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11
|
Ford
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Ranger FX-4
Ford's compact Ranger pickup earned a freshened front end last year and comes with several new option groups this year. The most notable new offering is the FX-4 offroad package for the four-door SuperCab chassis, which combines off-the-pavement functionality with an appealing Styleside-box appearance. Powered by a 4.0-liter V-6 engine, the FX-4 group includes Bilstein shocks, heavy-duty springs, three skid plates, tow hooks and forged-aluminum wheels.
The sporty Edge option group conveys the assertive look of a four-wheel-drive Ranger, but with a lower price; this option remains available. Aimed at young buyers, Edge pickups have a monochromatic exterior, a raised power dome hood, bed-rail covers and a mesh grille. Even in two-wheel-drive versions, the Edge has the ride height of a 4x4.
A new 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine became available during 2001. For 2002, the 3.0-liter V-6 has been enhanced. Five-spoke, 16-inch aluminum wheels are new, and sport bucket seats for the front are newly optional. A new MP3/CD audio system is also available.
Ford’s Ranger has been the top-selling compact pickup in the United States, and SuperCab models account for 65 percent of Ranger sales. Ford holds a controlling interest in Mazda, which markets a line of B-Series pickups that are closely related to the Ranger but have only minor styling and equipment differences. Buyers in California can get an electric-powered Ranger.
Exterior
Rangers come in three sizes, with a choice of two cabs and bed lengths. Regular-cab pickups are available with a 6- or 7-foot cargo bed, while the SuperCab (extended-cab) version is fitted with a 6-foot bed only. Short-bed pickups are available with a smooth-sided cargo bed or with flared rear fenders in the Flareside versions.
Two rear-hinged rear doors are optional on SuperCab models. They can be opened only after the front doors are open. Even though Chevrolet, GMC, Nissan and Toyota offer crew-cab compact pickups with four conventional front-hinged doors, Ford has announced no intention of adopting that body style. Ford’s Explorer Sport Trac, a sport utility vehicle with four doors and an open cargo bed, aims to fill that role.
Regular-cab models ride either a 112- or 118-inch wheelbase and measure about 188 inches long; however, the long-wheelbase 4x4 version stretches to 199.5 inches in overall length. SuperCab Rangers have a 126-inch wheel span and are about 202 inches long overall.
A tubular cargo-bed extension is available, which adds 2 feet of length to the 6-foot bed. A hard, two-piece tonneau cover is also available.
Interior
Regular-cab Rangers seat two occupants on a split bench seat or optional buckets. SuperCab pickups add a pair of rear jump seats. Ordering the optional rear doors does not eliminate either jump seat, which is the case with GM’s compact pickups. But like all jump seats in compact pickups, the Ranger’s rear seats are too small to hold adults comfortably.
Under the Hood
The base engine on 2WD Rangers is a 135-horsepower, 2.3-liter four-cylinder. A 154-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 is standard on 4WD models and optional on 2WD Rangers. Topping the list is a 207-hp, 4.0-liter, single-overhead-cam V-6. A five-speed-manual shift is standard with all engines, and a five-speed-automatic transmission is optional. The Ranger’s 4WD system can be engaged with a dashboard switch while the vehicle is moving. Four-wheel antilock brakes and front, second-generation airbags are standard.
Driving Impressions
This compact pickup is pleasant to drive, friendly in personality and capable in every significant respect. The Ranger rides and handles on par with its domestic competitors from GM and Dodge. It is attractive, well-designed, solidly built and reasonably comfortable inside.
The 4.0-liter V-6 engine is the sensible choice for performance, but a smaller V-6 will suffice for many owners. Four-cylinder Rangers are more limited but appeal to shoppers on a tight budget.
|
135
|
2.3
|
4
|
TRUCK
|
$12,565.00
|
|
|
|
12
|
Dodge
|
Ram 1500
Even the boldest designs turn tame after a while. Back in 1994, Dodge jolted the full-size pickup market with the launch of its bold new Ram, which conveyed something close to the imposing appearance of a long-haul semi. The lightest-duty member of the full-size Dodge pickup family gets a fresh “big rig” look for 2002 — though it's evolutionary rather than charting another new course. Dodge unveiled the new Ram 1500 at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2001.
