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Trio of SUVs fit for mud or pavement

John LeBlanc
For CanWest News Service

Friday, October 20, 2006


Tired of so-called sport utility vehicles that are nothing more than tall station wagons with faux aluminum plastic cladding posing as skid plates? Weary of blandly styled cute-utes that pretend to be all Swiss Army-like in their sales pitches: It's an SUV! It's a sports car! It's a minivan! Well, here are three in-yer-face, honest-to-gawd, fourby-four off-roaders that aren't afraid of getting their wellies wet or crawling over the occasional boulder. We'll also tell you what these truck-based mid-sized SUVs are like to drive in the environment on which most owners will travel -- the paved road:



THIRD: 2006 Hummer H3 1SA

The littlest Hummer is based on the antediluvian mechanicals of the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon pickups.

The H3's cabin has nicer details and finishes than the Nissan, and when it's time to turn the steering wheel, there's a surprising amount of feel. But it also has excessive nose dive under braking, woolly handling, relentless body roll while cornering and what seems like unlimited understeer. Drive the H3 like a real car and you'd better get used to the blinking stability control light. Although it's not as bad as the Toyota, the Hummer's chopped-top styling limits visibility, and the front seats force residents to squat. Hummer wannabes are flocking to the H3 because of its (relatively) superior gas mileage; unfortunately, the result is not enough cojones under the hood. When was the last time you drove a $40,000 vehicle that took more than 10 seconds to get up to highway speeds?

Soccer-parent alternative: 2006 Chevy Equinox LS AWD, $28,770.

Bottom line: This is the heaviest, least powerful, poorest-handling and most expensive off-roader here. Except for excellent feedback at the helm and a nice cockpit, the H3 is best left in the woods; or wait for the 2007 H3 with 22 additional ponies.



SECOND: 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser/Package B

Essentially a $10,000-cheaper two-door 4Runner, the FJ's 4.0-litre V-6 has less power than the Xterra's similarly configured mill. But it also weighs less, so performance is comparable, with both reaching 100 km/h from rest in around eight seconds.

Of this trio, the FJ's cockpit is the best screwed together, but visibility is poor. The huge C-pillar means those elephant-ear side rear-view mirrors will become your friends fast, making the optional B package with its backup sensor a must.

The FJ's steering is quite numb compared with the rest of the group's. And the lack of on-centre feel requires constant corrections at highway speeds. However, like the donor 4Runner's chassis, the FJ cruises at highway speeds with a nice, refined ride. But it ain't no Celica GTS when the road turns, mainly due to an invasive stability control system that equals plenty of ploughing-in turns.

Soccer-parent alternative: 2006 Toyota RAV4, $29,300.

Bottom line: With competitive pricing and the nicest interior, the FJ rivals the Xterra in straight-line performance. But being able to see only what's in front of you is a real driving concern.



FIRST: 2006 Nissan Xterra Off-road

Despite the generous ground clearance and balloon tires, Nissan's off-roader still has a comfortable ride.

Halfway between the excellent H3's and the mediocre FJ's, the Xterra's steering is just fine. The big difference is the predictability of its handling. Even on twisty two-lanes, the Xterra felt planted and balanced, never tipsy like the other two. There are a lot of rough plastic surfaces inside the cockpit, but the driving position is bang-on, with the biggest advantage being excellent visibility. There's none of that hat-pulled-down feeling you get in the Hummer or FJ. Just as fast as the FJ in acceleration, the Xterra is the least compromising of this trio in everyday driving.

Soccer-parent alternative: 2006 Nissan X-Trail XE AWD, $27,648.

Bottom line: It doesn't have the extroverted looks of the Hummer or the Toyota, but Nissan gives you plenty of on-road performance and handling in a vehicle that can still play in the mud on the weekends.