MotorWeek | Retro Review: '97 Sport Ute Comparo

[@ncurc9766]

The Durango and explorer were the most popular of the bunch by far. All though mostly rusted and beat to hell I still see 90s explorers and Durango everywhere.

[@Ithinkiwill66]

That's right. I don't remember EVER seeing a Bravada anywhere....at least not anymore, lol

[@punchy207]

i see a TON of Saturn VUE's and 1st-2 gen Durangos like every day

[@TNAWWE]

i don't see any of those anymore. if anything i see the Explorer more than the rest.

[@arislopes1924]

Today there’s none left in the roads but 4runners the rest at rotting in junk Yards

[@brantisonfire]

The durangos standard 5.2 makes it great along with three-row seating.

[@Juanknes]

Ah, the time when SUVs were actually SUVs and not tall cars.

[@hankhill5622]

And actually had 4x4 and not that stupid fucking switch thing that has mud sand and snow on it.

[@ireneuszpyc6684]

@@hankhill5622 , 4x4 adds complexity, weight, cost & fuel consumption: Scotty Kilmer says most people don't need 4x4

[@nickmotsarsky4382]

Are we going to pretend the ML320 wasn't a tall car?

[@kangvp9512]

Nick Motsarsky that 1st gen ML was actually body-on-frame. Then they moved to unibody for the next generation, after the G-Class was introduced in the US in 2002.

[@rars0n]

@@ireneuszpyc6684 Scotty Kilmer is a moron who makes terrible KZbin videos and does stupid shit like climb under a car that's only being supported by a hydraulic jack. I would never listen to a damn thing that man says.

[@cameronnorton5898]

The 90's were one of the best decades to be a consumer in the vehicle market.

[@fernandorocha8459]

I love this Ford EXplorer is my dream since 1996

[@jacklawrence3849]

12 mpg…. You sure?

[@cameronnorton5898]

@@jacklawrence3849 I drive a 1996 Toyota 4Runner V6 manual trans and it gets 21mpg. The thing has 340,000 thousand miles on it too. Used to have a 98 camry that got 30mpg.

[@hakeemsd70m]

I actually think cars peaked in from the mid 90's to the mid 00's.

[@bigmedge]

@@jacklawrence3849gas was dirt cheap back then too, so yes

[@lifeonbicycles]

I still see an alarming number of these vehicles on the road besides the mercedes and land rover!

[@nilsutt]

Haha in Sweden I only se the Mercedes and the Cherokee, and sometimes the Landrover and the Explorer the others, where never here or are rusted out.

[@cpufreak101]

Here the Fords have gone extinct pretty much, either broke down a long time ago or dissolved from too much rust, however the Blazer, on Craigslist it is THE sub 2K vehicle

[@lifeonbicycles]

+Justin Noker interesting. what state? maybe people are very diligent on washing the salt off of their cars here in michigan. the road dalt doesnt get much worse than here

[@cpufreak101]

camMDR New York, well, western New York at least

[@jtoddk98]

Many of the Explorers were killed in the Cash for clunkers program back in 2009. Pretty sad, still see a decent amount of them in the south where rust really isn't an issue.

[@aaronm.3398]

I have a 98 Explorer and it is mint. The paint looks extremely shiny still and no dents. 2” lift on 30” BFGoodrich All Terrains. That bad boy gets it off-road. I’ve done a lot of work to it though but it was worth it to me.

[@GloucesterODaugherty]

This generation of explorer is still the best looking of them all.

[@jriley1992]

I love how the current Dodge Durango looks very similar to the first generation.

[@ddk80]

I’m surprised the Land Rover made it through the review without breaking down.

[@chrisedward7575]

I know a few people that have had very good luck with them long term. Service is expensive. The vehicles themselves are very comfortable and have plenty of power but are a bit weird and boxy. I’d never buy one for sure. Older v8 4Runner or Jeep Outlander for me.

[@myopiniongoodyouropinionbad]

🤣🤣🤣

[@bigmedge]

@@chrisedward7575their ride is horribly uncomfortable. Even on a smooth road, it feels like an earthquake inside

[@Lzrdman91]

😂

[@eltonjohn3236]

It's hard to believe that this was 20 years ago. The Durango looked great, and still does IMO.

[@thevoxofreason8468]

elton john It did and does. I bought a brand new 97' Dakota (red, sport, extended cab, 4x4) back then. I fell in love. It looked just like the one used in all of the ads. It was my first new vehicle. Only got rid of it in 2000...to buy a 2000 Dakota in black, same options. Loved those trucks and the pushrod 318/5.2 in them.

[@AKJeeper]

I bought a 1999 Dakota in Intense Blue, 4x4, 5.2 brand new. Miss that truck. FWIW - it's still on the road today. I currently own a 2006 Ram 1500 4x4 5.7, and while it's an improvement in many ways...it can't beat my old Dakota in other ways - like driving pleasure and offroad ability.

[@thevoxofreason8468]

AKJeeper Yep. Nice trucks. When they came out, they really were in a class of their own. Drive an 09 JKU now as a hunting/off road vehicle.

