Motor Trend has gone and named the 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450 its SUV of the Year. We apologize if you were waiting with baited breath for the December issue of MT to arrive because you like to find these things out for yourself, but if that's the case then we can't help you. The GL450 beat out 22 other SUVs including such contenders as the new Acura RDX and MDX, four variants of General Motors' GMT900 platform (Escalade, Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon Denali XL), the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, as well as Ford's own version of the Hail Mary Pass, the new Edge. The GL450 was no doubt aided by its ability to repel side impact barriers, set slalom cones on fire, and swallow an entire home's worth of furniture (how do the Germans engineer this stuff?), all of which you can check out the GL450 doing in this "controversial" commercial.
Forget for a minute who won Motor Trend's SUV of the Year award and let's examine the 22 contenders (follow the jump for a complete list). MT editor Angus Mackenzie admits himself that only three out of the 22, the Mercedes-Benz GL, Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ Cruiser, have any real off-road capability. In fact, the vast majority are really crossovers, or CUVs, built on unibody frames like a car and meant for fair weather excursions where the road is always on an even keel. It's appropriate that the MT editors picked an actual SUV as this year's winner, as next year we might be reporting on Motor Trend's CUV of the Year.
[Source: MT and Mercedes-Benz]
The rest of the 22 vehicles MOTOR TREND evaluated include:
- Acura MDX
- Acura RDX
- Audi Q7
- Cadillac Escalade
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Chrysler Aspen
- Dodge Nitro
- Ford Edge
- Ford Expedition El
- GMC Yukon Denali XL
- Honda CRV Ex-L
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Jeep Wrangler
- Lincoln MKX
- Lincoln Navigator
- Mazda CX-7
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Suzuki X17
- Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Toyota RAV4
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fabulo @ Oct 24th 2006 3:02PM
Mercedes awards biggest ad budget of the year to Motor Trends.
In unrelated news, Motor Trends picks GL-class for SUV of the year.
Michael Karesh @ Oct 24th 2006 3:03PM
NOTE TO EVERYONE: real SUVs CAN have unitized construction. Every Jeep except the Wrangler/CJ has had a unit body. So does the current Range Rover. And the Touareg/Cayenne. And the Mercedes GL that won this award.
That said, after a slow start in the press the GL-Class seems to have really picked up steam, winning a few recent comparison tests. The reason for the slow start: the styling resembles that of a Grand Cherokee. Not a bad look, but a bit low on bling. The reason for the wins: excellent packaging and interior materials. Love the roomy third row and upholstered IP myself.
My site's page for the GL, with links to price comparisons and my own review (gave it five stars before the glowing press rolled in):
http://www.truedelta.com/models/GL-Class.php
carguy @ Oct 24th 2006 3:10PM
Best SUV for what? Comparing a Tahoe with an RDX seems like a stretch. Likewise for price - while the GL is nice, its not exactly cheap when compared to some of the other contenders.
I think Fabulo may be on to something. maybe the award should be renamed to "Advertising client of the year"?
BillC @ Oct 24th 2006 3:13PM
MotorTrend is full of shit.....SUV of the year my ass! Buy one and your a dork!
Howard Kerr @ Oct 24th 2006 3:13PM
"...as next year we might be reporting on Motor Trend's CUV of the Year."
You can rest assured, that as soon as the automakers come up with a new class of cars, MT will ADD a category to it's COTY awards. So yes, next year there will be a CUV of the year, in addition to the SUV of the year.
I'm old enough to remember when MT ONLY awarded the Car of the Year. And some of the previous winners were...doozies. The Chevy Vega and the Ford Mustang II are two past examples of MT's rigorous process of determining COTY.
Mark @ Oct 24th 2006 3:16PM
I commend Mercedes-Benz (and DaimlerChrysler in general) for making real SUVs. The G, M, and GL are some of the most capable SUVs in production, and Mercedes has proven that you don't have to go the crossover route to make a successful SUV.
Michael Karesh @ Oct 24th 2006 3:25PM
Let's not forget the best of them all, the Renault Alliance.
Before there was Truck of the Year, Import Car of the Year was separate from Car of the Year. So they still gave out two awards. Also made it much easier for a domestic car to win an award.
They've got a long way to go before they can catch up with JD Power in number of awards, though.
mike @ Oct 24th 2006 3:53PM
Wow! This European piece of transportation sure does look American!
Tool @ Oct 24th 2006 3:54PM
Beyond all the pissing and moaning about Motor Trend, the GL450 is an excellent SUV.
I am replacing my 2003 Range Rover and the GL450 is outstanding. It has first rate acceleration, great build quality and nice styling.
It's not quite as iconic as the Range Rover and I think MB could make the GL a little more upscale, but I will probably purchase a new GL anyway
naugahyde @ Oct 24th 2006 4:12PM
"Baited breath" is that when you have been eating night crawlers and minnows.
"Bated breath" is when you are breathless, stop breathing in anticipation. (Your breathing abates.)
Roy @ Oct 24th 2006 4:14PM
Maybe great initial build quality. MB has been having real problems with short and long term quality.
Corey W. @ Oct 24th 2006 4:18PM
Nothing against the GL, but this proves SUV, CUV....etc. means nothing. It's all marketing and fuzzy lines. There's a reason why trucks are body on frame... I guess this also stops comments about how people who drive SUVs never take them off-road. The terms 4x4, all wheel drive, off road...etc are no longer requirements of an SUV.
Bob @ Oct 24th 2006 4:50PM
Well, gee, Stacey, I forgot that beauty was the best determinant for an SUV. How dare those Motor Trend people rate and judge these SUVs on performance!
Kowell @ Oct 24th 2006 5:01PM
Best SUV??? that's a freaking minivan
Vincent @ Oct 24th 2006 5:09PM
Color and beauty are the main determinants for women, when buying a car ;)
Looking at the list of cars (SUVs and CUVs) that they have evaluated, I think that GL is not a very bad choice for sport/utility after all.
Moses @ Oct 24th 2006 6:01PM
This is another "Honda Ridgeline award", Motor Trend is nothing more than a platform for those willing pay out the big bucks for Advertising.
When my subscription expires there will be no more Motor Trends in my house. Nothing they write can be taken literally.
Rock @ Oct 24th 2006 6:06PM
Can't afford it, don't know anyone that can.
Spalind @ Oct 24th 2006 6:21PM
Nice minivan!! What happened to real SUV's?? It used to be that an SUV was something that could take a beating, haul your crap, and get across whatever happened to be in your way...Now anything with 4 doors and over 4 feet tall is an "SUV"...Sorry, the Subaru Forester is not an SUV, neither is the CRV, Outlander, etc., etc., and the GL isn't one either....The next time I see a GL with anything but street tires on it will be the first time...
Jason @ Oct 24th 2006 7:47PM
Motortrend is terrible at picking trucks. I mean who the f**k picks the Ridgeline. Another terrible pick by Motortrend. I am about to remove their link from my site. They're done son!
cade @ Oct 24th 2006 7:53PM
"real off road capability" I don't think so. My H2 will go anywhere offroad and I've never seen a MB on any of the ORV trails I've been on. Not every H2 is sold to a soccer mom.