| MORE TEST FEST COVERAGE |
| Pick-Up | Nov 15, 2006 |
| SUV / CUV $35,000 - $60,000 | Nov 13, 2006 |
| SUV / CUV under $35,000 | Nov 11, 2006 |
| Convertible | Nov 10, 2006 |
| Sport / performance car over $50,000 | Nov 9, 2006 |
| Sport / performance car under $50,000 | Nov 8, 2006 |
| Prestige car over $75,000 | Nov 7, 2006 |
| Luxury car under $50,000 | Nov 6, 2006 |
| Family car over $30,000 | Nov 5, 2006 |
| Family car $22,000 - $30,000 | Nov 4, 2006 |
| Small car over $18,000 | Nov 3, 2006 |
| Small car under $18,000 | Nov 2, 2006 |
| The most coveted parking space in the country | Nov 1, 2006 |
| Writers' predictions for the best new cars of 2007 | Nov 1, 2006 |
Niagara Falls, Ontario -
First Place, 139 points: Mercedes-Benz GL 450 $83, 712* -
Likes:Sharing a unibody platform with the five-seat ML Class and six-seat RClass, the seven-seat GL 450's interior is roomy and
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc) |
comfortable, evenfor those in the third row. The fully automatic four-wheel drivedoesn't intrude with the driver's intentions, and the air-suspensiondelivers a luxury sedan ride. The combination of the GL 450's 335 h.p.,339 lb.-ft. of torque 4.7-litre V8 and smooth, seven-speed manumaticwith paddle-shifters, and a relatively low curb weight means, in astraight line at least, the Mercedes' is the quickest in this group.
Dislikes:The same reasons that make the Mercedes such an accommodating vehiclefor folks and their flotsam is also why it ranks less as a driver'scar. Steering and handling are more tuned for luxury than sport.
Verdict:If you're using your large SUV for it's true purpose, and you don'tneed to play Boy Racer, nothing currently betters the classy andpractical GL 450.
Second Place, 136 points: Audi Q7 4.2 Premium $83,500 -
Likes: Based purely from the driver's seat, the seven-seater Audi nudges the Acura--but only just. As per Audi's mantra, your living room furniture
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc) |
should look as good as the Q7's cockpit, with an excellent driving position and ergonomics straight from the luxury liner A8.
Dislikes: Like the Acura, the Audi was designed more as a sporting, all-weather travel-all, not a true off-roader. And compared to the more practical Mercedes-Benz GL 450, the Audi suffers from lack of cargo and third-row passenger room. Although the Q7's six-speed manumatic with steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters is well matched to the 350 horsepower, 325 pound-feet of torque 4.2-litre V8, this smooth drivetrain sometimes feels strained hauling around 2,390 kilograms.
Verdict: If you're disappointed Audi doesn't make an A8 Avant, look no further.
Third Place, 130 points: Acura MDX Elite $61,900 -
Likes: Beyond the benefits of its Honda Odyssey related unibody platform, credit for this
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc) |
fun-to-drive SUV can go directly to a sophisticated torque-balancing all-wheel drive system first seen on the RL sedan and an adjustable magnetic shock system that comes with the MDX's Elite package.
Dislikes: The 300 h.p., 275 lb.-ft. of torque 3.7-litre V6 lacks the torque and aural qualities of the German V8s and can only tow 2,268 kg. Plus there's only five gears in the MDX's manumatic and no paddle shifters. The MDX's driver's instrumentation is buried in tunnels making them hard to read, the seats lack thigh and lateral support, and the overall execution of cockpit design, build and material quality can't match the über-Audi SUV.
Verdict: Like the first MDX, more of a sporty driving AWD minivan than a workhorse SUV.
Fourth Place, 106 points: GMC Yukon Denali SLT $62,750 -
Likes: Similar to its pricier Cadillac platform-mate, there's lots of room for those
 |
| (Photo: John LeBlanc) |
up front, not so much for second and third-row passengers. Build quality--inside and out--is better than both of the Ford products.
Dislikes: The 380 h.p., 417 lb.-ft. of torque 6.2-litre V8 combined with the six-speed GM autobox both struggle in making the 2,570 kg. Yukon move with any kind of authority. The Denali's steering doesn't like to return to the centre position, seats lack lateral support, and third-row seats don't fold flat. Next to the lightweight Acura, the GMC is rated next lowest in towing capacity at only 3,492 kg.
Verdict: The Yukon offers a similar, if less flashier, driving experience to the more expensive 'Slade.