[@AKJeeper]

I had a series of Jeep XJ and ZJ for offroad/fishing/hunting rigs. Great rigs but the rust around here would always kill them. My '94 XJ had 358k on it when I parted it out. These days I'm running a '86 Dodge Ramcharger 318 as a Jeep replacement.

[@mr.c493]

elton john I agree the Durango looks are very rugged awesome truck, and that generation explorer is my favorite even today!!!

[@taylorious1693]

1997 SUV’s... ...but no gen 3 4Runner hahahahhahah

[@jbird1173]

Yea all of the vehicles tested are headed to the scrapper or are craigslist specials. My 1998 4runner has 240k miles and still functions as it did new. And it's worth 5 grand

[@ALItm1]

JBird117 my 2002 4runner has 240k as well 😄 got it at 170k and still nothing except for timing belt and water pump (which is maintenance but was the most significant cost i paid asides from some aftermarket upgrades)

[@seanconnathon]

@@johncholmes643 lmao u are a piece of shit

[@bobquattrini1787]

My 1999 Jeep Cherokee xj has 350,000 miles and is just like new and it doesn't need timing belts and water pumps like the gayota every few years...A 4.0 AW4 IS BETTER THAN ANY GAYOTA...

[@fiber9m]

@@johncholmes643 Scotty kilmer is looking for you

[@chrisedward7575]

The 5.0 explorer was a good SUV. Very good in the snow and plenty of power. I never considered any of these others. Except maybe the Jeep.

[@fernandorocha8459]

I want Ford Explorer and Oldsmobile Bravada

[@spencercohen2673]

Dude. That jeep holds up to today’s standards. Wow.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Yep. To this day not one person has ever out accelerated me yet. Except a Corvette one time lol.

[@finecorinthianvideos]

Second generation is good too

[@dr.lyleevans6915]

leakyjeep5.9 You from NC? I had a Vette and a buddy with a green 5.9 Jeep

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Dr. Lyle Evans I'm in the Midwest.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Liams Lexus Build But it has a couple of mods that put it on pace with the shitty 2.0 turbo phase the automotive world is experimenting with. And will that pos escape last 20 years and still drive like new? Hell no. Not without major engine overhauls.

[@Doobie1975]

of these SUV's I would have chosen the Jeep Cherokee Limited with the 5.9 Liter V8

[@eightosaurusspelunk1598]

Andrew Diez Yeah, I would've taken a Cherokee over all these.

[@01trsmar]

Grand Cherokee 5.9 (360 c.i) My parents had one, quick got mid 6's 0-60 and 14.2 1/4 mile times.. Cherokee was fairly quick but too small...Oddly the new Cherokee is bigger than this Grand Cherokee, cars, suvs ,trucks are a lot bigger today !! My Parents had a Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited, my sister had a 1993 Cherokee Country...Not much difference in gas mileage either,Faster Mopar 360 could never be killed, her Cherokee finally bit it with a bad head gasket and head in 2000. Cherokee's were garbage before 1991 models because of the AMC electronics, Chrysler Electronics and engine improvements made the Cherokee the legend !! **I know this from a AMC mechanic he told me, he also worked for Chrysler for years after..

[@Doobie1975]

That sucks about your sister's 1993 Cherokee Country having a bad head gasket and head in 2000, did her's have the 4.0 Liter 6 engine (I've always thought those engine's were bulletproof)? I never knew Cherokee's were garbage before the 1991 models because of the AMC electronics, I still see a lot of the boxy shaped Cherokee's and the Grand Cherokee's around, the 360 Grand Cherokee sure was a rocket in performance (that is still very fast by today's standards).

[@01trsmar]

Doobie1975 The Grand Cherokee was an all Chrysler design/parts, started in 1993 ..It was originally going to be a Chrysler suv ,but changed it to a Jeep as I was told by a few Chrysler people.....Anyways,the AMC Mechanic ,fan,collector of AMC vehicles knew everything and said don't touch one before 1991..He said they were junk.. A 100% Diehard AMC fan, so if he said so ..I guess I will believe him as he worked on them as well.. The 92 up were good vehicles, but bulletproof I would say the Mopar 360 is 10 times better ..I never killed one of those and drove a few of them very hard..As for my sisters Cherokee, it had about 120,000 miles, she changed the coolant on time ,drove easy etc. But it was a problem for the 4.0 its whole life/designed by AMC.. improved upon by Chrysler ,as much as they could..The later 90's and 2000's were pretty good though..but most cases you can just change the head gasket and hope the head is good, hers wasn't.. She has a 2013 Grand Cherokee today.. The 5.9 Grand Cherokee was a beast even today, they can run mid to high 6's 0-60 and mid/upper 14's in the 1/4 mile.. Usually Chrysler engines get quicker after 5,000 - 10,000 miles...It was the same 360 they had since 1971,and based on the LA 318 that started as a 273 in the mid 60's...You can get 405 ft lbs of torque from the Dodge/Jeep 5.9's and 300 hp by getting a programmer !!! Then those really fly !! If you buy a 4.0 check for any coolant leaks etc...Cheers...Sorry for the Novel I wrote..

