1997 Truck Of The Year

In selecting the 1997 Truck of the Year, the Motor Trend staff considered every pickup, sport/utility vehicle, and full-size van on sale by Jan. 1, 1997, and then carefully analyzed the key engineering modifications, styling changes, performance data, and market significance of each of the new year's models.

After this rigorous screening process-and a great deal of debate-a single vehicle is selected as the recipient of MT's Golden Calipers award. Although there can only be one winner, each year numerous impressive runners-up deserve special recognition. Here's a snapshot of each of this year's significant others in alphabetical order.

General Motors completely reengineered its twin full-size, full-frame vans, the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana, after more than 25 years of the same design. The new vans are offered with engines ranging from a 4.3-liter/200-horsepower V-6 to a 7.4-liter/290-horsepower V-8 with 410 pound-feet of cargo-haulin' or trailer-towin' torque. The steering is crisper, the ride is improved, the shifting is smoother, and dual airbags put the icing on a fresh new interior.

Totally redesigned for '96, the Dodge Dakota comes out of the midsize-pickup chute with optional 5.2-liter V-8 power, crisper handling, a smooth new ride, a premium extended cab, better fit and finish, and a fresh, Ram-style appearance. A rigid new 4x2 frame and bigger, more easily tuned bushings lend the Dakota surprisingly good ride comfort and handling, even with an empty cargo bed. It was one of this year's entries that our editors most enjoyed driving and only begrudgingly gave up to the next tester.

The full-size Ford Expedition offers cavernous space, an inviting passenger compartment, and a great deal of fresh thinking, including a third-row seat that ups passenger capacity to eight. With either the 4.6-liter/215-horsepower or 5.4-liter/230-horsepower single-overhead camshaft V-8, the capacious Expedition can tow big trailers (up to 8000 pounds), haul huge loads, or pamper passengers with one of the sweetest rides in the sport/utility segment. Standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes ensured short, stable stops, even with the vehicle fully loaded.

Carving new SUV territory out of the sporty sedan and coupe market pie is the Honda CR-V. Already a hit on Japanese streets, the CR-V is also sure to please American buyers with its zippy performance, smooth-shifting four-speed automatic, carlike interior, and extremely nimble handling. The agile feel of the CR-V is made possible thanks in large measure to its Civic-based platform and sophisticated double-wishbone suspension. Honda is modestly projecting that it will sell 30,000 units during the '97 model year.

The Infiniti QX4 sport/utility combines the rock-busting ruggedness of an off-roading truck with 150-watt premium sound, high-end comfort features, and the red-carpet service luxury customers have come to expect. A 3.3-liter/168-horsepower V-6, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, and an "All-Mode" four-wheeling system carry you safely there and back. Fort Knox-style security is ensured with dual airbags, adjustable-height shoulder belts, side-impact door beams, and an anti-theft system.

America's rocky-road benchmark, the Jeep Wrangler, received a smooth-ride coil-spring transplant, an all-new interior with dual airbags, and all-new (really) exterior sheetmetal. Go-power is provided by either a 2.5-liter four or a 4.0-liter six coupled with a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. But, although the Jeep team civilized the Wrangler's ride and handling and improved its ergonomics, its off-road capability is actually improved, with a stiffer frame and seven inches of additional articulation over the previous leaf-spring suspension.