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2008 Four Wheeler Of The Year

Third Time's A Charm For The New Kid From Detroit

By Sean P. Holman, Photography by Ken Brubaker
GENERAL
Vehicle/model Hummer H2 Hummer H3 Alpha Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD Jeep Liberty Nissan Pathfinder Toyota Land Cruiser
Base price $55,510 $38,645 $38,555 $26,125 $32,850 $63,200
Price as tested $65,815 $42,170 $43,605 $30,270 $39,860 $74,530
Options as tested Luxury package ($6,410);AM/FM stereo w/MP3 compatible CD/DVD player& DVD-based navigation ($1,720);Air suspension package ($1,275);destination ($900) Solar Flare Metallic paint ($295);Rear Vision ($850);Trailer Tow Package ($390);Adventure Package ($1,375);destination ($615) Red Rock Crystal Pearl Coat exterior paint ($225);Trailer Tow Group IV ($280);Quadra-Drive II 4x4 Group ($795);3.0L V-6 turbo diesel engine ($1,655);high-intensity discharge headlamps ($500); MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System w/navigation ($900); destination ($695) Red Rock Crystal Pearl Coat exterior paint ($225);Trailer Tow Class III Group ($395);Skid Plate Group ($225);Premium Group I ($995);Selec-Trac II Active Full-Time 4WD System ($445);Sky Slider full open roof ($1,200);destination ($660) XM Satellite Radio ($150);floor mats ($155);SE Premium Package ($1,850);Air Bag Package ($700);DVD Mobile Entertainment System ($1,600);SE Leather Package ($1,850);destination ($705) Touch-screen DVD navigation system ($3,400);Country Club Package ($7,245);destination ($685)
ENGINE
Type OHV VVT V-8 OHV V-8 DOHC V-6 SOHC V-6 DOHC V-8 DOHC V-8
Displacement (ci/liter) 376/6.2 325/5.3 182/3.0 225.8/3.7 341/5.6 349/5.7
Bore x stroke (in) 4.06 x 3.62 3.78 x 3.62 3.27 x 3.62 3.66 x 3.57 3.86 x 3.62 3.70 x 4.02
Compression ratio 10.5:1 9.9:1 18:1 9.7:1 9.8:1 10.2:1
Intake EFI EFI High-pressure direct common-rail injection, turbocharger EFI EFI EFI
Mfg.'s power rating @ rpm (hp) 393 @ 5,700 300 @ 5,200 215 @ 3,800 210 @ 5,200 310 @ 5,200 381 @ 5,600
Mfg.'s torque rating @ rpm (lb-ft) 415 @ 4,300 320 @ 4,000 376 @ 1,600-2,800 235 @ 4,000 388 @ 3,400 401 @ 3,600
Mfg.'s suggested fuel type Regular unleaded Regular unleaded Ultra low-sulfur diesel Regular unleaded Regular unleaded Regular unleaded
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission 6L80-E 6-spd automatic 4L60-E 4-spd automatic W5J400 5-spd automatic 42RLE 4-spd automatic Jatco RE5R05A 5-spd automatic AB60F 6-spd automatic
Ratios:
First 4.02:1 3.06:1 3.59:1 2.84:1 3.83:1 3.33:1
Second 2.36:1 1.63:1 2.19:1 1.57:1 2.37:1 1.96:1
Third 1.52:1 1.00:1 1.41:1 1.00:1 1.52:1 1.35:1
Fourth 1.15:1 0.70:1 1.00:1 0.69:1 1.00:1 1.00:1
Fifth 0.85:1 n/a 0.83:1 n/a 0.83:1 0.73:1
Sixth 0.66:1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.59:1
Reverse 3.064:1 2.29:1 3.16:1 2.21:1 2.61:1 2.29:1
Axle ratio 3.73:1 4.10:1 3.73:1 3.73:1 2.94:1 3.91:1
Transfer case Borg-Warner 44-84 full-time 2-spd Borg-Warner 44-94 full-time 2-spd NVG245 full-time 2-spd MP3022 full-time 2-spd Univance XN-k part-time 2-spd JF2A full-time 2-spd
Low-range ratio 2.64:1 4.03:1 2.72:1 2.72:1 2.63:1 2.62:1
Crawl ratio 39.6:1 50.6:1 36.4:1 28.8:1 29.6:1 34.1:1
FRAME/BODY
Frame Ladder-type Ladder-type Uniframe Uniframe Ladder-type Ladder-type
Body Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel
SUSPENSION/AXLES
Front Independent, torsion bars,46mm monotube gas shocks,36mm front stabilizer bar/AAM 9.25-in Independent, SLA torsion bar,46mm monotube gas-charged shocks,36mm tubular stabilizer bar/AAM 7.25-in Independent, coil springs,twin-tube coilover gas shocks,stabilizer bar /Chrysler 7.9-in,electronic limited-slip Independent, coil springs,low-pressure gas shocks,stabilizer bar/Dana 30 Independent, double-wishbone,coilover shocks,stabilizer bar/Dana M205 Independent, double-wishbone,coil springs stabilizer bar/SD 22A 8.7-in