[@AKJeeper]

If I could have a brand new 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited today, I'd buy one! I had the pleasure of working at a Jeep dealership when these were new...have plenty of fond memories working on and owning Jeeps from this era.

[@patrickmichaellangan576]

I always liked how John Davis said at the end of his introduction to this comparison test “Why, that sounds like fun!” It’s true. Watching these Motorweek retro reviews and comparison test IS or CAN BE fun.

[@murrymirage5904]

I still look at this and think it's only ten years ago

[@kennethpowers8995]

Closer to 25 than 10 lol

[@TosinSalisu]

They all still look good even by today's standards! I also still see quite a lot of them!

[@tbanshee]

I love that Grand Cherokee 😍

[@Xx1SailorScoutxX]

Ford "Dora the" Explorer... Seriously, I remember when everybody and their grandma had these along with the Expedition. Then came the big chrome rim craze, and pretty soon, SUVs became more of a fashion statement than an off-roading machine.

[@chriscole9621]

true

[@nezerac]

Ya we have owned an 91 explorer and still own a 2000 expedition. The explorer and the Expedition were both stupid reliable and we even bought back our old Expedition for a solid, reliable vehilce. lol.

[@robertdavis32]

Elton Thomas it's funny u say everyone and their grandma had an Explorer cause at one point in my family, everyone DID have an Explorer, my parents leased an 02 model Xlt, my grandma had a 99 Model with 4wd, my aunt had a 98 V8 model and a cousin of ours had a 2000 Xlt model. Fond childhood memories were in those cars

[@ovenproof9905]

Yep new SUV's can barely go on the dirt. Just look at the Jeep Cherokee XJ vs the new Jeep Cherokee. The new one focused on -weird- style and economic on-road driving.

[@Victoria3232-j7o]

The Ford Bronco had just been discontinued a year prior in 1996 For the Ford Expedition.

[@joshrazo2355]

I like these retro comparisons

[@4-LOW]

That Jeep was the fastest SUV in the world in 1998. My, how times have changed.

[@KENARDO]

Just wait until the Trackhawk comes out next year. WK2's swan song, like ZJ's, will be ridiculously fast for the period.

[@01trsmar]

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 392 HEMI 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and high 12's in the 1/4 mile....470 hp that's 470 hp today !!!!! Times have changed its 25 car lengths ahead by 70 if you raced them lol.. It was the fastest still until a few years ago only the Porsche suv is faster !!!! Wait until the 6.2 Supercharged HEMI Hellcat comes in the Grand Cherokee Track Hawk !!!

[@richardmiller6422]

01trsmar. It was the fastest when it was new! Not as of today you moron

[@angelgjr1999]

Ford Explorer was close though. Both had similar torque.

[@bromidedrag]

You guys forget the GMC Typhoon in the 90s... 0-60 in under 5 seconds I believe. Probably still the fastest production SUV built.

[@SkylineFTW97]

I learned to drive on an 01 Durango that my dad had. That thing was a tank, and it did everything. Overall, it was an extremely solid car.

[@Ceedog48]

Most of these are pretty solid. You'll still see pretty much everything but the Rover and Mercedes on the streets regularly.

[@RoadCone411]

Maybe because all but the Bravada outsold the L-R and the Mercedes? Could that have anything to do with it? Looking at it another way, considering how many Blazers/Jimmys/Bravadas GM sold from this generation, it is amazing how FEW are still seen on the road. I see more Gen1 Discos and Mercedes than the GMs! Ford sold a ton of these Explorers, probably 20x the number of Discoverys that L-R peddled, so we SHOULD see some of them. Most were killed off with cash for clunkers, but I still catch a few survivors around from time to time. Interestingly, the Durango, which didn't sell nearly as well as the Explorer, is also something I see occassionally. True, they are not generally pulling frontline family duty jobs anymore, but who knew the Dodge would hold its looks the best over 20 years.

[@Stressless2023]

@@RoadCone411 Where I live (Detroit) you still see all of these regularly except the Land Rover, which was probably the least reliable SUV in this test (and they're still unreliable to this day from what I read lol), so that's probably why. All of these are usually rust buckets when I see them now, especially the Benz, Durango, and Explorer which seem to rust out worse than the others (maybe the plastic cladding on the others hides the rust?) But they're still running when I see them.

[@porsche928s5]

Ceedog48 I see everything except the bravada and Durango regularly

[@doabarrellroll69]

The Discovery is understandable, even the Brits considered it a bad SUV, and the ML was apparently plagued with electrical issues due to it having, of all things; Biodegradable wiring That was probably the most stupid idea in the history of stupid ideas

[@crowdnine878]

I see the Jeep and GM ones mostly. I imagine the Fords rolled over with the 'Firestone' problems they had.

