Pickup trucks aren't exactly the biggest category at the annual AJAC TestFest. In fact, this year, there were only three contenders: Chevrolet Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade EXT and Ford Sport Trac.
It's interesting to note that all three were extended-cab versions, with the emphasis on carrying passengers, rather than cargo. Nor could any of these three qualify as workhorses, and they all came loaded.
The least expensive model, Ford's Sport Trac XLT 4X4, was well over $40,000 and the Escalade was more than double that.
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They may have different engines, but the Caddy and Chevy are essentially the same vehicle, built on the same platform with the same basic body panels.
In all honesty, the Escalade is priced too much by half. I realize the upscale market doesn't concern itself with trifles like sticker price and value for money, but the Escalade is outrageous.
If you want the same basic driving experience, but don't want to break the bank in the process, drive the Avalanche. It's not as powerful, but feels much the same.
One observation about all three trucks: despite — or maybe because of — the fact that they have a huge amount of plastic and composite material in their body construction, they are remarkably subdued vehicles — even over gravel.
But the Sport Trac had the best NVH (noise/vibration/harshness) factor. At 100 km/h, on gravel, it's amazingly stable and quiet. And, thanks to the new V8, it's got all kinds of snap.
The Cadillac is definitely the most lively of these three, but the Sport Trac isn't far behind. Curiously, it has inferior fuel consumption to the Avalanche, despite the fact that it's actually dimensionally smaller.
Nonetheless, I chose the Sport Trac. With an as-tested price of $40,984, it is the least expensive model in this group, but has virtually the same equipment level as the Avalanche, for example, which is another three grand. I also liked its straightforward access to 4WD — three dash-mounted buttons.
Still, when you think about it, 41 large is a lotfor a pickup truck.
