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cars.com: New SUVs | Faceoff: Macho SUV
Cars.comparison: Macho SUVs
By
Mike Hanley,
David Thomas and
Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com
You know those tough-looking trucks from when you were a kid? The ones you used to bash together for fun? Well, they're back and available at Dodge, Hummer and Toyota dealerships. Just don't bash one through your living room wall.
= Category winner
The Contenders
2007 Dodge Nitro R/T RWD 2007 Hummer H3 4WD2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4WDZoom Zoom Zoom Base MSRP$25,310$29,405$23,300Price as tested$28,565$38,580$30,208Tough-guy appealJack Bauer
Rocky BalboaMagnum, P.I.Shortest side windows (in.)14
12.515Most vertical windshield (degrees)42
6050Wildest paint colorsElectric Blue and Sunburst Orange are compelling, but there's no yellow to sear onlookers' eyes. You'll never lose your H3 in the mall parking lot if you get it in yellow.
Though it offers fewer color choices than the others, the FJ Cruiser's have better names: Voodoo Blue and Sun Fusion yellow are two, and that white roof is going to make even standard black stand out.Drivetrain performance
The optional 4.0-liter V-6 and responsive five-speed automatic make for grin-inducing acceleration. Having rear- rather than four-wheel drive doesn't hurt.Even though it's bigger in 2007, the H3's inline-five-cylinder engine is neither the strong nor the silent type.Thanks to the powerful 4.0-liter V-6, you forget you're driving a high-riding 4WD box. If we were comparing
base drivetrains, this would be your winner.Ride, handling and stability
Play Video The Nitro feels the most planted and the least truckish of the three on paved roads. Light steering effort aids in-town maneuverability but lowers confidence on the highway. Don't be surprised if you get tossed around when driving on rough roads.
Play Video Offroad chops come at a price, and so do 4,700 pounds of curb weight. The H3 is manageable but never nimble. Structural shudder doesn't inspire confidence. A broad stance gives it a relatively grounded feeling. Or maybe that's the 4,700 pounds...
Play Video The FJ has a high center of gravity, so it must be driven more gently. The ride quality is quite good, but you'll remember you're driving a truck every time you turn the wheel.
Parkability
The Nitro takes some getting used to, as the hood seems to protrude farther than it actually does. Once you learn where the corners are, the Nitro will fit easily into most parking spaces. The Hummer's height and obstructive rear-mounted spare tire make the H3 a drag, and there's no sonar parking aid to help.The FJ's problems are similar to the H3's. The optional sonar rear parking assist helps somewhat, but the truck's ridiculously wide turning circle (almost 5 feet greater than the others) makes for a lot of jockeying.Comfort/roominess
Zoom The front bucket seats have soft cushioning, but occupants have to put up with impossibly small footwells. The surprisingly roomy second row has a reclining split-bench seat.
Zoom GM has a knack for making big, comfortable, cushy seats, and the H3 is no exception. Even the widest rump should have no problem in the driver's seat, and the optional leather is quite nice. The rear has as much legroom as you'd expect, and the back seats are also quite comfortable.
Zoom You sit up high in the FJ Cruiser. Rear half doors make it harder to get into the rear seat compared to the others, and there's not much space once you're there.
Ease of entry/exit
On-road orientation makes this one a breeze.The H3 required more reaches for a handgrip to get in and out compared to the others, but it wasn't a chore. As with the H3, shorter drivers may have difficulty reaching the FJ Cruiser's tall driver's seat, but it wasn't a burden for us. Cabin floor height (in.):
20 2323Driver's seat cushion height (in.):
27.53331Automatic transmission gas mileage (city/highway, mpg)
17/2115/19
17/21Safety features
Standard antilock brakes, side curtain airbags and an electronic stability system put the Nitro on top. The best government Rollover Rating of the three — a 22 percent chance — is a bonus.ABS and an electronic stability system are standard, but Hummer makes you pay extra for side curtain airbags. Antilock brakes and an electronic stability system are standard. Here, too, side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags are optional.Cargo area versatility
Play Video The Nitro has a liftgate, and the rear seatbacks fold flat to expand the 32.1-cubic-foot cargo area. The Load 'N Go cargo floor holds up to 400 pounds and can slide past the rear bumper to make loading and unloading items easier.
Play Video It's nice that it opens toward the street, not the curb, but a swing gate — even one with air-cushioned movement — is no one's first choice. There's plenty of room in the H3's cargo area, which has a removable carpet lining that reveals a hard floor perfect for getting dirty.
Play Video Another swing gate that opens toward the street — but at least this one's window flips up independently. It too has a hard plastic floor, removable carpet and easy flip-down rear seats.
Offroad provisionsIntended primarily for onroad driving, the Nitro lacks offroad necessities like skid plates and a low-range four-wheel-drive system.
Standard permanent all-wheel drive, higher approach and departure angles and 10 inches of ground clearance make up for the H3's mere 20-inch water-fording depth.Though nicely equipped for offroading, and with a 27.5-inch water-fording maximum, the FJ trails the H3 geometrically. Also, its automatic transmission comes only with an inferior, part-time 4WD system.Overall value
The Nitro is well-equipped for the money and has the most everyday usability of the three.It has best-in-test offroad equipment, but the Hummer is priced to compete with the likes of Jeep's Grand Cherokee. Macho costs mucho.The FJ Cruiser is an affordable 4WD SUV, but expected features like keyless entry and cruise control cost extra. Editors' most machoThe Nitro has the swagger to be most macho, but without any real offroad capability, it's all show.
Hummer has basically owned this category since the H1 stormed onto the stage, and the H3 continues that legacy.More retro than macho, the FJ Cruiser lacks the intimidating presence of the Nitro and H3, despite its admirable offroadability.
Posted on 3/1/07