[@jakey20022]

Jeep Grand with the 5.9 was an awesome 4x4 off road.

[@Mikeywil0003]

With some junk yard parts swapping maybe. The 5.9s all came with the AWD transfer case that is crap if you want to do real off roading with it.

[@DakotaRaymond1999]

Mikey lol you're a hater

[@Mikeywil0003]

Ask any Jeep guy which t-case they would rather have to go off road with, an NP242 or an NP249. The 242 has 2 high, AWD, 4 high, and 4 low modes, when the 249 only has AWD and 4 wheel low.

[@jakey20022]

Remember it was the fastest 0 to 60 SUV that year and 1/4 mile as well

[@fiveninegarage]

Mikey you can easily swap

[@blaknoizee]

I practiced driving in a 97 Grand Cherokee Limited lol. I didnt realize how powerful of a truck my friends mother had.

[@adamtrombino106]

I bought a new 01 Durango SLT 5.9 4x4, a special order SUV. It had the special HD service group, HD electrical group, factory towing package, rear Sure Grip 9 1/4 inch 3.55 ratio diff, HD cooling group, 3 row seating in cloth, luggage rack, running boards etc etc.. Ended up being nearly $40k. It was a great truck! Engine and trans were wonderful, but mileage was terrible at about 11 city. In the snow, that thing was a tank. I TRIED to get it stuck in a 4 ft drift. Nope. In 4 low that thing plowed right through! And it had an extremely comfortable if not boring highway ride. Despite our best efforts, rust killed it, though the power train said 'I ain't done yet!' Sure, the frt end needed the ball joint upgrade, as well as a new steering shaft coupler, but other than that, no issues. I kept up with it over the yrs.( 3 owners ) Last I heard the engine and trans were transferred over to another Durango, long after mine was reduced to snow plow status.

[@RomanM803]

I like the jeep and Dodge

[@weegeemike]

I'd love to have a brand new Durango of this era with a 5.9 V8...quick af for the era...those had awesome seats too

[@jonathanfox676]

I have the OG ‘98 5.2. I love that car. The transmission is starting to get jerky but it’s almost at 300,000 so I understand

[@shizzy_Snorlax]

We had a 1999 Dodge Durango in I think Forest Green with the V8. It was thirsty for gas but roomy and capable. The only issue we had was that we didn't have the rear A/C option. Winters were fine but summers really showed how inefficient the system was at properly cooling all rows. Also when I started driving at 16 I had to drive that beast and the steering was very sensitive.

[@noriceformeplz]

I love my 98 Jeep 5.9 limited, still faster that a lot of new suv's.

[@trailrunnah8886]

I always wanted a 'niner!

[@XenomorphLV426]

Really surprised how quick it is.

[@necrodh]

Even the 5.2 its faster than newer SUVS and sounds like a proper classic V8

[@jbird1173]

But it's still slower than a 1992 v6 GMC typhoon

[@BrownBomber92181]

I was surprised how quick they were, yet the Dakota 5.9 RT with the same engine was tame at best, it seemed like they were tuned different

[@brandondannys-menary3678]

I really like the bravada, the Durango and the grand Cherokee.

[@anthony_rivera4735]

The bravada was a trashcan and it looked ugly

[@cavalierliberty6838]

And still outlived the Mercedes, the land Rover, the explorer, and the Durango. Fancy that.

[@bigrig9749]

What a time to be alive lol……I was 11 in 97 and mom had a 4Runner sr5 back then…great truck.

[@SportsMusicCars]

I was 30 back then lol

[@chrisv4096]

Oh how I miss the 90's suvs! Everyone owned an Explorer (including me) and they were great. Unfortunately that generation got a bad name with the roll-over/Firestone tire recall crap. I liked them so much that I recently found a Saleen Explorer and had to have it. Those 5.0s are built like tanks and run strong.

[@Robyne_u61]

Never heard of a saleen explorer

[@Ithinkiwill66]

I thought it was the Bronco that had the bad reputation....other than the OJ case....but with Firestone.

[@TheCOZ]

Exploder!

[@christopherconard2831]

​@@Ithinkiwill66 The Bronco II (Not original, full sized Bronco) had a short wheel base for it's class and high center of gravity. Not a good combination for high speed U-turns. When you loaded it with cargo and people things got worse. The Firestone problem with the Explorer could be solved by switching to truck tires instead of ones designed for a sedan type passenger car. Also adding a few extra pounds of air to them. Ford assumed, correctly, that most would never see serious off road duty, so the specs were built around comfort and a soft ride.

[@mr.c493]

The Nissan Pathfinder of those years were awesome looking and very good trucks!!! What happened to SUV today. They no longer look like trucks, aren't rugged and look like they are made out of plastic.

[@Victoria3232-j7o]

They became Crossovers.

[@mking9446I]

They don't, they're not, they are.

[@BigWheel.]

People who didn't want or need those things influenced the market, and manufacturers started giving us what they say we all want.

