America's Biggest SUVs Went Head-to-Head in the Desert, and the Result Was Close
Key takeaways
- Ford came for the Suburban's crown just as America's love affair with giant SUVs began to fade.
- Times change: With fuel prices reaching the $4 mark, the halcyon days of these grandest leviathans may be receding in the rearview mirror of history.
- Representing the Bow Tie Brigade is a new 2007 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4x4.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Ford came for the Suburban's crown just as America's love affair with giant SUVs began to fade.
[This story originally appeared in the November 2006 issue of Motor Trend with the headline "Desert Stormers."] It wasn’t long ago that $2-a-gallon gasoline happened only in a bad week and supersize SUVs were kings of the road. Times change: With fuel prices reaching the $4 mark, the halcyon days of these grandest leviathans may be receding in the rearview mirror of history. Former stalwarts are discovering the charms of smaller, more fuel-efficient crossovers, which means the full-size sport/utility segment is undergoing a major rightsizing. Both of the trucks presented here are longtime big sellers; Chevrolet and Ford have stepped up their efforts for 2007, retooling the Suburban and Expedition to 21st-century battle spec. A tour of duty with half-ton 4WD versions of each showed us just how far they have come—or not—in their quest for survival.
Representing the Bow Tie Brigade is a new 2007 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4x4. Uplevel LT3 packaging, a navigation system, third-row seat, rear DVD entertainment package, power sunroof and liftgate, and rearview camera—plus a host of lesser upgrades—push its sticker price from $40,760 to $51,320.