2017 Vehicle of the Year: Textron Stampede 4x4

Being recognized as “best in class” is much easier said than done, but the companies’ products featured in these stories have outdone themselves, and have truly earned the title.

Vehicle of the Year: Textron Stampede 4x4
The Textron Off Road (formally Bad Boy Off Road) Stampede 4x4 won converts in 2016 with a German-built Weber engine, MillenWorks suspension and final assembly in Augusta, Ga.

Its twin-cylinder, four-stroke 846 cc fuel-injected gasoline engine sends 80 hp and 59 lb.-ft. torque to a continuously variable transmission and on-demand four-wheel drive. The engine’s monitored by an LCD display and onboard diagnostics. And the Stampede is able to dump 600 pounds (the bed tilts), haul double that and tow a full ton. It’s a fabulously utilitarian workhorse backed by a host of manufacturer accessories available to owners.

“I was impressed by bold design and solid engineering ready to tackle chores on the ranch or deliver hunters to their secret spots with aplomb,” wrote Editor in Chief J. Scott Olmsted (“Making Tracks,” December ’16).

Editor's Note: Winning products must be tested by the editors, meet or exceed expectations on innovation, and provide hunters and shooters with value for their money. NRA Publications presented the annual Golden Bullseye Awards at an invitation-only breakfast during the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta, Ga., April 28-30..