And if these rebates were as predictable as, say, lunar cycles, we could pull them into our as-tested calculation. The price? Uh, a blur of incentives lets you buy an Explorer right. Instead, we'll opt for AdvanceTrac full-time all-wheel drive and Roll Stability Control. What about the most ubiquitous SUV ever, 14 years as an American bestseller: the Ford Explorer? With two-wheel drive, it's as common as dandelions. We're aiming for a base sticker in the $35,000-to-$40,000 range. The Mitsubishi Montero has intriguing off-road capability, too, including the ability to be shifted from rear drive to all-wheel drive on the fly at speeds up to 62 mph.įrom VW, the agile Touareg might be pulled down to popular prices if we stay with the standard 237-hp, 3.2-liter V-6. The optional V-8 won't go breathless on us at altitude. Toyota's athletic 4Runner is certainly right for the mission. The spring season has two all-new mainstreamer SUVs: the Jeep Grand Cherokee, now with Hemi power, and a Nissan Pathfinder built on Titan bones.
Broken Arrow is a slow-speed trek demanding plenty of ground clearance and driver expertise.
Exactly which SUVs? First, the all-important qualifier: The vehicles must have low and high ranges.