How do you like your 2010-11 light truck or SUV?

[gorcorps]

I'll be in the market for my first new vehicle ever in the next 6 months or so, and I don't really know what's good anymore. I'll be needing something fairly snow-friendly, so 4WD (or AWD) is a must. My friend bought a 2010 Tacoma and it's very nice... something I would definitely consider getting.

If I were to get a truck I would definitely want the largest cab though, as comfort for more than 2 people is quite important to me. That is also why I'm thinking an SUV might be more my style, as in the winter I wouldn't really like keeping my bed filled with sand bags. At the same time though...I've been moving enough that having a truck bed would be quite nice.

I'm just curious what everybody has and how they like it. My current front-runner is the Tacoma but that's really because I don't know anything else.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

2011 Jeep GC or 2011 Explorer if you want an SUV

 

[LTC8K6]

You need to wait and check out the 2011 Explorer, I think. It looks to be the class of the field, but you always have to wait and see the vehicle yourself.

I have on 08 Grand Cherokee and I love it. I am disappointed in the 2011 Grand Cherokee. Right now my sights are set on the 2011 Explorer.

 

[Vette73]

I really do not like toyota trucks. Even after they rust out and say they fixed it they rusted again. Then the full size have had issues and under built IMO. So I would skip toyota if you need a real truck.

I like full size GM trucks best but the new 2011 Ford F150's are also great with their updated engines.

The Canyon/Colorado mid-size trucks are nice. Many come in 4 door and the inline 5cyl makes more power than the V6's and about as much as some V8s.

Chevy Equinox is very nice and updated.

the 2011 Ford Explorer is looking good as well is you want bigger.

 

[Demo24]

The Canyon/Colorado mid-size trucks are nice. Many come in 4 door and the inline 5cyl makes more power than the V6's and about as much as some V8s.

Ok, what? The i5 makes 242hp/242lb. That puts it a mere 8hp above the Tacoma, but 12lb down on torque. The Frontier bests them both with 261hp/281lb. Certainly the I5 no where near V8's, of which the Colorado comes with one but that brings 300hp and around that in torque. Maybe if you compare v8's a couple generations ago, but certainly not today. I've never really heard anyone praise that I5 engine either.

The Tacoma seems to be a well built vehicle over the years. The older ones had rusting problems but the new ones should be fine. Frontier's seem decent as well.

 

[Vette73]

Ok, what? The i5 makes 242hp/242lb. That puts it a mere 8hp above the Tacoma, but 12lb down on torque. The Frontier bests them both with 261hp/281lb. Certainly the I5 no where near V8's, of which the Colorado comes with one but that brings 300hp and around that in torque. Maybe if you compare v8's a couple generations ago, but certainly not today. I've never really heard anyone praise that I5 engine either.

The Tacoma seems to be a well built vehicle over the years. The older ones had rusting problems but the new ones should be fine. Frontier's seem decent as well.

Dodge Dakota V8 makes 230hp/295tq or 260hp/310tq and the V6 makes 210hp/235tq.
Ford Ranger 207hp/238tq at 21mpg

The Chevy/GMC 5cyl also gets 10% better gas milage. 23mpg while the V6 Tacoma only gets 21.

And the tacoma had rusting issues and Toyota said alls fixed go buy a new one. Then later years that were supposed to be ok are now having the same rusting issues. So now you say we should trust Toyota? Sorry fool me once... :thumbsdown: That and now the recall/fix is up to 2004 model years. I don't consider 2004 a "older one".

 

[LTC8K6]

Dodge Dakota V8 makes 230hp/235tq or 260hp/295tq and the V6 makes 210hp/235tq. Ford Ranger 207hp/238tq at 21mpg

Dodge Dakota 4.7L V8 is 302hp/329tq

 

[Vette73]

Dodge Dakota 4.7L V8 is 302hp/329tq

I crossed some of my numbrs up from wiki but updated.

I take it that is the 2011? Wiki and another site said...
"The High Output 4.7 L V8 produces 260 horsepower (190 kW) and 310 lb·ft (420 N·m) of torque"

EDIT:
OK I see now. That is the updated 4.7L. The numbers I found were the orignal engine option for the currnet Gen. Also just saw that 2011 is the last year of the Dakota.

 

[LTC8K6]

The 4.7L V8 was revamped for 2008. The Dakota is quite a beast with it.

2008 Revisions
The 2008 Dodge Dakota and Ram pickup trucks, Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUV's, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Jeep Commander came with a Corsair version of the FFV 4.7 L engine, with dual spark plugs per cylinder, a new slant / squish combustion system design, and 9.8:1 compression, raising power to 290–310 hp (220–230 kW) and 320-334 ft·lbf of torque.

