Car and Driver Off Road Comparison

[ChevyHighPerformance]

C&D dropped the ball! The H3, FJ Cruiser, Xterra, and the Grand Cherokee were tested off road - says right on the cover.

How did the H3 fare? Dead last

At the end of 2.5 days of dust, dirt, and rocks, each editor was asked, "If you had to make that same trip by yourself, which vehicle would you choose?" Unanimous reply: the H3. So why did the H3 end up dead last? Because it had to travel 200 miles to the trail and 200 miles back to LA. WTF – this was an off-road test!

In C&D's subjective scoring, Off-Road Capability was only worth 5 of a possible 265 points. (The Rebates and Discounts category was also worth 5 points.) No ground clearance category, no approach and departure angles, no breakover angles because no one who goes off-road cares about these ratings.

Did they test the Saleen S7 on the cover in the snow and rate its snow traction in their subjective scoring – No!

Did they test the Mosler MT900S also on the cover under the artic ocean and rate its open sea worthiness in their subjective scoring – No!

[ChevyHighPerformance]

C&D dropped the ball! The H3, FJ Cruiser, Xterra, and the Grand Cherokee were tested off road - says right on the cover.

How did the H3 fare? Dead last

At the end of 2.5 days of dust, dirt, and rocks, each editor was asked, "If you had to make that same trip by yourself, which vehicle would you choose?" Unanimous reply: the H3. So why did the H3 end up dead last? Because it had to travel 200 miles to the trail and 200 miles back to LA. WTF – this was an off-road test!

In C&D's subjective scoring, Off-Road Capability was only worth 5 of a possible 265 points. (The Rebates and Discounts category was also worth 5 points.) No ground clearance category, no approach and departure angles, no breakover angles because no one who goes off-road cares about these ratings.

Did they test the Saleen S7 on the cover in the snow and rate its snow traction in their subjective scoring – No!

Did they test the Mosler MT900S also on the cover under the artic ocean and rate its open sea worthiness in their subjective scoring – No!

[f5fstop]

Car and driver as well as road and track should stick to what their covers state. They are worthless unless they are testing performance vehicles. Lucky, the 4x4 magazines have treated the H3 well... and that is all that counts in my book.

[NEOCON1]

lame , an offroad test where they fall back to how it drove on the street there and back WTF screw the whole wheelin part http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[HummBebe]

Sounds like CBS to mee.

[Steve - SanJose]

I'll check my mailbox tonight.

Sounds like too much onroad criteria used in evaluating an offroad vehicle. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

S.

[Bill1065]

They convinced me into getting a Renault Alliance back in 1983 after choosing it as CAR OF THE YEAR. The car was so weak in power it slowed down over each interstate bridge. There was nothing wrong with the engine; it just didn't have enough power. That car was a joke, just like the magazine; too bad they haven't learned anything; Just stick to sports sedans and coupes C&D, that's what your good at.

[oneworld]

I am not sure if I understand this article completely. I will get a copy and read it http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif
If the H3 was the choice for off road > then WTF is the drive to the trails about. I think my H3 rides great on the highway and is a pleasure to drive on the road. I dont care about being the fastest truck on the road, and the best gas milage you can get out of the H3 is on the highway 19mpg easy at 70+mph.
Opions are like *******s > you know the rest. Just my opion.

[DarthKarl]

Clearly then the Ford GT would also have to suck (regardless of its performance) if you had to drive it over a dirt road to get it to the track. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif