What's new for 2000 - SUVs, Mini-Vans and Pick-up Trucks
by Greg Wilson

Sport-Utility Vehicles

2000 Ford Excursion 2000 Chevrolet Suburban Z-71 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe LT

The biggest and roomiest SUV on the market is now the new Ford Excursion. The 7000 lb. Excursion is based on the F-250 Super Duty pickup truck platform, and is nine inches longer than a Chevrolet Suburban. Its roomy interior has three rows of seats and will seat up to nine passengers. Available as a 4X2 or 4X4 model, the Excursion has a standard 255 horsepower 5.4 litre V8 engine, optional 6.8 litre V10, or 7.3 litre V8 turbo diesel - maximum towing capacity is 10,000 lb.! Excursions range in price from $42,895 to $54,195.

A little smaller, but still pretty big, is the redesigned Chevrolet Suburban and its GMC counterpart, now called the Yukon XL. Both are now based on the recently-redesigned Silverado/Sierra pickup trucks. The Suburban is about the same length as the old model, but is two inches wider. The new Suburban is available with three new V8 engines: 4.8 litres, 5.3 litres, and 6.0 litres. The latter enables the Suburban to tow up to 10,500 lb.! The nine passenger Suburban has a new interior with available side airbags, rear seat audio controls and second row bucket seats. Prices are not yet available but should be in the $35,000 to $50,000 range.

Also based on the new Silverado/Sierra pickup chassis is the redesigned Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. These five or six passenger SUV's are also about two inches wider than the previous models and come with two new engines: a 4.8 litre and 5.3 litre V8. Tahoe's and Yukon's now have four wheel disc brakes, a new multi-link rear suspension and an optional Autoride suspension system that automatically adjusts the shock absorbers for a better ride. Tahoe's and Yukon's can tow up to 8800 lb. Prices have not been released, but should be in the $32,000 to $45,000 range.

2000 Nissan Xterra Hyundai Santa Fe BMW X5

In the compact SUV category, the new Nissan Xterra blends utility and off-road performance with bold looks and a base price under $30,000. Based on the Frontier pickup truck, Xterra's come with a standard 3.3 litre V6 engine, 5 speed manual transmission, part-time shift-on-the-fly 4WD system, AM/FM/CD stereo, air conditioning, power windows, 50/50 split folding rear seatbacks, and 15 inch tires. Unique features include a removeable roof basket, tubular roof rack, and optional interior bike rack and hot/cold storage box. Xterra's range in price from $28,998 to $30,198 plus options.

Soon to be in dealers is the new Hyundai Santa Fe, a compact, all-wheel-drive sport utility about the size of a Honda CR-V. The Santa Fe has a standard 2.4 litre four cylinder engine or optional 2.7 litre V6. It will be available with front and side airbags, leather upholstery, power windows and door locks, and a pull-out picnic table. It's expected to arrive in the Spring at an as-yet undetermined price. Knowing Hyundai, it will be competitively priced.

At the top end of the SUV market is the all-new BMW X5, BMW's first sport utility vehicle. Equipped with a 4.4 litre V8 engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, and full-time all-wheel-drive system, the X5 combines sports car like handling, the ability to go off-road, and all the luxury and safety features of a BMW passenger car, including side and 'head' airbags, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill Descent Control, a navigation system and rear air conditioning. X5's are built in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and start at $68,800.

Minivans

2000 Mazda MPV

There's only one all-new minivan for 2000: the Mazda MPV. Redesigned for the first time since 1988, the new MPV is about the size of a Dodge Caravan, and has switched from rear-wheel-drive to front-wheel-drive. The new MPV has dual sliding rear doors (instead of swing-out doors), and standard seven-passenger seating which includes a 'tumble-under' rear bench seat which folds into the floor, and two removeable center bucket seats that can slide together. The MPV is also the only minivan with roll-down rear side windows. The standard powertrain on the MPV is a 170 horsepower 2.5 litre V6 and four-speed automatic transmission. 2000 MPV's range from $24,555 to $33,080.

Pickup Trucks

2000 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab Ford Arctic Explorer Sport Trac Ford F-150 Crew Cab, Detroit Auto Show, January '99 2000 Toyota Tundra 2000 Lincoln Blackwood

'More Doors and Roomier Cabs' is the theme for 2000 pickups. Most compact, mid-size and full-size 2000 model pickups are now available with four doors and forward-facing rear bench seats. The compact Nissan Frontier Crew Cab has four front-hinged doors and a five-passenger cabin, but its 56 inch box is 18 inches shorter than the Frontier King Cab's bed. To solve the problem, the Crew Cab is available with a flip-over bed extender (when the tailgate is lowered). Crew Cabs come with a standard 3.3 litre V6 engine and have a maximum towing capacity of 5000 lb. Prices range from $27,998 to $31,798.

The new mid-size four-door Dodge Dakota Quad Cab joins the regular cab and Club Cab models. The Quad Cab has four conventional doors, a six passenger cabin, a standard 3.9 litre V6 engine, and a utility box that is five-feet three inches long, or about 14 inches shorter than the standard six feet bed. Prices were unavailable but should be in the $25,000 to $30,000 price range.

A little larger than the Dakota is the new four-door, five passenger Ford Explorer Sport Trac pickup. Though it's based on the Explorer SUV, the Sport Trac is actually 17 inches longer and has a longer wheelbase. The Sport Trac has a standard 204 horsepower V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. Its 50.6 inch bed includes a durable plastic lining and optional tonneau cover. No prices were available at press time, but it's expected it to be priced in the mid $30,000 range.

Another new Ford pickup is the full-size F-150 SuperCrew pickup truck, expected to be introduced in the first quarter of 2000. The SuperCrew is an under-8500 lb. F-150 pickup with four front-hinged doors and a five passenger cabin that is 12 inches longer than a F-150 SuperCab (which has rear-hinged rear doors). The SuperCrew has a bed that is 5 1/2 feet long with a standard plastic bedliner. SuperCrews, available in XLT trim, come with a 4.6 litre V8 or 5.4 litre V8, power windows and locks, folding rear seatbacks, air conditioning, adjustable pedals, and alloy wheels. No prices have been announced.

Also new for 2000 is Toyota's first full-size, V8-powered pickup truck, the Tundra. Access Cab (extended cab) models have two rear-hinged doors that can be opened only after the front doors are opened. Equipped with a standard 190 horsepower 3.4 litre V6 engine or optional 225 horsepower 4.7 litre DOHC V8 engine, the Tundra has a maximum payload capacity of 1902 lb. and a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 lb. Prices range from $23,915 to $42,915.

Though redesigned last year, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups will get a new fourth rear door for 2000. Like the Tundra and F-150 SuperCab, GM's rear doors are rear-hinged and can't be opened until the front doors are opened.

Late in 2000, Lincoln will introduce a full-size luxury pickup truck called the Blackwood. Based on the Ford Expedition SUV, the 2001 Blackwood will have a luxuriously-equipped cabin, similar to the Navigator, and a box with wood panelling and lift-up tonneau cover - Lincoln owners can really haul in style!