 

[c3p0]

A little pricy, but one hell of a truck imho.:awe:

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/08/report-2011-ford-f-150-svt-raptor-supercrew-to-start-at-44-315/

c3p0

 

[LTC8K6]

You can get the 365 hp Ecoboost 3.5L V6 in the new F-150.

420ft/lbs of torque all over the place...

 

[bruceb]

My brother has a Silverado (about 3 yrs old) and it has the I5 motor.
Has plenty of power and runs very smooth. As to wether you want an
SUV or a pickup, that depends on what you primarily haul. If it is only
occasional cargo them go with the SUV. If you are constantly hauling
work tools or use the vehicle for contractor work, you may need the
pickup bed.

 

[LTC8K6]

My brother has a Silverado (about 3 yrs old) and it has the I5 motor.

No I5 in the Silverado as far as I know.

4.3L V6 or various V8's.

Must have meant Colorado.

 

[herm0016]

i have an 09 gmc half ton and love it. i would recomend it to anyone that wants a full size truck. milage in town is between 15 and 16 and highway is around 20. i use the remote start most mornings now so the milage is reporting lower too.

 

[bruceb]

Yes, Colorado .. typo

 

[Rezist]

I know a couple people with the colorado and they seem to be ok, they are quite gutless but if you don't need a truck everyday that'd be a good option, I drive a 2500 Sierra gas as a company truck and thank god I don't pay for the fuel.
I'd go for a F150 quad cab with the smaller DOHC V8 engine.

 

[LTC8K6]

I know a couple people with the colorado and they seem to be ok, they are quite gutless but if you don't need a truck everyday that'd be a good option, I drive a 2500 Sierra gas as a company truck and thank god I don't pay for the fuel.
I'd go for a F150 quad cab with the smaller DOHC V8 engine.

The Colorado is available with the 5.3L V8, so it need not be gutless... :biggrin:

 

[Jumpem]

I love my 2010 Outback. The AWD is great for the snow and ice, it has plenty of ground clearance, enough room inside, and I still get 30mpg.

 

[thegimp03]

I like the look of the new Grand Cherokee. Definitely a lot better than the previous-gen, which IMO was a step down from the generation before that. My wife has a '02 GC and is considering the newer one as a replacement when she starts having trouble with it. I'm happy with that, would much rather get her that than a Range Rover...

 

[Bignate603]

I like the look of the new Grand Cherokee. Definitely a lot better than the previous-gen, which IMO was a step down from the generation before that. My wife has a '02 GC and is considering the newer one as a replacement when she starts having trouble with it. I'm happy with that, would much rather get her that than a Range Rover...

Unless range rover has improved its reliability I'd steer clear of them.

As an offroad vehicle the new GC is a bit wimpier than some of the older models but for daily driving and moderate offroad things I think it's great.

To the OP, do you really need a truck or SUV, especially one with true 4wd? There are plenty of cars and wagons with AWD that will do as well as most trucks and SUVs. For most people AWD is better than a true 4wd for snow anyways. 4wd without a center differential can't be used on dry pavement so if your drive has a mix of snowy and dry patches you'll need to shift in and out of 4wd as you go between them. If the vehicle is AWD you don't have to think about it, you just get in the car and drive.

 

[MovingTarget]

My brother has a Silverado (about 3 yrs old) and it has the I5 motor.
Has plenty of power and runs very smooth. As to wether you want an
SUV or a pickup, that depends on what you primarily haul. If it is only
occasional cargo them go with the SUV. If you are constantly hauling
work tools or use the vehicle for contractor work, you may need the
pickup bed.

I like the idea of an i5 motor - enough cylinders to ensure overlapping power strokes in an inline configuration that is much easier to work on (later) than the v-configuration (v6, v8, etc.). One of my colleagues has this engine in the Colorodo as well, although not in the 4dr configuration.

 

[gorcorps]

Unless range rover has improved its reliability I'd steer clear of them.

As an offroad vehicle the new GC is a bit wimpier than some of the older models but for daily driving and moderate offroad things I think it's great.

To the OP, do you really need a truck or SUV, especially one with true 4wd? There are plenty of cars and wagons with AWD that will do as well as most trucks and SUVs. For most people AWD is better than a true 4wd for snow anyways. 4wd without a center differential can't be used on dry pavement so if your drive has a mix of snowy and dry patches you'll need to shift in and out of 4wd as you go between them. If the vehicle is AWD you don't have to think about it, you just get in the car and drive.

No it doesn't have to be specifically 4WD, just anything better than 2. Do I NEED a truck or SUV? Maybe not most of the time, but I've come to wish I had more ground clearance, storage space, and (rarely) at least the ability to tow a small trailer or car.

 

[gorcorps]

No it doesn't have to be specifically 4WD, just anything better than 2. Do I NEED a truck or SUV? Maybe not most of the time, but I've come to wish I had more ground clearance, storage space, and (rarely) at least the ability to tow a small trailer or car.

Any new thoughts with this updated info?