10 Best Buys In Four Wheel Drive
1-Ton Pickup Ford F-350 FX4
Base price: $26,855 (4WD)
Year on the list: 2nd
The Super Duty wins this one based on the sheer number of configurations, enabling it to fit anybody's needs. You can get it optioned from basic-a regular-cab longbed work truck-to the Town Car-like luxury of a Lariat or King Ranch Crew Cab dualie and everything in between. With all of the engine, bed, and cab configurations, as well as available features like Tow Command and an off-road package, there is no question why Ford has the best-selling truck line around.
Others Considered: Dodge Ram 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | QUICK SPECS | | Vehicle/model | Ford F-350 Super Duty Regular Cab | | Estimated price | $26,855 | | ENGINE | | Type | 5.4L SOHC V-8 | | Horsepower @ rpm | 300 @ 4,750 | | Torque @ rpm | 365 @ 3,750 | | EPA city/highway mpg | Not rated | | DRIVETRAIN | | Transmission | Six-speed manual/five-speed automatic | | Transfer case | Part-time two-speed | | Transfer case ratio | 2.72:1 | | Axle ratio | 4.10:1 | | SUSPENSION | | Front | Solid axle, coil springs, stabilizer bar | | Rear | Solid axle, leaf springs | | WHEELS AND TIRES | | Wheels, base | 17-inch stamped steel | | Tires, base | LT245/75R17E | | BRAKES | | Front | 13.66-inch vented disc | | Rear | 13.39-inch disc | | DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES | | Wheelbase, in. | 137 | | Length, in. | 226 | | Width, in. | 79.9 | | Height, in. | Not listed | | Curb weight, lb. | 6,162 | | Fuel capacity, gal. | 38 | | Ground clearance, in. | Not listed | | Seating | 3 | | Towing capacity, lb. | 12,500 | Editors' Pick-Best Overall Hummer H3 Adventure Package
Base price: $30,875
Year on the list: 1st
For the vehicle that we want to drive every day on our commute, take our friends out to a nice evening on the town, and-most importantly-tackle Telluride or Moab, the Hummer H3 is our choice. It may be a bit underpowered, but you won't notice that too much when you are crawling over boulders in low range. What makes the H3 so good are its oh-so-perfect size, 33-inch Bridgestone tires, 4.56:1 gears, rear locker, excellent ground clearance and angles, optional 4.00:1 transfer case, factory rock protection, and a price that even a magazine editor could almost afford. Get it with the stick to keep the engine on the boil, and the H3 will reward you with a rated 20 mpg on the highway. As we've written before, this is one of the few vehicles we don't feel guilty using in the dirt, and most of us on staff would consider adding one to our own garage.
Others Considered: Dodge Power Wagon FW | QUICK SPECS | | Vehicle/model | Hummer H3 Adventure | | Estimated price | $30,875 | | ENGINE | | Type | 3.5L DOHC I-5 | | Horsepower @ rpm | 220 @ 5,600 | | Torque @ rpm | 225 @ 2,800 | | EPA city/highway mpg | 16/20 | | DRIVETRAIN | | Transmission | Five-speed manual/Four-speed automatic | | Transfer case | Electronic part-time, two-speed | | Transfer case ratio | 4.03:1 | | Axle ratio | 4.56:1 | | SUSPENSION | | Front | Independent, torsion bar | | Rear | Solid, Hotchkiss with leaves | | WHEELS AND TIRES | | Wheels, base | 16x7.5 alloy | | Tires, base | LT285/75R16C | | BRAKES | | Front | 12.4-inch vented disc | | Rear | 12.28-inch disc | | DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES | | Wheelbase, in. | 111.9 | | Length, in. | 186.7 | | Width, in. | 74.7 | | Height, in. | 74.5 | | Curb weight, lb. | 4700 | | Fuel capacity, gal. | 23 | | Ground clearance, in. | 9.1 | | Seating | 5 | | Towing capacity, lb. | 4,500 |
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