outfitted with a cap. Our Spacecab XS came standard with a 60/40 split folding front bench seat,
folding center armrest and cut-pile carpeting. In addition to its generous warranties, the Hombre
is covered with a five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance program.
The Hombre's mechanical layout is straightforward: In the front, an independent suspension of upper
and lower control arms, and in the rear, a live axle on leaf springs. There's a heavy-duty suspension
available that consists of heavier-duty springs for increased trailer towing capacity and, if the
vehicle is equipped with the four-cylinder engine, a change in the rear axle ratio from 3.73:1 to
4.10:1, which helps with pulling heavy loads. With it, the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) goes
up to 4600 pounds, from 4200 for the standard cab and 4400 with the Spacecab. Trailer towing capacity
is 2000 pounds with the four-cylinder engine and 5500 lbs. with the V6, or 5000 pounds with the V6 in
a Spacecab.
Buyers should find Hombre prices attractive. Our Spacecab XS with V6 and automatic came to $17,875;
it did not come with air conditioning, which would have added $835.
The Hombre's V6 engine pulls strongly, offering good torque for pulling and hauling. It produces
more power than the V6 engines in either the Ford Ranger or the Dodge Dakota, and more torque than any
of the import-brand compact pickups.
The fuel-injected 2.2-liter overhead-valve four-cylinder engine has been improved for 1998. Power has been increased slightly, while induction noise has been reduced. Next Page