C&D's 5Best Trucks

[VetteZ06]

I picked up the March issue of C&D at Borders tonight (didn't buy it) and took a look at the 5Best Trucks section. No article or details to provide you with as of yet, but I do remember the winners.

Small SUV - Toyota Rav4
Large SUV - Honda Pilot
Luxury SUV - Mercedes-Benz GL450
Minivan - Honda Odyssey
Truck - Chevrolet Silverado (Guess which truck was also included in the competition? )

I was somewhat surprised by the luxury SUV category, considering the SRX was a two-time winner that just had an overhaul to address its biggest problem. I've heard that the new interior is quite impressive, so I guess I expected they'd give it the nod again this year.

[The Pirate]

I wouldn't have put the Pilot on that list, or the RAV4 for that matter.

[ro51092]

Why the Pilot?

[The Pirate]

Because it's a Honda. 


Haha, that's coming from a Honda owner too!

[mazda6er]

Why the Pilot?

It is a sex machine. 

[VetteZ06]

Judging by their review of the GMC Acadia later in the issue, I think the Lambda twins (the Acadia and the Outlook) would've been strong contenders for the large SUV category, but they weren't available for testing.

[chevyguy06]

That means they'll be able to come back next year though right?

[VetteZ06]

Actually, I'm not at all sure about that. I'm fairly certain that a car has to be either new or significantly updated to be included in the test (previous winners are obviously included too), but I don't know the rules for products that aren't available to be tested in their year of eligibility.

[ifcar]

If they couldn't get a Lamdba crossover at the time of testing, how did they get a Tundra?

[GoCougs]

Silverado?

[mazda6er]

Silverado?

You rang?

[MX793]

That means they'll be able to come back next year though right?

That's how they do it with the 10Best list.  I don't see why it would be different for the 5Best list.

[VetteZ06]

Silverado?

Yes, the one that took top honors over the Tundra.

And ifcar, I'm not really sure how they obtained a Tundra for testing. It surprised me, too.

[SVT666]

Yes, the one that took top honors over the Tundra.

I find that surprising because I wasn't all that impressed with the Silverado I saw.

[VetteZ06]

I find that surprising because I wasn't all that impressed with the Silverado I saw.

I guess they saw it differently then, eh?

[GoCougs]

Silverado was a blatant let's-try-to-balance-it-out pitty vote.

[ifcar]

Silverado was a blatant let's-try-to-balance-it-out pitty vote.

That must be it. 

[VetteZ06]

Silverado was a blatant let's-try-to-balance-it-out pitty vote.

Yeah, that's pretty much what the article said. I forgot to point that out earlier. Thanks, Cougs.

On the other hand, there was no talk of a pity vote.

[VetteZ06]

Here's the writeup for the Silverado:

    Radical experimentation isn't tolerated in the full-size-pickup category. Consequently, there's nothing about the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado that departs from the traditional expectations of full-size-pickup buyers. Instead, what we have is a truck that executes its varied missions with unusual competence and refinement.
    This new-generation Silverado's structure is impressively rigid, creating a perception of vault-like strength--reassuring most buyers who know that overloading the bed is a matter of when, not if--and also helping the suspension to deliver a smooth, well-controlled ride on pavement and rutted dirt roads alike. The big Chevy also stops and corners very well, both by the numbers and by the feel of the brake pedal and steering wheel.
    The small-block Chevy V-8, now in its second half-century of delivering usable power, provides a strong combination of performance, fuel economy, and refinement. The new interior is attractice, practical, and more than roomy enough. Towing and carrying capacities are at the top of the class. Put it all together, and pickups don't get any better than the Silverado in 2007.

I can type up any of the others if somebody so desires. I have a feeling they'll be on C&D's website in a short time, anyway.

[GoCougs]

I guess an all-aluminum 381hp DOHC V8, 50% more gears, better as-tested fuel economy, gear-driven transfer case, 10.5" ring gear diff, and 14" 4WDBs is "radical experimentation."

[TheIntrepid]

I don't like the Odyssey. The Sienna/Quest can do everything better... yet it's because it's a Honda that C&D favor it.

[ifcar]

The Odyssey has better handling and steering feel than those two. Therefore, it's favored by the enthusiast magazine.

[VetteZ06]

I guess an all-aluminum 381hp DOHC V8, 50% more gears, better as-tested fuel economy, gear-driven transfer case, 10.5" ring gear diff, and 14" 4WDBs is "radical experimentation."

Yes, it's quite shocking that they could ever disagree with your assessment of the truck segment. Perhaps you should write a terse, poignant letter to them.

[ro51092]

Silverado was a blatant let's-try-to-balance-it-out pitty vote.

THATS MY VOTE FOR EXCUSE OF THE YEAR.

[GoCougs]

Oh, what the heck. It's harmless I guess.

At least this year it's only pushrods and 4sp AT.

Last year it was just too much fun what with the torsion bar front suspension and recirc ball steering...

[VetteZ06]

Apparently Motor Trend found quite a few faults with the Tundra, too.

Cougs, that's two letters thus far. Perhaps three if you want to write one praising the evaluative capabilities of the folks over at Edmunds.

[ifcar]

One thing that I really wish C/D would do with 10Best and 5Best is explain the cars that didn't win the way Motor Trend does. Too often, the little suck-up paragraphs for each winner could be reproduced exactly for one of the others, so they don't always make it clear why one car/truck beat another.

[GoCougs]

Apparently Motor Trend found quite a few faults with the Tundra, too.

Cougs, that's two letters thus far. Perhaps three if you want to write one praising the evaluative capabilities of the folks over at Edmunds.

The letter thing I think ran its course a few posts back.

Don't get so wrapped up in the fate of the domestics so as to take my criticism of the Silverado personally.

[VetteZ06]

Don't get so wrapped up in the fate of the domestics so as to take my criticism of the Silverado personally.

Take it personally? I'm sorry if it appears that way, but I don't usually take "conversations" on internet forums personally.

I just like responding to you because you seem to be quite enamored with your own opinion.

[MX793]

One thing that I really wish C/D would do with 10Best and 5Best is explain the cars that didn't win the way Motor Trend does. Too often, the little suck-up paragraphs for each winner could be reproduced exactly for one of the others, so they don't always make it clear why one car/truck beat another.

That would be nice, but perhaps not all that feasible in C&D's case.  Over the past several years, there have typically been 50+ contenders for the 10Best, roughly twice as many contenders as what MT had for this year's Car of the Year.  I just don't see C&D writing up a little blurb about every eligible contender for the 10Best when there are so many of them.