-Contributed

LOS ANGELES:

Motor Trend magazine announced on Tuesday that the Mercedes-Benz GL450 is Motor Trend'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. Angus MacKenzie, editor in chief of Motor Trend, noted that this year's field was especially strong.

"The GL may be a surprise winner for many people," said MacKenzie. "The first full-size sport/utility from Mercedes is not cheap, but it has astonishing technology. It offers a seven-speed automatic transmission and a V-8 engine with 335 horsepower, and it will be available in a version that runs on the new low-sulphur diesel fuel for greater gas mileage. Comfortable, third-row seating has become one of the most important measures for sport/utilities, and the GL's is the best."

MacKenzie added, "The GL extends the reach of Mercedes-Benz in the sport/utility segment, and is certainly the best sport/utility they've made. In every facet, from performance to the interior, the vehicle is a winner."

To judge the prestigious award, Motor Trend's editorial staff conducted exhaustive off-road, street and track testing, and carefully considered essentials such as driving performance, engineering, design, safety and features. Eligible vehicles had to be all-new or substantially upgraded and on sale in the 12 months since November 1, each year.

The Evolving Sport/Utility

MacKenzie noted that this year's sport/utility of the year testing recognised the rapid and dramatic change in the sport/utility segment. Many industry observers have pointed to the rise of a new class of vehicle - the crossover - that more clearly delineates the SUV's evolution from an off-road, truck-based platform to one that offers a more car-like experience with better feel and driveability.

"If you look at the sport/utility segment on that basis," said MacKenzie. "All of the vehicles that we drove this year are crossovers. It used to be that the sport/utility was an off-road vehicle, plain and simple. This year, only three vehicles ... the Mercedes-Benz GL, the Jeep Wrangler and the Toyota FJ Cruiser - had real off-road capability. Many of this year's new sport/utility models will be offered in two-wheel drive versions that will certainly be popular in states where weather and roads aren't a problem.

"Bold styling, a high seating position and, in a word, utility, are why consumers buy SUVs. It's the 21st century station wagon, neither truck nor car-based, and truly belongs in its own category. That's why this year's contest looked more closely at on-road driveability than rock-crawling."

MacKenzie added, "That the GL is this year's winner tells you a lot about how far this segment has come. The GL can certainly go off road, but it also delivers car-like levels of performance and refinement on road. It's the combination of feel, style and usefulness that set it apart."

Source: The Auto Channel.com.