Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 28)

2008 SUV With gas expected to exceed $3.50 per gallon this summer in many parts of the country, those shopping for a new SUV, whether to haul the family or tow the boat, will have fuel economy high on their list of priorities. With that in mind, we compiled a list of SUVs capable of towing at least 3,500 pounds and their 2008 EPA fuel economy ratings. The EPA changed the way fuel economy ratings are calculated for 2008 to more closely reflect real-world driving conditions. As a result, many vehicles are showing lower mileage ratings than in previous years. We tried to keep the chart manageable by listing only one brand’s version of each vehicle. For example, GM markets the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon under separate brands, but they are essentially the same vehicle and have the same towing capacities and mileage ratings. Also, for each vehicle listed, we gave the mileage for the most efficient automatic transmission version, usually the base model with the smallest engine, and two-wheel drive. The towing capacity listed corresponds with the base model. The vehicles included have a towing capacity of 3,000 pounds or greater in their standard configuration. Many smaller SUVs were left off the list because in standard configuration, they are only rated to tow 1,000 or 1,500 pounds. However, several vehicles of this size can tow up to 3,500 pounds with special towing addons, such as heavy-duty suspension, transmission coolers, oversized radiators and other major upgrades. Check with your dealer if you are shopping this size category. The most fuel-efficient SUV, the Ford Escape Hybrid, and its Mazda and Mercury clones are not rated to tow at all. In fact, only two hybrids made our list: the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and the Lexus RX 400h, both of which have enough towing capacity to make the list. An important note on towing capacity: All manufacturers give ratings that include the caveat “when properly equipped.” In many cases this means using a special weight-distributing hitch or a fifth-wheel hitch instead of the standard hitch to reach the high end of the towing capacity. The surge brakes popular on many larger boat trailers are often incompatible with weightdistributing hitches. It may be necessary to upgrade to electronically controlled brakes on your boat trailer to comply with the vehicle manufacturers’ guidelines for safe towing. 28 BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 Towing & Mileage Guide Make & Model Suzuki Grand Vitara Volvo XC70 BMW X3 Chevrolet Equinox Chrysler Pacifica Ford Explorer Honda Pilot Infiniti FX35 Jeep Commander Jeep Grand Cherokee Jeep Liberty Lexus RX 400h Suzuki XL7 Dodge Durango Land Rover LR2 Volvo XC90 Hummer H3 Saturn Outlook Acura MDX Kia Sorento Toyota 4Runner Toyota FJ Cruiser Xterra GMC Envoy Chevrolet Trailblazer Audi Q7 BMW X5 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Chrysler Aspen Ford Expedition Nissan Pathfinder Lexus GX 470 Nissan Armada Toyota Sequoia Mercedes-Benz G500 Chevrolet Suburban Mercedes-Benz ML350 Mercedes-Benz GL450 Land Rover LR3 Land Rover Range Rover Volkswagen Touareg Cadillac Escalade City 17 15 17 17 15 14 16 15 14 15 16 27 16 14 16 14 14 16 15 16 16 16 15 14 14 14 15 21 14 12 15 14 12 14 12 14 15 13 12 12 14 12 Highway 22 22 24 24 23 20 22 22 19 20 22 24 22 19 23 20 18 24 20 22 21 20 20 20 20 20 21 22 19 18 22 18 18 17 15 20 20 18 17 18 20 19 Towing Capacity* 3000 3300 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3500 3850 3858 3970 4500 4500 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 5300 5400 5500 6000 6000 6000 6000 6000 6500 6500 6500 7000 7100 7200 7500 7700 7716 7716 8000

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

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