The Ram 1500’s huge grille is reminiscent of the one used on the Power Ram concept vehicle, and a subtle hood bulge helps set a muscular tone. SLT, SLT Plus and Sport versions of the basic Ram are on sale, with three different front-end appearances. Regular-cab and Quad Cab body styles are available, each with a larger cab than before — 3 inches longer, in fact, to yield greater interior space. Dodge claims that the regular cab’s interior is the largest in its class. The Quad Cab Ram pickup has four conventional, front-hinged doors.
Two new engines and one carryover unit are offered. A new 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 that produces 35 horsepower more than the 3.9-liter it replaces is now standard. A new 4.7-liter Magnum V-8 replaces the previous 5.2-liter and develops 5 hp more than its predecessor. The 245-hp, 5.9-liter V-8 carryover engine also remains available.
Roof-mounted curtain-type airbags are optional; they are the first for a full-size pickup, according to Dodge. Power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals are also optional. Dodge claims to have the biggest brakes and the largest standard wheel/tire combination in the full-size pickup class. Rams have higher payload ratings and towing capacities than before, aerodynamics have improved, and the pickups are said to suffer less wind noise.
Heavy-duty Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups continue unchanged for one more season in their prior form. They will be redesigned for the 2003 model year.
Exterior
Regular-cab and four-door Quad Cab body styles are available. The regular-cab Ram gets a 6.25-foot cargo bed, rides a 120.5-inch wheelbase and stretches 207.7 inches long overall. With an 8-foot bed, the Ram has a 140.5-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 229.7 inches. Quad Cab pickups can also be equipped with the two bed sizes. They come in two wheelbases, 140.5 and 160.5 inches, but the overall lengths of the Quad Cabs are 227.7 and 249.7 inches, respectively.
Ram SLT models have an all-chrome grille, while the SLT Plus gets a body-colored grille with chrome crosshairs. A body-colored grille with unique chrome billets in the center goes on the Ram Sport pickup. The Quad Cab’s rear doors open to 85 degrees to ease access to the interior.
Windshields have a greater slope than those on the previous Ram bodies. The hood has a pronounced crown that “falls” toward the front fenders, and the front doors are designed to overlap the windshield pillars. New rack-and-pinion steering has been installed. Seventeen-inch tires are standard, and 20-inch tires on polished-aluminum wheels are optional. Ram pickups have 9.5 inches of ground clearance and a suspension travel of 8.5 inches.
The maximum towing capacity for Quad Cab pickups has increased from 7,650 to 8,350 pounds. The maximum for regular cabs is now 8,660 pounds, vs. 7,950 pounds for previous Ram 1500 models. Quad Cab models have a maximum payload rating of 1,750 pounds.
Interior
The Ram’s front seats hold three occupants in a 40/20/40 configuration. A center “business console” can hold a laptop computer and features fold-down dividers. The center portion offers under-cushion storage.
Quad Cab models can have an optional 60/40-split rear seat with cushions that fold up to create a tall storage area. An optional steel section under the rear seats can fold open to form a flat load floor.
Under the Hood
Two new engines are available, and a third is a carryover from the previous generation. The new 3.7-liter Magnum V-6 produces 215 hp (35 hp more than the prior 3.9-liter). Replacing the long-lived 5.2-liter V-8 is a new 240-hp, 4.7-liter Magnum V-8. The third power plant is a 245-hp, 5.9-liter V-8.
A five-speed-manual transmission is standard, and a new four-speed automatic is optional. When installed in a Ram with the 3.7-liter or 4.7-liter engine, the automatic transmission incorporates an alternate second-gear ratio that kicks in for towing and climbing. Dodge’s four-wheel-drive system can be engaged “on the fly” using a floor-mounted transfer-case lever; an electronically controlled system is optional.
Safety
All-disc brakes and rear-wheel antilock brakes are standard on the 1500 series, but four-wheel ABS is optional. Child-seat tether anchors are installed in as many as five seating positions. A push-button switch that deactivates the passenger-side airbag is available in regular-cab Rams.
