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2009 Four Wheeler Of The Year - 2009 4x4 SUV Test

Five New Suvs Take It To The Trail

By Sean P. Holman, Photography by Greg P. Smith, Ken Brubaker

Specifications As Tested

GENERAL
Vehicle/model '09 Kia Borrego EX '09 Lexus LX 570 '09 Nissan Xterra Off-Road '09 Suzuki Grand Vitara XSport '09 Toyota Sequoia Platinum
Base price $32,995 $73,800 $29,340 $24,749 $55,600
Price as tested $39,295 $80,750 $30,235 $25,863 $58,765
Options as tested P265/65R19 Tires/chrome wheels (750); Premium package ($1,800); navigation system ($1,500); Luxury package ($1,500); destination ($750) Climate control seats ($890); Park Assist ($1000); Technology package ($4,200); cargo mat ($95); destination ($765) Floor mats ($115); Technology package (MSRP $1300, no charge promotion); destination ($780) Metallic paint ($115); floor mats ($119); cargo mat and net ($130); destination ($750 Rear seat entertainment system ($1,670.00); Cold Kit ($100); Dynamic Laser Cruise Control ($600); daytime running lights ($40); Emergency Assistance Kit ($70); destination ($685)

ENGINE
Type DOHC V-8 DOHC V-8 DOHC V-6 3.2L DOHC V-6 DOHC V-8
Displacement (ci/liter) 282.4/4.6 345.6/5.7 244/4.0 195/3.2 349/5.7
Bore x stroke (in) 3.60 x 3.40 3.70 x 4.02 3.76 x 3.62 3.50 x 3.37 3.70 x 4.02
Compression ratio 10.4:1 10.2:1 9.7:1 10.0:1 10.2:1
Intake EFI EFI EFI EFI EFI
Mfg.'s power/torque rating @ rpm 337@6,000/323@3,500 383@5,600/403@3,600 261@5,600/281@ 4,000 230@6,200/213@3,500 381@5,600/401@3,600
Mfg.'s suggested fuel type Regular unleaded Regular unleaded Regular unleaded Regular unleaded Regular unleaded/E85
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission ZF 6-spd automatic AB60F 6-spd automatic Jatco Ltd. IK-sw 5-spd automatic Aisin AW 5-spd automatic AB60F 6-spd automatic
Ratios: 1st 4.171:1 3.333:1 3.842:1 3.520:1 3.333:1
2nd 2.340:1 1.960:1 2.353:1 2.043:1 1.960:1
3rd 1.521:1 1.353:1 1.529:1 1.401:1 1.353:1
4th 1.143:1 1.000:1 1.00:1 1.000:1 1.000:1
5th 0.867:1 0.728 0.839:1 0.717:1 0.728:1
6th 0.691:1 0.588 n/a n/a 0.588:1
Reverse 3.403:1 3.061:1 2.765:1 3.224:1 2.61:1
Axle ratio 3.357:1 3.909:1 3.357:1 3.583:1 3.061:1
Transfer case Borg-Warner ITM full-time two-speed JF2A full-time two-speed Univance Corp. XI part-time two-speed Suzuki Hamamatsu full-time two-speed JF3A part-time two-speed
Low-range ratio 2.480:1 2.618:1 2.625:1 1.97:1 2.618:1
Crawl ratio 34.7:1 34.1:1 33.9:1 24.9:1 26.7:1
FRAME/BODY
Frame Ladder-type Ladder-type Ladder-type Uniframe Ladder-type
Body Steel Steel Steel Steel Steel
SUSPENSION/AXLES
Front Double-wishbone, coil spring with shock absorbers and stabilizer bar/Dymos Company 7.8-inch Independent, coil spring-type, double-wishbone, electro-hydraulic/Aisin-Warner SD22A 8.7-inch Independent double-wishbone, 33mm stabilizer bar, Bilstein shock absorbers/Nissan R180 AKAI 7.1-inch Independent, MacPherson strut/ Suzuki Seimitsu 7.87-inch Independent, high-mounted coil springs, double-wishbone, low-pressure gas-filled shocks, stabilizer bar/Toyota SD22A 8.7-inch
Rear Multi-link, coil spring with damper and stabilizer bar/Dymos Company 9-inch Four-link coil spring lateral rod-type, electro hydraulic/Aisin-Warner BD24A 9.5-inch Multi-leaf, 25.4mm stabilizer bar, Bilstein shock absorbers/Dana M226 8.9-inch, GKN Electronic Differential Locker Independent, multi-link/ Suzuki Seimitsu 7.87-inch Independent, coil springs, double-wishbone, low-pressure gas-filled shocks, stabilizer bar/Toyota FD25A 10-inch
By Sean P. Holman
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