This latest trek to Death Valley isn't the first (or second or third) time Motor Trend has guided you through the ultimate testing ground for serious off-roaders. In 2001 we spent "48 Hours In Hell" with seven 4WD trucks and SUVs spanning the automotive landscape from compact SUV to dualie truck.
Seven years ago, our contenders were the 4WD versions of these models:
Cadillac Escalade
Chevrolet Avalanche
Chevrolet Silverado HD
Ford Explorer
GMC Envoy
Jeep Liberty
Nissan Frontier
Toyota Sequoia
Since that test, we've invited a completely new set of competitors, limited the field to just five vehicles, and stayed out in Death Valley an extra day. At the time, then Editor-in-Chief C. Van Tune described the trip as "the ultimate test of man and machine: sleep deprivation, food deprivation, shade, shower, and shave deprivation."
To see how competitors fared in our Death Valley Torture Test from 2001, click HERE, or check out the extra pictures we couldn't stuff in the original article.
by Zach Gale