[@ftffighter]

Jeep with the 5.9 was a beast

[@lightningbuster]

God, I couldn't imagine paying over 30 grand for any of those. Especially the Explorer, Bravada and Grand Cherokee. They're only worth about $1500 today.

[@PennsyPappas]

True but the SUV and CUV of today will one day also be worth $1500 20-30 years from now that generation will say the same thing you did.

[@geofox9484]

For real these have all become Craigslist mechanic specials

[@mickdavis2385]

The Explorer was very trendy back in the day. They were called yuppie cars.

[@BIGGIEDEVIL]

Stupid comment same goes for cars today 20 years from now they'll be the same price $1500 or less

[@gigi9467]

Matthew Pappas his an idiot please forgive him

[@airborne_12v]

The explorer rocks! Tough as bails as long as you use good tires!

[@BrewBlaster]

Yeah, the Land Rover is "unstoppable" until it starts falling apart or has nearly unsolvable electrical issues that will make you want to push it into a river and report it stolen.

[@6ec6YRFPTcC]

I always loved that Durango and Grand Cherokee. Surprisingly I still see them everywhere, they may look like turds, but they are still running

[@BIGGIEDEVIL]

Never see a Durango ever

[@shadow105720]

They are everywhere along with Dakotas. I see as many Durango /dakota /Cherokees as I see full size trucks from any of the 3 these days.

[@BIGGIEDEVIL]

@@shadow105720 I live in Canada and I haven't seen one in over 10 years no lie

[@matthewcaughey8898]

The Durango suffered the same front end spindle failure that ended the lives of many Dakota pickups

[@davidenobile426]

I think the Durango is the best. It's big, it's quick, it's reliable and it's really beautiful. Too bad the fuel economy is that poor.

[@exxusdrugstore300]

"Reliable"

[@Blackout_1692]

Yeah my dad has owned a 2001 Durango for the past few years and man it's real bad on gas I think my dad was spending like $100 a day just to put gas in that damn thing it's been off the road for two years and just recently it went to the junkyard

[@Blackout_1692]

And you may be wondering what is your dad driving now he just picked up a 2011 Ram 1500 a few months ago

[@Blackout_1692]

Yeah and my dad had the smallest engine you can get for the Durango's a 4.7 L V8 there was also a 5.2 and 5.9

[@Blackout_1692]

You can also get a 3.9 liter V6 for the first gen Durangos I doubt that most people know that

[@jayyoutube8790]

Hell... Most of there I see daily...

[@BernonCars]

Huh, I never knew that the old ML was BOF.

[@TJC450]

I always thought it was unibody too.

[@KickoStocks]

Me neither! I should track down a 430 and put a lift kit on it and make it bad-ass

[@davidyegiazaryan3417]

I think they're independent suspension all around.

[@kennethbrogdon5701]

ThatGearHead nope solid rear

[@drjones694]

this video really had me thinking about prices. we were looking at the new Ford Explorer and others and thought 30k was higher than before and crazy but I'm starting to notice the price hasn't really gone up that much in the last 20 years compared to what goes into malign one and the required tech. don't want to see the price go up anymore but these throw back videos are cool like that to make you notice

[@Superdutychase]

I love it! My new 5.0 f150 4x4 averages 19 mpg and will get between 21-25 on the highway depending on how fast I go. Oh and it has the 20" wheels with 32" tires and rear locker so it'll crawl through most "off road" stuff. God bless America (and technology)!!! We've came a long ways. Not to mention that it was only about $40,000 over 20 years later, you'd swear inflation went DOWN

[@kidboise5380]

Shame the 3rd gen 4runner wasn't included. It wasn't the most comfortable or refined ride compared to some of the others, but it was very capable off road and was build to outlast most of them. The 3400 engine is unstoppable

[@Frank-sp7vu]

The only two SUVs here you still see on the road today is the GM Blazer/Jimmy/Bravada and the Ford Explorer. The other four are all gone, really tells you the quality products GM and Ford made back then.

[@pcFOREVER89100]

The Mercedes looked like an oversize PT Cruiser

[@loapher_garage]

OOF

[@christopherdean1326]

I'd have to say I would probably go for the Explorer, mainly because I just did! Bought one the same colour as the one here, 120,000 miles on the clock, £3,000, and I love it!

[@zbrembo]

The jeep's hood louvers look like they came from the early 90's pontiac grand prix gtp/gt 3.4 24v's

[@benrupp04]

It’s amazing how much faster, powerful, nicer and more capable vehicles have gotten since the 90s

[@DeansterOfficial]

I have a '99 Dodge Durango SLT 4wd w/ the 318 in Patriot Blue. Just checked the engine oil and it's rusty so it might be going to a new home here soon. Also, the power steering is leaking so every time I turn from a stop, its: EEEEERRRRRNNNNN!

[@timetowakeup6302]

How many miles were on her when she died?

[@ISaac-yf8kr]

Love the explorer. Still see them around every day. Got one with 221,000 and it still runs strong.

[@ecymbura31]

180 hp in a V8? Land Rover you disappoint me

[@BEBNC1]

I think they all made more hp.

