AUBURN HILLS, MIMotor Trend has announced that the Mercedes-Benz GL450 is the magazine's 2007 Sport/Utility of the Year. The GL was selected from a field of 22 vehicles — the largest crop of sport/utilities Motor Trend had ever evaluated. The first full-size sport/utility from Mercedes, the GL offers a seven-speed automatic transmission and a V-8 engine with 335 horsepower. It will also be available in a version that runs on the new low-sulfur diesel fuel for greater gas mileage. The GL represents the increasingly popular crossover category of vehicles that offer both the off-road capability of an SUV but also the driveability and feel of a car, according to Motor Trend. Motor Trend’s editorial staff conducted exhaustive off-road, street and track testing, and carefully considered essentials such as driving performance, engineering, design, safety, features and overall value. The complete report on the Motor Trend 2007 Sport/Utility of the Year testing and selection will be published in the December issue of Motor Trend, available on newsstands Nov. 7, 2006. The other 21 vehicles evaluated were:

  • Acura MDX
  • Acura RDX
  • Audi Q7
  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Chevrolet Suburban
  • Chevrolet Tahoe
  • Chrysler Aspen
  • Dodge Nitro
  • Ford Edge
  • Ford Expedition EL
  • GMC Yukon Denali XL
  • Honda CRV Ex-L
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Jeep Wrangler
  • Lincoln MKX
  • Lincoln Navigator
  • Mazda CX-7
  • Mitsubishi Outlander
  • Suzuki X17
  • Toyota FJ Cruiser
  • Toyota RAV4
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