Driving Impressions
The Ram 1500 may be considered a light-duty truck, but it seems big in every way, including its reaction to bumps and holes. Although the suspension regains control fairly quickly, city driving creates quite a bit of jolting — enough to make even a short journey taxing. The ride improves on the highway, but an unloaded Ram still tends to move around a lot.
The Ram 1500 is easy to drive and steer. It responds quite predictably to driver inputs, producing no big or bad surprises. The 4x4 truck maneuvers capably, and it takes curves passably well when traveling at a modest speed.
From both a standstill and while rolling ahead, the Ram 1500’s throttle response from the 5.9-liter V-8 is quite vigorous. Automatic-transmission shifts beat the average truck in smoothness. Noise isn’t bad, apart from a mild driveline drone.
Space for two occupants in the regular-cab Ram is abundant, and three adults fit adequately when the immense center armrest/storage box is raised. Space behind the seats is ample enough to be handy. Even with the extra height of a 4x4, climbing aboard isn’t terribly difficult.
|
215
|
3.7
|
6
|
TRUCK
|
$17,315.00
|
|
|
|
13
|
GMC
|
Siera Quadrasteer
Quadrasteer four-wheel steering on light-duty, full-size Sierra pickups is new for the 2002 model year. This is the first such installation on a conventional truck. A General Motors spokesman said that a full-size Sierra with Quadrasteer has the turning radius of a subcompact Saturn sedan.
Quadrasteer is currently standard only on the Sierra Denali. Formerly called the C3, the Denali is a performance-oriented, extended-cab model with a 325-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 engine, permanent all-wheel drive, a specially tuned suspension and a unique, black, machine-textured grille.
Equipment packages have been revised for easier ordering, and two new Sierra Professional models have been developed. Intended for contractors and tradespeople, the Professional models are available in two- and four-wheel-drive 1500 Series extended-cab, short-bed configurations. Their interiors feature a full-length, custom-designed console with a front storage compartment and a unique rear under-seat storage container. The console can be converted to provide hanging file folder storage. Sierra Professional pickups have a full chrome grille, wheel flares and special 16-inch, cast-aluminum wheels.
Redesigned for 1999, along with the closely related Chevrolet Silverado, GMC's full-size pickup line gained a heavy-duty version of the four-door Crew Cab body style for 2001. With that change, the three-quarter-ton 2500 and one-ton 3500 Sierra HD pickups — listed separately in this Buying Guide — shared basic styling with the half-ton 1500 and light-duty, three-quarter-ton 2500 series. In light-duty form, the Crew Cab body style is available only in the 1500 HD Crew Cab model, which comes in SLE or SLT trims.
Chevrolet does not offer an equivalent to GMC’s Sierra Denali. Light-duty Sierras compete against Ford’s F-150 pickups and can have a 4.3-liter V-6 or a choice of V-8 engines.
Exterior
Sierras differ from Silverados mainly at the front, which is dominated by a bolder grille and a prominent red GMC badge. For 2002, a bolder Sierra badge has been installed on the rear liftgate.
Regular-cab and Club Cab (extended-cab) models come with either a 6.5- or an 8-foot cargo bed. Models with the short bed can be equipped with an optional flared rear fender — called Sportside — whereas Wideside models have a slab-sided cargo bed. Five wheelbases are available, which range from 119 to 157.5 inches.
Club Cab models have two front doors and a pair of narrow back doors that open toward the rear and can’t be opened unless the front doors are open. Crew Cab pickups have four conventional doors that open toward the front.
Interior
GMC claims that its Sierra Club Cab pickups have more passenger space than extended cabs offered by Dodge, Ford and Toyota. Regular-cab models come with either a three-place bench seat or a pair of buckets. The Club Cab adds a three-place rear bench that is reclined 18 degrees, making it more comfortable than most rear seats in extended-cab pickups, which tend to be defiantly upright. Sierra 1500 HD Crew Cab pickups seat six occupants. The modern, convenient dashboard design puts major controls in easy reach of the driver.