[@robbo777cricket]

The engine is extremely similar to the one produced in the early 60s except with efi.

[@robbo777cricket]

+Benjamin Burkhardt true, the changes to the cologne v6 over the years were slightly more extensive than those to the rover v8.

[@W0RLDSSMALLESTVI0LIN]

No, the OHV 4.0 was from 91-00 model years, all 91-94 models as well as all 95 and 96 v6 explorers were the OHV 4.0. the SOHC 4.0 came out in 97 but the OHV was still available through model year 2000.

[@VinylToVideo]

Bet it was not powerful enough to ever destroy itself.

[@nickgee7291]

I remember my mom had the durango v8 with the beige leather and wood trim. It was so confortable and cozy in there!

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

Confortable!! U r French or Spanish?

[@Moparman58]

I would love to see a retro review of the 1st generation dodge durango.

[@nonoiscool98]

A lot of those SUVs are still on the road today. I personally own a 1999 Dodge Durango for the weekends. As long as you take care of them, and let them hibernate in the winter (otherwise they can start to rust). You got your self an easy to work on V8 midsize SUV that can tow some toys. I did used to daily mine until I bought a 2006 XC90 V8. Even drove it in the winter, but speant most of its life down south. If you buy one check for rust, and make sure it has had the maintenance done. Luckily they are easy to work on, but keep in mind they are not as reliable as a Toyota or Honda from the same time period.

[@dougc190]

I have a 97 Jimmy SLE 300,000mi. Best Vehicle Ive every owned. Even just bought a 01 Jimmy 4x4 with 90,000mi

[@shadowwolfmandan]

Had a '91 Jimmy SLX.. every interior panel rattled, engine was fried (over 200,000km), gutless but didn't use oil... loved it, had a certain indestructibility.

[@toddbob55]

GM IS GARBAGE DUDE

[@josucarsnews3153]

Sesaon 1742 Record Date 6-24-1998 of Motorweek Part 2

[@ndawg79]

Is there a video on the newer style Jeep from 99 til 2004?? That would be nice to see that one

[@DakotaRaymond1999]

nathan woodall yeah it would I love my wj

[@johnpearson492]

My family still has our 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that we bought new. Ours is only the 4.0L 6 cylinder but it is a good smooth engine. The best part of the vehicle is easily the comfort. They just don't make vehicles with cushy comfy seats like they use to. 95k miles on the odometer and counting, my mom is hoping to get at least another 5 years out of it.

[@shadowwolfmandan]

That era of V6 engines was a good one. While not massively powerful they got the job done, if a little thirsty in the process.

[@JohnSmith-in1tt]

Even though I'm only 20 years old, watching this video from the year I was born makes me feel so old

[@colewebb4643]

Luca Rugiano you cracked me up there from the year you were born watching this make's you feel old at 20 😂😂😂 try my age 59 60 in Oct. he'll my daughter is 38 and will be 39 in nov.and you feel old at 20 you'r funny 👍👍👍fuck I can remember all of these when new oh and my friend had the Benz ask me what I thought I told him it wasn't worth the money came up short in to many way's plus one thing they didn't tell you in this the engine was buzzy and noise in the car only some cheep bad car's were noise and buzzy like the ML not up to Benz standard's C😎😎L

[@BrewBlaster]

The only thing you can say about the Mercedes above the rest tested is that it's shape truly was a hint at future SUV exterior styling.

[@ultimaetsolder]

I love these retro videos

[@josucarsnews3153]

Sesaon 1725 Record Date 2-25-1998 of Motorweek Part 1

[@jeepguy95]

I'll take a Jeep ZJ any day!!! (:

[@trailrunnah8886]

I had a 97 ZJ...I really miss it! It only had 165k miles on it and ran perfect, but 15 New England winters had taken their toll, the body was just rusting away :(

[@jeepguy95]

Yup I had a '94 and the only reason I got rid of it is because it had the 5.2 V8 in it and it was a gas hog... I got an '02 WJ with the 4.0 I6 in it, so I still have a Jeep.

[@trailrunnah8886]

+Vincent D I don't know how your WJ is, but my 4.0 ZJ was a hog too. I averaged about 16mpg with it. I always regretted not getting the V8.

[@ndawg79]

I have a 02 WJ and I love that thing has the 4.0 6 and she is a beast. I do only get 18 mpg sometimes 20 depending on how I drive her.

[@jeepguy95]

Yeah I love my WJ!!! Best, most reliable engine Jeep ever made!!! They should at least bring it back as a crate engine!!!

[@mikeo7221]

My grandparents had a '93 teal Explorer, and I remember it being a great car. Needed very little up to 90,000 miles when they traded it on. My folks drove minivans - a gold colored Grand Voyager, then a few Chev Ventures. Now, I drive a 2015 CR-V. It's amazing that it has the same amount of space inside, roughly the same acceleration as these cars (except the V8 ones), but gets 26 mpg mixed - same as my old 5-speed '01 Accord. My CR-V would suck off-road, but it does great in snow and is good enough for gravel roads. We've really come a long way since the '90s...

