2007 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year Award: Testing
It's Time To Clean Up This Party--The Help Has Arrived
By Frank Markus
Chrysler's new Aspen is a living tribute to the time it takes automakers to bring a product to market. Clearly this one wasn't conceived during the recent gas crunch and the SUV-market constriction it's triggered. Even as Aspen production is ramping up to fill the dealer pipeline, the Delaware assembly plant that builds it and its twin, the {{{Dodge Durango}}}, is eliminating its second shift. Now Chrysler is arriving at this party in time to step over the passed-out revelers and smell the spilled beer, which augurs poorly for its score in the "significance" column in this contest.
That said, there are still plenty of Americans who are making payments on a big boat or camper and want a posh vehicle to tow it. For them, the Aspen offers most of the capability and creature comforts and all of the chrome jewelry of a Navigator or Escalade in a lighter, smaller, and considerably cheaper package. Curb weight undercuts the new GM and Ford full-size 'utes by at least 300 pounds, which increases the Chrysler's payload and towing accordingly--a rear-drive Hemi Aspen can tug 8950 pounds--meeting or exceeding the capacity of most of its competitors.
With only four gear ratios to the competitors' six, our four-by-four Hemi couldn't outrun GM's big-motor 'utes, but its 7.6-second 0-to-60 trounces the Expedition, Navigator, and sub-6.0-liter GM bigs. And cylinder-deactivation helps return 19-20 mpg in highway running. Big 'utes aren't meant for autocrossing, and this one leans and howls unhappily when hurried around turns. Its chassis-test numbers generally ranked above the Lincoln's, below the Cadillac's. Inside, most of the Aspen's critical dimensions are close to those of the big competitors, except shoulder room, which is four to six inches tighter. Where the Aspen excels is in the value category, with a base price of just $31,490. Fully loaded at $45K, it undercuts Lincoln and Caddy base prices by $1500-$10,000. Too bad it doesn't drive as well as or better than the new GM 'utes.
| 2007 Chrysler Aspen |
| Base price range | $31,490-$34,265 |
| Price as tested | $44,450 (Limited 4WD) |
| Vehicle layout | Front engine, RWD/AWD/4WD, 7-pass, 4-door SUV |
| Engine | 5.7L/335-hp/370-lb-ft OHV V-8 |
| Transmission | 5-speed auto |
| Curb weight (dist f/r) | 5391 lb (54/46%) |
| Wheelbase | 119.2 in |
| Length x width x height | 200.8 x 76.0 x 74.3 in |
| Max Cargo Capacity | 102.4 cu ft |
| Max Towing Capacity | 5000 lb |
| 0-60 mph | 7.6 sec |
| Quarter mile | 15.8 sec @ 84.6 mph |
| Braking, 60-0 mph | 136 ft |
| Lateral acceleration | 0.70 g (avg) |
| 600-foot slalom | 56.9 mph (avg) |
| MT figure eight | 29.7 sec @ 0.52 g (avg) |
| EPA city/hwy fuel econ | 14/19 mpg |
| Bet you didn't know | Most of the Aspen's interior lighting is by cool, low-power, long-lasting white LEDs. |
| Sum Up | This sport/utility can tow just about anything--but it's not much of an everyday driver. |
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