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8 SUVs worth waiting for
MORE AT POPULAR MECHANICS
Yes, the auto world is getting crowded with cushy crossovers, but that doesn't mean there aren't any rugged SUVs anymore. Here are the ones we're anticipating in the next few years.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport
When: Late Summer
We recently drove the new Ford Taurus SHO, a car that is a classic sleeper. It has a 365 hp V-6 under the hood to move the big sedan to 60 mph in a little over 5 seconds, but what's more shocking is that it corners well, too. And if Ford's done its homework, the all-new Ford Explorer Sport will be an SHO-equivalent on the SUV front.
The Explorer Sport gets the same V-6, a significantly beefed up chassis, as well as a stiffened, lowered suspension, bigger brake rotors, and a faster feel to the steering system. All of these tweaks made the Taurus SHO into a much more aggressive machine. Ford is also trying to walk a fine line between all-out performance and reasonable fuel economy with the Sport. Its 16/22 mpg target would be a big improvement on the 12/18 of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (which will cost about $10,000 more than the Ford, we think.). Significantly, the Explorer Sport will also do better than the 13/20 of the 5.7-liter, Hemi V-8 Dodge Durango, a vehicle we really like for its great handling, given its mission. If Ford catches up in power and can offer better fuel economy, it's sure to capture a lot of buyers for the Explorer Sport.
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel
When: Early 2013
Chrysler wants more diesels among its larger vehicles. Likewise, Jeep fans—who want both the torque and the long range of a diesel—have been pleading for more diesel choices since the last Grand Cherokee CRD went away. The likely engine candidate is a V-6 that parent company Fiat already uses in Europe, good for 406 lb ft of torque and about 28 mpg when converted for U.S. EPA metrics.
One advantage of using this relatively small, 3.0-liter engine is that it would work in the new Ram 1500, and spy photos have shown testing of a Ram diesel. Since Ford is doing so well with its EcoBoost F-150, it's easy to see the appeal for Chrysler, which could fight back with the only nonheavy-duty diesel in the class and potentially become the mileage king of the category.
2014 Jeep Liberty Replacement
When: Mid-2013
Jeep is a cash cow for Chrysler, with its base of loyal buyers. But the now-cancelled Compass (pictured above) angered many Jeep loyalists who didn't want the brand watered down.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler's owner, Fiat, seems to get it, because the automaker intends to make the Jeep Liberty's replacement a tough rig. He has said that while the next Liberty will be built on the same Alfa Romeo Giulietta chassis that the company tweaked for the excellent new Dodge Dart, the Liberty will be "trail rated." That hints at not only AWD but also good approach and departure angles. If the new Jeep Liberty doesn't have a distinct low gearing range, at least expect to see it feature hill-descent control and perhaps other Jeep-specific technology.
One thing that could make this rig hugely appealing is if Jeep is smart enough to make it more like Toyota's FJ Cruiser or Land Rover's LR2 than the "cute-ute" segment that contains the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. One big key: Keep the brawn while getting better-than-mediocre fuel economy from one of Fiat's MultiAir engines. Jeep lovers will forgive the Liberty for not being fleet on the road if it's great on dirt.
