Jumping from the big Ram to the compact i-350, we immediately noticed a slow, heavy steering feel, and a powerband that left something to be desired, especially when attempting to pass on two-lane stretches of highway to keep up with the other vehicles in the group. The ride was smooth and quiet, if unexceptional, but the silence was consistently interrupted by interior squeaks and rattles (and the audible complaints of overheated editors who felt that the A/C didn't blow cold enough) that repeated to us how the i-350 falls short of the competition. The driving position was good, with good sightlines to the front and sides. Fortunately, the i-350 doesn't go fast enough to attract the attention of Officer Frank, because the giant pillowy rear-seat headrests block a good portion of the rear window. The thin door panels and seating position of the Isuzu reminded us of older generations of the Isuzu Rodeo. On the pavement, the i-350, with its overworked five-cylinder, unsupportive seats, and down-market interior materials, felt the most industrial and trucklike of the group.
The real surprise out on the highway was the Mitsubishi Raider, which we felt offered the best overall size and interior comfort for long trips. The perfectly weighted steering and excellent ride quality, coupled with the best seats in the test and a carlike driving position, made the Raider a staff favorite out on the road. With a deafening Alpine sound system and Sirius satellite radio, you'll have to stop for gas and a bladder break before the entertainment runs out. We also appreciated the see-through rear headrests, but felt they could have been designed to match the interior better, rather than looking like something from a 1980s-era Volvo parts bin.
All of that highway driving eventually took us to the real point of this test: The dirt, where 30 percent of our total points are weighted to off-pavement performance. We found as many varying terrains as possible from Johnson Valley to the Olancha Dunes, and the ancient Bristlecone pine forests of the White Mountains to Cerro Gordo, another historic excursion, just east of Owens Dry Lake. Cerro Gordo is a fun and mildly challenging trail, offering 10,000-foot vistas stretching from the Sierras to the west, to Saline and Death Valleys in the East. A mid-trail attraction is the well-preserved remnants of an old salt tramway that stretches to Owens Dry Lake, a sight that is definitely worth four or five hours of your time and 30 miles of careful driving. Along our journey we were able to evaluate the trucks' capability in gravel, sand, dirt, rocks, and water.
Our first opportunity to see these trucks in action was at the Olancha Dunes OHV area, where the high-horsepower Dodge proved to be the most fun to bully through the sands. Although the Ram couldn't hide its mass on undulating two-tracks, the tuning of the monotube shocks was spot-on, and the compliant new front suspension design never bottomed out hard. In some spots, the Dodge was a bit wide for the trail, but fortunately, the high adjustability of the driver seat allowed us to hang out the window for better views, and a tight limited-slip proved itself on the rocks by keeping the relatively low-geared Dodge on the intended line. Beefy tow hooks and Goodyear Wrangler tires never left us worried-in fact, the Ram played tow truck a few times during the test.
Some of the most fun trail testing came at the steering wheel of the i-350, as long as altitude wasn't involved. Climbing steep two-tracks leading to above 10,000 feet, the i-350's 3.5L five-cylinder struggled in the thin air, but on the downslopes of the same trail, the compact chassis of the Isuzu easily made it the most enjoyable to drive down the trail fast, confidently rotating the tail out and bringing it back; it was the most at home barreling down a dusty ridge. Contrary to past experience, the factory-supplied Eaton G80 automatic locker engaged smoothly and provided confident feel over the rocks. We were sure the street-oriented General tires would meet their match on the rocky slopes of the Cerro Gordo trail. However, none of our vehicles suffered any rubber failures. The i-350's tires also offered the best flotation of the group, somewhat making up for its lack of horsepower on the dunes. Most testers agreed that the Isuzu held its own on the trail, and would be worth considering.
In the Mitsu, the seating position that felt so good on the highway turned on the Raider when out on the trail, causing our testers to feel like they were driving something more akin to a bathtub, and not offering very good sightlines over the magically disappearing hood. In the sand, the Raider was the least fun to drive, thanks to its lack of horsepower, major axle hop, and a low-hanging underbelly, which flattened the naturally rolling dunes like a road grader, leaving smooth skidplate marks in its wake. Another problem with the Mitsu interior is the placement of the transfer-case shift knob, which is partially hidden by the dash and is low and away from the driver, obscuring the selections. Fortunately, the excellent BFG All-Terrain tires are part of the DuroCross option package, and gripped and clawed at the terrain, redeeming some of the other Raider shortcomings, such as great front tow hooks that are rendered useless, unless you don't mind cutting away at the fascia of your new truck. In the end, the Raider was let down by its low ground clearance and low-hanging running boards.
At the end of a busy week on the road and away from our families, we collected the logbooks, added up the points, and picked a winner which we feel best represents the needs of the readership of Four Wheeler magazine. Turn the page to see our winner, and get those letters coming!
What's Hot: Tossable, fun handling on the trail, locking rear differential, lots of truck in a compact package.
What's Not: Underpowered engine, lack of skidplating, interior quality lags behind competition. Did we mention underpowered engine?
Our Take: The Isuzu is the most trucklike truck in the group and was great on the trail. We wonder if we'd like it more if it had the overseas-only Isuzu diesel in it.
From the Logbook:* "Good tire flotation in the sand is hampered by the lack of horsepower."* "Good sightlines on the trail, a blast to drive in the dirt."* "Lack of skidplates renders everything vulnerable."* "Steering is awfully heavy."* "The rear seat can't be folded flat because the headrests aren't removable."
What's Hot: Adventurous design, better interior than Dakota, awesome stereo.
What's Not: Adventurous design, low underbelly, lack of power, low seating position.
Our Take: If you don't need the capability or the room of a fullsize, don't overlook the Raider. This may be one of the best daily-driver 4x4s on the market.
From the Logbook:* "The Raider's BFGs are the best tires in the test."* "The chrome tailpipe looks good, but is vulnerable to trail damage."* "Front suspension is a bit soft for whoops sections, and the Raider sits too low."* "V-6 power, but V-8 fuel economy. Where is the advantage?"* "Possibly the best highway manners in the test.