Check out the contenders for the 2004 Sport Utility of the Year Award.
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MotorTranscript
00:00 One of the things we really enjoy about covering SUV is the diversity of the vehicles that
00:15 are in it.
00:16 They're the vehicles that really are trying to look more like premium sports sedans or
00:20 sport coupes and then the other vehicles that are sort of tough, soft rotors.
00:25 They've got more of a blocky square look to them.
00:28 And then we have the sport utility vehicles that are two box designs with a great big
00:32 box with a small box attached to the front of them where the engine compartment is.
00:36 So they basically break themselves down into those three categories.
00:41 This range of platforms was represented by 13 models.
00:46 Here's the lineup of contenders for the 2004 Motor Transport Utility of the Year.
00:52 BMW X3.
00:55 Buick Renier.
00:57 Cadillac SRX.
00:59 Chrysler Pacifica.
01:02 Dodge Durango.
01:09 GMC Envoy XUV.
01:12 Infiniti's FX35 and FX45.
01:17 Lexus RX330.
01:20 Mitsubishi Endeavor.
01:28 Nissan Murano.
01:30 And Nissan Pathfinder Armada.
01:33 Porsche Cayenne.
01:36 And the Volkswagen Touareg.
01:42 Once we have gathered our field of contenders, the evaluation process really starts with
01:46 track testing to get baseline performance figures for acceleration, cornering, braking.
01:51 Meanwhile we're also living with the vehicles, largely as their owners ultimately will.
01:56 And that whole process culminates with a very intense two or three day period on the road.
02:05 In our view, a sport utility vehicle, to be considered a sport utility, needs to have
02:09 a couple of key characteristics.
02:11 Expanded cargo hauling capability.
02:13 It needs to haul people and stuff.
02:16 That needs to have, at minimum, the foul weather and poor road capabilities that all wheel
02:23 drive or four wheel drive provides.
02:25 From there, we would like to see a little additional ground clearance, a little higher
02:29 viewpoint for the driver.
02:30 We're pretty comfortable that we've got a good field this year that qualifies to be
02:34 called sport utilities.
02:35 [MUSIC]
02:41 (dramatic music)