[@TheVintagetamiya]

ML was plagued with electrical problems

[@torres3800]

I second that!!!

[@DaltonTk423]

Not mine! but then again I have a 2000. Awesome vehicle though!

[@jtb1990419]

My '99 ML320 was good. I hardly had any trouble with it for the 3 years I had it. I only sold it because it was getting rusty. I miss the 4WD so much, as it would go through almost anything.

[@McBeamer94]

TheVintagetamiya ...amongst other things!

[@tinhinnh]

thats german engineering for ya

[@jorgechiubomberos]

i had a first generation w163 mercedes, 2005. The first ones had a lot of problems, including rust. but with the face lift version of 2002, and by switching the 320 to a 350, its an amazing car to get. only body on frame SUV on the mercedes lineup, and the only with low range. if you come accross a 2002 to 2005 used ml, go for it, wont regret it, garanteed

[@mitch9521]

I still see dozens of 2nd gen Explorers running around, even in the salt belt.

[@rustybrowneye]

Mr Anderson i have one

[@karlkinney2116]

I had a '98 XLT. It was better thought out than the 2000 Blazer I had. The Chevy ate fuel pumps like it was a delicacy.

[@dominik7014]

I fell in love with Explorers and I'm going to buy one of these soon

[@workingcountry1776]

Many with several hundred thousand miles... rough ride but with 5.0L great vehicle

[@jbird1173]

And a 1998 4runner is still worth more than all of the SUVs tested. And probably the only one that is still functioning as it did new.

[@maurico92]

My favorite and the one you still can see in the streets in regular bases is the Jeep Grand Cherokee

[@slacadjuster237]

Yeppers. Cause they last forever. My sister had one that went to 422,000km, with the bullet proof 5.2L. The rear end packed it in.

[@orbits2]

Not going there

[@sudmuck]

@@slacadjuster237 My sister owned both the 1st & 2nd gen.

[@marlon2k9]

I remember when this episode originally aired, and I still can't believe that y'all picked the Alabama Trash Can as the winner.

[@LoveMyZJ]

I'd love to have a '98 Grand Cherokee with the 5.9...who cares if it tends to overheat and guzzle gas, it sounds awesome and goes like stink! It was a seriously fast SUV in it's day.

[@WarthogRacer]

My Father bought a brand new '98 SLT Durango, it was pretty nice!

[@SilverScarletSpider]

With the new curvier cars that have much lower ground clearance yet call themselves SUV's I almost forgot that SUV meant Sport Utility Vehicle. I mean just compare the 1st Generation Acura MDX to the current BMW X5’s styling.

[@user-ym8wg9tu1w]

Dark Man that's why I'm sticking with full size SUVs because the American companies still use body on frame

[@Ithinkiwill66]

Hahahaa! That's because they are crossovers....wannabe little SUVs

[@magdump7380]

Love my ‘97 5.0 Explorer. Great vehicle.

[@Pressed_For_Time]

How about a full-size truck comparison from the late 90's early 00's?!

[@bruteboy123]

They did one, it was a bunch of duallys, look it up.

[@eightosaurusspelunk1598]

Donald Grab them by the pussy Trump Your name made me laugh. In internet lingo I belive they say "lol"

[@grriceman782]

Funny that Land Rover is still in business making subpar vehicles 25 years later 😆

[@YouDontWannaFightMe]

Oh how I miss the good old days before we got flooded with boring slushbox only crossovers

[@DaltonTk423]

I love my ML320! The thing is flat out AMAZING off-road. I was with my friend in his jeep in the dunes and when he got stuck going up a dune the ML flies right up it! Its an amazing vehicle but your 5000lbs towing capacity is wrong. in the manual it says 6000lbs towing and I have towed up to 7000lbs with no problem! I haven't had really any issues with my ML320 other than one of the motor mounts breaking and about 300$ later Im back on the road. I love my ML320!

[@unknownunknowns]

If you adjust their prices today the Ford Explorer would be 48K and the current one is 31K. The Jeep Grand Cherokee would be 42K while the current is 30K. The Oldsmobile Bravada would be 39K while the would be equivalent Chevy Equinox is 23K. The Dodge Durango would be 47K while the current is 30K. The Mercedes ML 320 would be 51K while the would be GLE is 52K. The Land Rover Discovery would be 60K while the current one is 38K.

[@unknownunknowns]

Overall their prices have gone down and that may explain why they gained in popularity and pretty much replaced the station wagons and large sedans like the Chevy Caprice and the Ford Crown Victoria because the overall length of the SUVs is shorter than them making them easier to fit in parking slots.

[@goatboy9837]

Stefan Unson yeah. Winter is a big factor too. No more chains or kitty litter.

[@johnpearson492]

Very well put. Car prices have not been following inflation. I would say that compared to the stuff being built today, the build quality just felt better in the older ones, the interiors are nicer because they were not trying to be fancy. All modern SUVs are trying to pull off the luxury look, when many of them just shouldn't.

