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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , SUVs , Volkswagen Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Touareg V10 TDI When the Volkswagen Touareg first arrived around five years ago, the SUV became the first production home to Volkswagen's then-new V10 TDI engine. However, as the old saw goes, "Time waits for no man"... or machine apparently. After a relatively short run, Volkswagen's 5.0L V10 turbodiesel is soon being consigned to the scrap heap of history. Increasingly stringent emissions requirements have meant that the V10 could only be sold in 45 states for the last two years with sales in the large market of California being verboten. The Touareg will, of course, live on, and the TDI version will be transformed early next year into a new 50-state legal version using the same 3.0L diesel V6 that propels the Q7 we drove during the recent Audi Mileage Marathon . The Touareg itself was not only the first application for the diesel V10, it was also Volkswagen's first...
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , SUVs , HUMMER , Toyota , First Drive Click the image above for high-res gallery of the Autoblog Comparo: H2 vs. Landcruiser The world's maddest battles usually earn a brief sobriquet: Red vs. Blue, Holyfield-Tyson, Lingerie Bowl. Although the battle we'll describe today isn't finished, the clash of HUMMER vs. Any Decent Off-roader - especially HUMMER vs. Jeep - has made so much noise on Autoblog alone that we decided it was time to investigate. Not having a Jeep at our disposal, we pitted an H2 against the Toyota Landcruiser on three trails in the California desert to find out if either of them had any quit - or if they'd keep going but complain about it. Follow the jump for the answer we came up with, and check out the gallery of off-road shenanigans below. Gallery: Autoblog Comparo: H2 vs Landcruiser Continue reading Autoblog Comparo: Moving Mountains - Toyota Landcruiser vs. Hummer H2 Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: SUVs , Euro , Crossovers/CUVs , Ford , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the Euro-spec Ford Kuga The grass, they say, is always greener on the other side of the fence. Though that often appears to be the case, most of the time it isn't. Dearborn's new "One Ford" initiative promises that we'll soon be able to stop gazing longingly across the ocean at what the company offers overseas buyers, as Ford endeavors to integrate its global product line-up into one cohesive range for every market around the world. In the case of the new Fiesta, that's a good thing. Less so with regards to the Kuga. Follow the jump to read why. Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Ford Kuga Photos Copyright (C)2008 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading First Drive: Ford Kuga (Euro-spec) Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , SUVs , Jeep Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 Jeep Compass We weren't really sure what direction Jeep was heading when it introduced the Compass in 2007. Built on a shared platform with the Dodge Caliber, the Compass goes against what we normally think a Jeep should be - rugged, tough, capable, and... well... square. The departure from classic Jeep styling hasn't received rave reviews, and the interior has been a source of complaints, as well. Does the Compass deserve the criticism it's been receiving? We aimed to find out and secured a 2008 4x2 Sport model for the Autoblog Garage. Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2 All photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Jeep Compass Sport 4x2 Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: SUVs , Land Rover , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Range Rover Sport Driving a Range Rover Sport is like wearing an Izod circa 1980-anything: everybody immediately knows what you're about. And that's not a bad thing. We never wore Izods, but we'd drive this thing all day long -- and in fact, we did. The sport is supposedly the Range Rover for people who just want to go from work to the golf course to the watering hole, and don't need to traverse the Andes do it. Turns out, though, that it's suitably equipped for both. Follow the jump for the rest of the Rover story, and check out the gallery of hi-res shots below. Gallery: 2008 Range Rover Sport Photos Copyright (C)2008 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading First Drive: 2008 Range Rover Sport Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage , SUVs , Mazda Click above for high-res gallery of the 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring If you keep up with the print mags, it would be easy to think that every journalist, PR flack and blogger loves Mazda's CX-9 . Automobile Magazine made a spot for it on their All-Stars list, Motor Trend named it Sport Utility of the Year, Car & Driver thinks its one of the 5 Best Trucks of 2008, SEAMO crowned it their Family Car of the Year and USA TODAY even went as far as calling it "about perfect." We put 380 miles on the 7-seater in our best attempt to debunk the CX-9's mythical aura of SUV perfection and found most of the legend true. Gallery: Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring All photos Copyright (C)2008 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: SUVs , Trucks/Pickups , HUMMER , First Drive Click above for hi-res gallery of the HUMMER H3T If HUMMER had a theme song, it'd probably be the Allman Brothers' Whipping Post -- the one that goes "Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel, like I been tied to the whipping post..." The brand has been the go-to effigy when something needs to burn on the altar of eco desecration. But HUMMER doesn't have a theme song, it has the tagline "Like No Other." It also has a new pick-em-up truck we had the chance to drive recently in the High Sierras: the H3T. Follow the jump to find out if it's another HUMMER like no other, and check out the gallery of hi-res images below. Gallery: First Drive: HUMMER H3T Continue reading First Drive: HUMMER H3T Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: SUVs , Kia , First Drive Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Kia Borrego Could there be an any worse time to debut a brand new body-on-frame SUV like Kia has done with the new 2009 Borrego? Gas prices have most every new car shopper running from SUVs into small cars with four-cylinder engines. In fact, many SUV early adopters are now driving much smaller sedans like those models that make up Kia's bread-and-butter line. Enough new Korean vehicles were sold in America so far this year that the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group managed to outpace mighty Honda in total sales as it roared into the number five worldwide automaker spot. Therefore, our immediate thought is that Kia must be crazy to go ahead and introduce the new Borrego in the American market... but Kia would have you believe otherwise. As Kia's sales team sees it, since the Korean automaker currently offers no contenders in the true midsize SUV category, any slice of the dwindling market is a win. Is...