Under the Hood
The Sierra’s powertrain choices are the same as those available for the Chevrolet Silverado. However, the Sierra Denali uses a 325-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 engine. Regular-cab 1500 models have a standard 200-hp, 4.3-liter V-6. Two V-8s are optional on 1500 models: a 4.8-liter that makes 270 hp and a 5.3-liter rated at 285 hp. The 5.3-liter V-8 is standard on Sierra 2500 models, and a 300-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 is optional. A five-speed-manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional.
All Sierra models are available with 4WD, which comes in two forms. Insta-Trac is an on-demand system that allows shifting in and out of 4WD High on the move through a floor-mounted transfer case. Autotrac is an automatically engaging system that sends all of the power to the rear wheels on smooth, dry pavement; on slippery surfaces, it transfers power to the front wheels as needed. Traction control is optional for 2WD models.
The Sierra 1500 HD Crew Cab pickup can haul a 3,139-pound payload or trailers weighing up to 10,300 pounds. For other models, payloads range from 1,490 to 3,605 pounds. Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard.
Driving Impressions
Quadrasteer is utterly amazing. Even when driving straight down an expressway, the difference between a regular Sierra and one equipped with Quadrasteer is easily noticeable — and it becomes even more evident when towing a trailer. Lane changes that produce plenty of wobbling when Quadrasteer is switched off can be made without a murmur when it’s turned back on. In twisting maneuvers, the tight turning circle of a Quadrasteer-equipped Sierra is virtually unbelievable.
In nearly all other respects, the Sierra drives and feels almost exactly like the Chevrolet Silverado, both of which serve as worthy rivals to the full-size pickups from Ford and Dodge.
|
200
|
4.3
|
6
|
TRUCK
|
$17,748.00
|
|
|
|
14
|
Nissan
|
Crew Cab SE
Nissan's compact pickup truck gets a new body style for 2002. The regular Crew Cab model has a 56.3-inch cargo box, while the Crew Cab Long Bed’s cargo box measures 74.6 inches in length. The Long Bed model also rides a wheelbase that is 15 inches longer than the regular version.
A new instrument panel with three “cockpit style” round gauges, a console with side map pockets and a bigger glove box go into all Frontier cabs. Responding to complaints about the previous Frontier’s pull-type parking brake, Nissan installed a foot-operated version for 2002. A Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system with an in-dash six-CD changer is a new option for Crew Cab models.
Redesigned in extra-bold form for 2001, the Tennessee-built Frontier features a front end dominated by a massive bumper. Prominent wheel flares have a bolted-on appearance. Nissan was the first manufacturer to offer a Crew Cab pickup with four conventional, front-hinged doors. A four-cylinder and two 3.3-liter V-6 engines, available in regular or supercharged forms, are offered for 2002.
Exterior
Nissan no longer offers a regular-cab model, but three body styles are available. King Cab (extended-cab) pickups are equipped with a 74.6-inch cargo bed and have a 116.1-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 202.9 inches. Unlike some rival extended-cab pickups, the King Cab does not have four doors. Four-door Crew Cab pickups get a 56.3-inch bed and are 199.9 inches long with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. The new Crew Cab Long Bed model is 217.8 inches long overall and rides a 131.1-inch wheelbase and has a cargo bed that’s 74.6 inches long.
Desert Runner models are offered in XE, SE and S/C forms and are equipped with two-wheel drive. They have the same heavy-duty chassis, ride height and stance as a 4x4. Supercharged (S/C) Frontiers have 17-inch alloy wheels and a specially tuned suspension with a raised ground clearance for 4x4s.
Interior
King Cabs come with either a split, three-place, front bench seat or two buckets, along with a pair of folding jump seats in the rear. Crew Cabs have front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench. A bench seat is standard in the regular cab, and bucket seats are optional. SE and S/C models can have an optional leather-appointed interior with red-on-charcoal stitching. Frontiers with the supercharged engine have titanium-colored gauges.
Under the Hood
The base engine for the Frontier is a 143-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder. The optional supercharged, 3.3-liter V-6 makes 210 hp with a five-speed-manual shift, but it cranks out 231 hp with an automatic transmission. Occupying a middle ground, the regular 3.3-liter V-6 yields a more modest 170 hp. All engines are available with either a five-speed-manual or four-speed-automatic transmission. The supercharged engine is available on the S/C Desert Runner, S/C 4x4 King Cab, S/C Crew Cab and the new Crew Cab Long Bed models.
