Battle Of The Urban Off-Roaders
It's no secret that America dominates the
sport/utility segment in terms of sales. In fact, the Big Three
accounted for almost 82 percent of all compact SUV sales in '93. Sales
stats alone, though, are hardly a convincing reason when choosing a
vehicle. Different buyers have different priorities: performance,
roominess, cargo capacity, interior accommodations, ride and handling,
and value assume disproportionate weights depending on your needs and
demands. These three representatives from the U.S., Japan, and Europe
illustrate the diverse selection that's now available. Each offers a
generous helping of carlike amenities and ample cargo room, yet displays
its own unique personality and strengths.The Chevrolet Blazer is thoroughly redesigned
for the '95 model year and offers the most versatile lineup of the
three. Its base price range extends from $18,145 to $21,953, with a
loaded 4x4 LT coming in under $27,000. Its lineup includes two- and
four-door models with either two- or four-wheel drive. Both imports in
this comparison are available only in four-door, four-wheel-drive
configurations (last year's two-door Trooper RS has been discontinued).
In addition, the Chevy offers a unique selection of specially tuned
suspension packages.The Isuzu Trooper is a solid contender in the
inner-space crowd. Its tall stance and expansive cargo area provide
generous acreage for handling everything from mountain bikes to weekend
excursions to the home-improvement store. It's available in three trim
levels (S, LS, and Limited) with base prices ranging from about $23,000
to around $34,000.The Land Rover Discovery is a trendy newcomer
that retains the essence of the rugged individualist. It's clad in
aluminum body panels and has a distinctive, stepped roofline that makes
it easy to spot. The Discovery is the highest priced of the three,
starting at $29,350 (around $35,000 for a well-equipped version). In
return, it delivers a long list of standard features, the option to
carry up to seven people, plus a hard-earned reputation for all-terrain
prowess.All three offer welcoming environments that
range from carlike comfort to downright luxury. The Chevy has the
longest overall length, which translates into significantly more front
and rear legroom than the others. Cargo capacity, though, is a "no
contest," with the Trooper's voluminous 90.2 cubic feet (with the rear
seat folded) dwarfing the Blazer's 74.1- and the Discovery's
69.8-cubic-foot stats.A look at engine performance shows another no
contest, with the Blazer's 4.3-liter Vortec V-6 outmuscling the
Discovery's 3.9-liter aluminum V-8 and the Trooper's 3.2-liter 24-valve
DOHC aluminum V-6. In terms of output, the Chevy's potent 195 horsepower
and 260 pound-feet of torque edge out the 190 horses/195 pound-feet of
the Isuzu's strongest offering, as well as the 182/232 of the Land Rover.
Likewise, aided by a lighter curb weight, the Blazer cooks 0-60 in 9.4
seconds, significantly dusting the Discovery's 11.5 and the Trooper's
11.9. Plus, it does this while providing the best EPA-rated fuel
economy: 17/22 city/highway, compared to the Trooper's 15/18 and the
Discovery's 13/16.Even within the four-wheel-drive systems, there
are key differences. The Land Rover is equipped with full-time all-wheel
drive, while the Chevy and Isuzu include part-time systems (a full-time
system will be available on the Blazer as a mid-year option). The
Blazer offers a choice of either shifting between drive modes with a
conventional console-mounted shift lever or a dash-mounted push-button.In terms of safety features, all three of these
vehicles come standard with some combination of ABS and airbags. The
Discovery, Blazer, and Trooper Limited models have four-wheel anti-lock
brakes; the Trooper S and LS offer only rear-wheel ABS as standard, with
a four-wheel system available as an $1100 option. Both imports come
with dual airbags, while the Chevy has only a driver-side bag.Despite their reputations as off-road warriors, most SUVs live the bulk of their lives on pavement. Chevrolet
has addressed this dual reality by offering five individually tuned
suspension packages to help tailor the Blazer's ride and handling
characteristics to match each driver's taste and lifestyle. Among the
choices are a Premium package, which provides a plush, luxury-car-like
ride; a Touring package, for those preferring a tauter feel and improved
road handling abilities; and an off-road package.Choosing the right sport/utility vehicle, of
course, depends a lot on how a vehicle's strengths align with your own
needs and desires. When pressed to recommend one of these three over the
others, however, our choice would be the Blazer. Although the imports
may have an edge in specific areas, the Blazer offers a competitive
balance in all aspects while dominating in such important ones as power
output, fuel economy, ride and handling, passenger roominess, and lineup
versatility. Chalk one up here for the 'Mericans.
| HOW THEY STACK UP | |||||
| 0-60 mph, | Quarter mile, | Lateral | Slalom, | Braking, | |
| sec | sec/mph | accel., g | mph | 60-0 mph, ft | |
| Chevrolet Blazer LS | 9.4 | 17.1/80.5 | 0.72 | 60.7 | 154 |
| Isuzu Trooper Limited | 11.9 | 18.5/74.7 | 0.73 | 55.8 | 142 |
| Land Rover Discovery | 11.5 | 18.4/75.4 | 0.73 | 56.8 | 132 |
Chevrolet Blazer LS Front engine/rear- or
four-wheel drive4.3-liter V-6, OHV 4-speed automatic195 hp @ 4500 rpm260
lb-ft @ 3400 rpm107.0-in. wheelbase4014-lb curb weight17/22 city/hwy.
EPA fuel economy$21,953 base price$26,113 price as
testedOptions/ancillary charges:Locking rear differential, $252;
235/70SR15 W/L tires, $133; AM/FM radio with CD player, $329;
tachometer, $59; LS decor package, $346; heavy-duty trailering
equipment, $210; Preferred Equipment Group 1SDX, $2346; destination,
$485
Isuzu
Trooper Limited Front engine/rear- or four-wheel drive3.2-liter V-6,
DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder4-speed automatic190 hp @ 5600 rpm195 lb-ft @
3800 rpm108.7-in. wheelbase4210-lb curb weight15/18 city/hwy. EPA fuel
economy$34,000 base price (est.)$34,420 price as tested
(est.)Options/ancillary charges:Destination, $420
Land Rover
Discovery Front engine/all-wheel drive3.9-liter V-8, OHV4-speed
automatic182 hp @ 4750 rpm232 lb-ft @ 3100 rpm100.0-in. wheelbase4379-lb
curb weight13/16 city/hwy. EPA fuel economy$29,350 base price$34,850
price as testedOptions/ancillary charges:Automatic transmission, $1100;
rear side-facing seats, $975; Connolly leather trim, $1200; Dual
electric sunroofs, $1600; destination, $625