Rear 5-link, variable-rate coil springs,46mm monotube gas shocks, 32mm stabilizer bar/AAM 9.5-in,Eaton E-Locker Hotchkiss semi-elliptic dual-stage leaf springs,46mm monotube gas shocks,25mm stabilizer bar/AAM 8.6-in,Eaton E-Locker Link/coil with track bar,twin-tube gas shocks,stabilizer bar/Chrysler 8.3-in,electronic limited-slip Upper and lower trailing arms,track bar, coil springs, stabilizer bar,low-pressure gas shocks,/Chrysler 8.25-in Independent, double-wishbone,coil on toe-control link,stabilizer bar/Nissan R230-K Four-link with coil springs,control arms, shocks,stabilizer bar/BD 24A 9.5-in
STEERING
Type Variable ratio, integral power; recirculating ball-type Power assisted rack-and-pinion w/tri-bushing mount design Power rack-and-pinion Power rack-and-pinion Engine speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion Power-assisted variable gear rack-and-pinion
Turns (lock-to-lock) 3.0 3.25 2.85 3.42 3.54 3.1
Ratio Variable, 13.6 to 11.8:1 17.1:1 15.8:1 on center, 13.9:1 full lock 17.36:1 17:1 16.7:1
BRAKES
Front 12.9 x1.5-in vented disc, dual-piston calipers 12.4 x 1.10-in vented disc, four-piston calipers 12.9 x 1.2-in vented disc, twin-piston pin-slider calipers 11.9 x 1.1-in vented rotor, single-piston calipers 11.65 x 1.1-in vented disc, dual-piston calipers 13.4 x 1.3-in vented disc, four-piston calipers
Rear 13.0 x 1.1-in vented disc, dual-piston calipers 13.5 x 0.79-in vented disc, single-piston sliding calipers 12.6 x 0.55-in disc, single-piston pin-slider calipers 12.44 x 0.47-in solid rotor, single-piston calipers 12.12 x 0.70-in vented disc, single-piston calipers 13.6 x 0.71-in vented disc, single-piston calipers
ABS Four-wheel Four-wheel Four-wheel Four-wheel Four-wheel Four-wheel
WHEELS/TIRES
Wheels (in) 17x8 cast aluminum 16x7.5 cast aluminum 17x7.5 cast aluminum 17x7 pained cast aluminum 18x8 cast aluminum 18x8 cast aluminum
Tires LT315/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A LT285/75R16 Bridgestone Dueler P245/65R17 Goodyear Fortera 235/65R17 Goodyear Wrangler HP P265/60R18 BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A P285/60R18 Dunlop Grandtrek AT23
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city/highway n/a 13/16 17/22 15/21 12/18 13/18
Observed city/highway/trail 10.64 13.68 18.56 15.72 14.15 14.49
DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES
Weight (lb) 6,614 4,854 4,724 4,222 5,030 5,690
Wheelbase (in) 122.8 111.9 109.5 106.1 112.2 112.2
Overall length (in) 203.5 186.7 188.0 176.9 192.5 194.9
Overall width (in) 81.2 85.5 84.3 72.4 72.6 77.6
Height (in) 78.5 74.5 68.9 70.1 72.8 74.0
Track f/r (in) 69.4/69.4 65/65.5 62/62 61/61 61.8./61.8 64.6/64.4
Minimum ground clearance (in) 10.1 9.1 8.2 7.75 8.8 8.9
Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft) 43.5 37 37.1 35.5 39.2 38.7
Approach/departure angles (deg) 39.8/37.1 39.4/36.5 35/27.5 29/32.1 28.7/22.9 30/20
Breakover angle (deg.) 23.5 25.0 21.3 20.4 22.9 21
GVWR (lb) 8,600 6,001 6,150 5,372 6,500 7,275
Payload (lb) 1,986 1,150 1,190 1,150 1,464 1,585
Maximum towing capacity (lb) 8,200 6,000 7,200 5,000 7,000 8,500
Seating 7 (with 3rd row seat) 5 5 5 7 8
Fuel capacity (gal) 32 23 21.1 19.5 21.1 24.6
PERFORMANCE
0-60 mph (sec) 8.25 8.86 8.26 11.35 6.75 7.72
Quarter-mile (sec @ mph) 16.54 @ 83.73 16.54 @ 81.86 16.37 @ 82.61 18.43 @ 76.45 15.70 @ 89.04 16.02 @ 90.02
Braking 60-0 mph (ft) 165.42 143.9 148.7 133.21 151.0 139.11
RTI 472 526 422 398 355 540
By Sean P. Holman
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