
open no no no
FEB 2008
45
