Motor Trend 2006 Sport/Utility of the Year

[Variance 0]

http://www.motortrend.com/features/news/11...s051025_suvoty/

[bobo 95]

Nissan did a great job in the current generation of Frontier-based vehicles. Perhaps the H3 would have been a contender if it had a better engine. That's one area in which the Nissan shines.

[Satty 338]

Damn media, the Torrent so deserved to win. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I liked the original Xterra, no reason for me to dislike this one. Edited October 26, 2005 by Satty

[FUTURE_OF_GM 26]

Just glad it wasn't that hideous hybrid Lexus.. But, of course, it is an asian winner... A sign of the tides changing, soon they will endorse asian trucks over American trucks just like they do with cars, it's already beginning.

[Satty 338]

Or it could just be that the American entries were badge jobs, ripoffs of Volkswagens or sorely underpowered.

[Flybrian 0]

Anyone seen the way Nissan arranged the rear badging on the xTerra? Looks like crap.

[Croc 268]

Anyone seen the way Nissan arranged the rear badging on the xTerra? Looks like crap.

[post="34294"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Yea, they don't deserve the award due to substandard rear badging. Seriously, MT needs to judge these things on the merits of the vehicles :rolleyes:

[Flybrian 0]

Yea, they don't deserve the award due to substandard rear badging.  Seriously, MT needs to judge these things on the merits of the vehicles  :rolleyes:

[post="34299"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Dude, for real, did I say it didn't deserve to win?

[Cory Wolfe 281]

Noooo!!!! The rebadged, underpowered, underperforming, totally not a true Pontiac, yet good-looking Torrent didn't win!?!?!?!?!? Nooooo!!!! :lol: :P I have no idea what the Xterra had for competition, but it probably deserves this.

[bobo 95]

From the article, these were the nominees: Ford Explorer, Hummer H3, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Commander, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz ML, Mercury Mountaineer, Pontiac Torrent, Range Rover Sport, Subaru Tribeca, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara. I actually like the Torrent, but it doesn't improve on anything to last year's Equinox. Besides the Xterra and H3, I don't thnk any of the other vehicles really adds much to the segment.

[fordrules 0]

BS! The H3 Or Explorer DESERVED to win it. The Xterra is ugly. BS!

[daves87rs 572]

Just glad it wasn't that hideous hybrid Lexus..

But, of course, it is an asian winner... A sign of the tides changing, soon they will endorse asian trucks over American trucks just like they do with cars, it's already beginning.

[post="34290"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Nah FOG, GM just didn't have anything good this year...


I'll be willing to wager that one of Gm's New SUVs next year will win though...

Tahoe, anyone? B)

[03Yukon 0]

From the article, these were the nominees:  Ford Explorer, Hummer H3, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Commander, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz ML, Mercury Mountaineer, Pontiac Torrent, Range Rover Sport, Subaru Tribeca, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

[post="34342"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I am surprised that the Range Rover Sport did not win or that it lost to an X-Terra.

[daves87rs 572]

From the article, these were the nominees:  Ford Explorer, Hummer H3, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Commander, Kia Sportage, Mercedes-Benz ML, Mercury Mountaineer, Pontiac Torrent, Range Rover Sport, Subaru Tribeca, and the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

I actually like the Torrent, but it doesn't improve on anything to last year's Equinox.  Besides the Xterra and H3, I don't thnk any of the other vehicles really adds much to the segment.

[post="34342"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Judging by those alone, the Xterra should have won.

The Commander is not bad, the Range rover is cool, and the rest were just pretty
useless... :P

[fordrules 0]

The 2007 Expedition looks capable too.

[daves87rs 572]

BS! The H3 Or Explorer DESERVED to win it. The Xterra is ugly.

BS!

[post="34352"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

The Explorer? Ha! I don't think enough ws done to really improve it.

Don't get me wrong, the new one is not bad, and rides much better, but it is not enough the win....

[03Yukon 0]

Nah FOG, GM just didn't have anything good this year...
I'll be willing to wager that one of Gm's New SUVs next year will win though...

Tahoe, anyone? B)

[post="34354"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

That will be interesting to see. Several SUV's are being redesigned around that time too (Expedition, Sequioa, etc).

[daves87rs 572]

The 2007 Expedition looks capable too.

[post="34358"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Ummm...NO.

[daves87rs 572]

Anyone seen the way Nissan arranged the rear badging on the xTerra? Looks like crap.

[post="34294"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I guess we should be happy it has badges...guessing is no fun... :P :lol:

[daves87rs 572]

I am surprised that the Range Rover Sport did not win or that it lost to an X-Terra.

[post="34356"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

It's called: Not cheap. :(

[daves87rs 572]

That will be interesting to see. Several SUV's are being redesigned around that time too (Expedition, Sequioa, etc).

[post="34360"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Good point. GM still has a very good chance though...

[Variance 0]

BS! The H3 Or Explorer DESERVED to win it. The Xterra is ugly.

BS!

[post="34352"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

...and because you think it's ugly, it doesn't deserve to win?

[Polish_Kris 0]

BS! The H3 Or Explorer DESERVED to win it. The Xterra is ugly.

BS!

[post="34352"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Dude, you can take the new Explorer's interior apart with your bare hands (it's been done, on more than one)

[pow 106]

Dude, you can take the new Explorer's interior apart with your bare hands (it's been done, on more than one)

[post="34431"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

The new one is rather nice...

[CARBIZ 1]

Not being an Asian vehicle fan, I grudgingly admit the Xterra deserved this one. Chevrolet sorely needs a smaller truck to compete in this segment. The Trailblazer is a dog and the Equinox is going to die a quick death unless seriously freshened in 2007. The Torrent has killed sales north of the border. As we've discussed before, GM should be slapped for not making the Torrent a real Pontiac, rather than a rehashed Equinox. The Xterra appeals to the youth segment and I kinda like its squared off looks. It has a rugged, almost military look to it and it is well priced, too.