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , Crossovers/CUVs , Suzuki Suzuki's swapped the ladder frame architecture of the past to create a more civilized XL7, a welcome change from the Vitara roots of the original. The XL7's unitized Theta II platform, on loan from General Motors, also serves as the basis for the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. Suzuki also borrows the General's 3.6 liter V6, trying its very best in this application. The XL in the name is an apt descriptor, this is a lot of vehicle, and the price makes it a lot of value. So, what had to be sacrificed to bring such family friendly acreage in for the $22,000 of our trial unit? Gallery: In The Autoblog Garage - Suzuki XL7 Photos Copyright (C)2008 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In The Autoblog Garage: Suzuki XL7 Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , Suzuki Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport When driving a vehicle for review, we always keep a list of pros and cons. At just a glance we can see which list is longer and instantly know if it's a vehicle that we'd personally drive. At the end of the evaluation we throw in a few verbs, several random adjectives and some technical jargon to make us all sound knowledgeable and it's a review! Just kidding. A little, at least. The 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Xsport that just left the Autoblog Garage didn't fit the mold. Our cons list outnumbered the pros, but we just can't give this one an automatic thumbs down. The ride was unsettled by even slightly uneven pavement, which then caused the dash panel to creak and rattle. And the squeaky horn sounded more appropriate for one of Suzuki's econoboxes than a 4,600-pound SUV. And there's that funky side-opening rear cargo door. But from the pro list, we got...
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , Toyota Click above for high-res gallery of our time with the 2008 Toyota Sequoia Gigantor. The 2008 Toyota Sequoia arrives humongously revised from the already beefy first-generation. The Timberland Mica (Metallic Green) example that Toyota lent us for a week definitely deserves whatever size-related superlatives you can dream up. It's big, it's powerful, it doesn't sip fuel. There is a need and a market for this type of vehicle, however. If Sequoia buyers don't actually utilize its considerable capabilities, that's not Toyota's fault. This year marks the migration of Toyota's full size Sport Utility to the same mechanicals that underpin the new Tundra, ladling on capability to an already fairly competent and refined vehicle. Gallery: 2008 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4x4 All photos (C)2008 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Toyota Sequoia Limited Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , Crossovers/CUVs , Toyota click above image to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Toyota Highlander The Highlander's undergone a nearly Kafka-esque transformation from its start as essentially a Camry wagon with all-wheel-drive and extra ride height. For 2008, Toyota's middle-child 'ute has been bulked up into more of a maxi-cruiser than previously. At first glance it appears what's emerged from the chrysalis is a grotesquely overinflated Forester, but the new Highlander is more butterfly than cockroach. Gallery: 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport All photos (C)2007 Dan Roth / Weblogs, Inc. Continue reading In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , GM , Saturn Click any image for hi-res photo gallery The introduction of the 2008 Saturn Vue is the latest element of the Saturn's ongoing product overhaul. In the wake of the Sky, Aura, and Outlook, we had high expectations for the all-new Vue. Gone are the outgoing model's clunky styling, cheesy faux grille, plastacular body panels and ho-hum street presence. In its place, we're given a smart-looking, well-packaged Opel Antara clone that's positioned as an obvious step up from its predecessor. Sure, the old Vue had some things going for it -- after its last facelift it had a decent-looking interior, and despite its outward visual shortcomings, it offered plenty of useful cargo room -- but it just wasn't very exciting in the grand scheme of things. Its departure is decidedly unlamented, and we eagerly accepted the keys when GM entrusted us with a spanking-new Vue Red Line for a week. Read on to see how well the newest Saturn lives up to the hype. Gallery: 2008...
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , Crossovers/CUVs , Subaru click above image for high-res gallery of the 2007 Subaru Forester Sports 2.5X Subaru's Forester is well into its second generation, but the styling and driving experience isn't far removed from the unflappable friendly wagon that bowed in 1998. Why mess with a good thing? The Forester Sports 2.5X is a handsome set of duds that sets you apart from the CUV crowd, even if you don't get the turbo motor. The black mesh grille and more monochromatic color scheme dresses up even the lightly optioned Forester we recently drove for a week. Lightly optioned doesn't mean stripped, there's plenty of equipment here and you'd only want for more if you wanted higher monthly payments. Even a basic Forester is comprehensively equipped. We're happy to report that while Subaru is all grown up from the days of the GL, the spirit of those funky rattlers remains infused in the Forester. Gallery: 2007 Subaru Forester Sports All photos (C)2007 Dan Roth / Weblogs...
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Filed under: Garage , SUVs , Land Rover "You took a $95,000 vehicle off-road?" asked a fellow Autoblogger as we shared some of our latest exploits with media vehicles. His question made it sound like I'd done something impressive with the Range Rover...
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