2004 Truck of the Year Ride & Handling Review

Ride and Handling
As with passenger cars, structure is the key to truck ride quality and handling precision. Many of the new trucks, such as the Ford F-Series and Dodge Ram, utilize frames constructed fully or partially from strong, lightweight hydroformed steel. Further aiding frame stiffness, most manufacturers use truck frames that are fully boxed, with welded-in crossmembers.

The new F-150's frame crossmembers take that one step further and are welded through the frame to the outboard sides. To this solid platform, Ford engineered a new rear suspension with outboard leafs and shocks, a Honda-like long-spindle double-wishbone front suspension with forged-aluminum lower arms for reduced unsprung weight, and a truck-size rack-and-pinion steering system. The big Ford matched Nissan's new Titan for lateral grip circling the tarmac on our 200-foot skidpad. By far, the F-150 elicited the most kudos for ride quality among the editorial staff. Todd Lassa notes, "The F-150 is much better mannered and not surprisingly more refined than the Titan." Art St. Antoine adds, "A taut structure damps out potholes before the chassis has time for more than a brief quiver. Really fine handling, and I'd put this pickup up against a number of sedans in over-the-road poise."

Nissan Titan

The Titan's stiff frame and firm, communicative suspension won it a lot of fans early on as sort of a monster sport truck. But as the miles piled on, enthusiasm tempered. Lassa reports, "The damping feels taut and the suspension engaged at first, but it can get jouncy and experience freeway hop. Road irregularities are reported here a bit too much." And St. Antoine adds, "The Titan's steering feels sloppy on-center."

Toyota's Tundra, previously offering passable but uninspired ride and handling, was unaffected by the added weight and size of the Double Cab model.

The SRT-10's transformation from cowboy pickup to autobahn burner was enhanced by a chassis made every bit the match of the 500-horse motor, with rapid turn-in, powerful, responsive binders, and well-tuned shocks. Some editors mentioned they actually had to steel themselves to just how responsive the SRT-10's steering was, say in a freeway offramp. Perched on monster tires wrapped around no less than 22-inch alloy wheels, the SRT-10 could pass for AMG's first tuner pickup. It goes, turns, and stops that well.

Chevy SSR

With the SSR, ride and handling seemed at odds. The retro Chevy exhibited disappointing structure, with lots of wiggles and shake, despite being based on the well-regarded Chevy TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy frame. Yet large tires and a wide stance helped it thread through the pylons faster than any other truck this year in our 600-foot-slalom test. It's a good lesson: Vehicles that get great numbers on the track aren't necessarily pleasant to drive on real roads in the real world.

"As car owners migrate to trucks, they don't want to start slumming it behind the wheel, even if they still want to be able to hose out the bed."