Nissan’s four-wheel-drive system can be engaged at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour by using a floor-mounted shift lever. Four-wheel-drive models with the four-cylinder engine have manual front hubs that must be engaged or disengaged by hand while the vehicle is stopped. Frontiers with a V-6 engine have automatic front hubs.
Safety
Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard on V-6 and Crew Cab models. All others come only with rear antilock brakes. Dual-stage front airbags with a passenger-side cutoff switch are installed.
|
143
|
2.4
|
4
|
TRUCK
|
$12,800.00
|
|
|
|
15
|
Toyota
|
Tacoma S-Runner
All Tacomas get a new A-pillar assist grip for 2002. A moonroof will not be available on PreRunners, and the S-Runner's side door badging is color-keyed.
The Tacoma’s front end was restyled with a raised hood and multireflector headlights last year. Toyota also launched its first pickup with four conventional, front-hinged doors in 2001. The Tacoma Double Cab competes with four-door crew-cab models from Chevrolet, GMC and Nissan, as well as with the Ford Explorer Sport Trac — a four-door sport utility vehicle with an open cargo bed. For 2002, Double Cab pickups can be fitted with a fiberglass Super Sport Shell that fits over the bed to keep cargo dry and secure. Regular-cab and extended-cab Xtracab models of the compact Tacoma also remain available.
Another 2001 entrant was the sporty S-Runner Xtracab, a two-wheel-drive truck with its height reduced by 2 inches to display a “low-rider” stance. The S-Runner includes a body-colored grille, front and rear bumpers, lower side trim, door handles and mirrors.
Exterior
Regular-cab models are 184.4 inches long on a 103.2-inch wheelbase. Riding a 121.9-inch wheelbase, the Tacoma Xtracab measures 203 inches long overall. Both versions have a 6.2-foot cargo bed. The Tacoma Double Cab is the same size as the Xtracab, but because it has a larger interior, the cargo bed shrinks to just 5 feet long.
PreRunner models are decorated to look like 4x4 off-roaders. Buyers get higher ground clearance, mudguards and all-terrain tires. A TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Off-Road Package is available for most four-wheel-drive, PreRunner Xtracab and Double Cab models. This package includes modified rear leaf springs, a larger stabilizer bar, progressive-rate front coil springs, overfenders and five-spoke, 16-inch aluminum wheels.
Interior
A three-place bench seat is standard in basic Tacomas. Bucket seats are standard in the Xtracab Limited and Double Cab models and come as optional equipment in other Tacomas. Xtracabs add two rear jump seats, while the Double Cab has a split, three-place rear bench that folds down to produce extra cargo room. A StepSide cargo bed is available on regular-cab and Xtracab models.
The dashboard is well-designed, but it has one flaw: The slide-out dual cupholders block the climate controls when they are extended.
Under the Hood
Tacomas come with three engine choices. A 142-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder serves as the base engine. The midrange power plant, which comes standard in the PreRunner and 4WD models, is a 150-hp, 2.7-liter four-cylinder; it is claimed to be the most powerful four-cylinder engine in the compact pickup segment. Topping the list is a 190-hp, 3.4-liter V-6, which is standard in the S-Runner. A five-speed-manual transmission is standard, and a four-speed automatic is optional.
Toyota Racing Development can supply a dealer-installed supercharger for the 3.4-liter V-6, which boosts output to 260 hp. Tacomas equipped with the V-6 engine can tow a 5,000-pound trailer. Payloads range from 1,480 to 1,810 pounds.
Pickups with 4WD have Toyota’s 4WDemand system, which permits shifting into 4WD High at speeds of up to 50 mph. This action is performed using a floor-mounted transfer-case lever. A Hi-4 dashboard switch to engage the 4WD system is optional on V-6-powered Xtracab and Double Cab models. Four-wheel antilock brakes are optional on all models.
|
190
|
3.4
|
6
|
TRUCK
|
$20,000.00
|
|
|