[@unknownunknowns]

John Pearson Agreed, as the adage goes, "You get what you pay for."

[@brandondannys-menary3678]

Stefan Unson for the base models yes, but not for the loaded models.

[@darnellrobeson4761]

Still see those Explorers and Durango everyday. Literally...and it's now 2023.

[@ryushishiratori2312]

No 4Runner? For shame!

[@KickoStocks]

Seriously!

[@furgusuned15650]

I am more of a Jeep guy but even I will admit that is a shame

[@michaellightner4191]

+BandanaP rite, or pathfinder both amazing SUV's

[@hollowpoint45acp]

this test was for second place behind the 4Runner. And, the 4Runner is likely still the only one running out of all these turds

[@michaellightner4191]

Hahahaha no question, they should have a anniversarywhere are they now review

[@Doobie1975]

I miss the way they used to build SUV's in the 1990's and the early 2000's, to me that is the true era of SUV's.

[@wqdeqwe]

i don't care what SUV. but i think overall the jeep grand Cherokee was the best

[@leakyjeep5.9]

It really was. Motor week was High AF back then.

[@k0rndog93]

There's shit load of older Explorers still rolling around where I live. 3rd and 4th gens seem to be the most popular. Also quite a few 1st and 2nd gens. There's of course a bunch of the newer style ones too. I don't see too many older Blazers or Jeeps or hardly any older 4runners running around. The Durangos haven't held up well, all the ones I see are falling apart or rotted out badly. Really speaks volumes of how well these Explorers were built back in the day. And I'm in the Rust belt, too.

[@RecklessEnterainment]

$38k for a 1998 Jeep lol that’s insane.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Worth every penny pal.

[@Midnight_Wave_1989]

Absolutely love that generation of the Land Rover Discovery. Such a good looking suv.

[@PreludeNezumiSensei]

Loving these retro reviews! I grew up watching MW with my dad so it's super-nostalgic to me. The new outro for the reviews also bring back memories of that kicking theme song-- any chance we could have a full version of that theme song used in the 90's?

[@pfwww12]

That Mercedes interior is literally 15 years ahead of its time. Wow

[@97I30T]

These SUVs were expensive as hell back then! You get a lot more for your money these days.

[@kyle5.099]

I love the Durango, I’ve been driving a ‘99 with the 5.2 for some time now. 222k miles and counting

[@KenKellySWFL]

Same configuration I had. Sold mine with around the same mileage, and still regret it. What color is yours? Mine was beige.

[@WooferCooker]

Most commonly noticed vehicle I see on the road these days are the Jeeps, along with Durangos. I do see a fair amount of s10 Blazers (same body style as Bravata) but they're always in awful shape.

[@roketfingers]

wow i would say the opposite, i rarely see the jeeps and when i do they are modified, i havent seen an old durango since 2007

[@WooferCooker]

@@roketfingers well for starters, this is a 5 year old comment. Revising my comments for today; I really don’t see any of these vehicles left. Maybe a few blazers here and there. It’s mostly locational. If you’re from a small poor town, you’ll see a lot more oldies on the road. In well-off neighborhoods, good luck spotting anything older than 10 years old.

[@justoneofmany]

31k for a Durango seems insane. Steering wheel input in a Durango was a suggestion. 31k in 1996/97 is 51k today.

[@waterloo123100]

The difference is these vehicles will last after the warranty is over.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

take a look at these. These were real SUVs, not these silly poser wagons on stilts we have now

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

You know there's a lot to cover when Mr. Davis is racing through the copy! I think I'd go with the Explorer....

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Grand Cherokee for me! :-)

[@bozidar0039]

O yeah

[@kainraab]

I'm 16, and the Durango was the first car I ever drove. I have driven Impalas, a Ranger, a Caravan, and a new Mazda but still the Durango feels easier and more comfortable to drive than any of those in my opinion.

[@dan4932001]

darnit!! no 4runner?

[@Mr_Chris77]

I still use a 98 Durango daily for rural mail delivery. Has 245k miles and counting. (knock on wood lol)

[@EGGINFOOLS]

They said benz had best in class cargo. Durango beat it by 4 cubic feet.

[@samsquantch14]

not the same class

[@EGGINFOOLS]

samsquantch14 They were both in the video. Did you watch?

[@samsquantch14]

Benz is a luxury suv...durango isnt...it's a pile of shit is what it is

[@EGGINFOOLS]

samsquantch14 Maybe. But they compete in the market. That's why they were compared in this video

[@danielbridge6199]

Wayne Bolton Surprisingly, it was actually a body on frame suv with an optional V8. Last time I checked, there were no minivans that were body on frame. Nor are there any with V8's

[@InvestBetter.]

Back in these days, when it first hit the market, the Mercedes ML was one of the lowest-quality vehicles on the market when it came to quality problems and mechanical defects. This allowed the Lexus RX to come 2 years later and take this market from it, with higher quality and a sportier design. The RX has been the class leader ever since.