Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged 4×4
2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
Jun 16th
The thing about the FJ Cruiser is that it’s not really bred for knocking about the city, even one with half-destroyed roads like Detroit. This means that its best attributes–mountain goat-like hill climbing ability, stable handling on uncertain terrain and a multi-mode four-wheel drive transfer case–could be more or less superfluous at best and cumbersome at worst. Thankfully, the FJ Cruiser manages to be an entertaining drive around town as well.
Introduced in 2006 as both a nod to the Land Cruiser’s off-roading heritage and a chance to give headaches to Jeep Wranglers, the FJ Cruiser has soldiered on without obvious changes. For 2011, a locking rear differential is standard on six-speed automatic-equipped models, and the FJ Cruiser’s annual Trail Teams Special Edition is available in Army Green with matching trim. That’s about all that’s changed. But change isn’t necessarily a good thing, considering that the FJ Cruiser has survived the collapse of the giants, as burly SUVs like the Hummer have fallen out of vogue and disappeared from the market. Of the hard-core off-roaders, this is perhaps the easiest to live with, considering its permanent hard top and four-door layout. More >
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jan 20th
Although it lacks the iconic status of the Wrangler, Jeep’s Grand Cherokee remains a vital part of the lineup. It’s the Jeep most people are more likely to have met, after all. It’s got the same off-road capable design as anything else with a seven-slot grille, but the comfortable, domesticated Grand Cherokee is most likely to be found prowling the suburbs instead of the backwoods. Its civilized appointments and excellent poor-weather handling have made it a favorite among mid-size SUVs.
In 2004 the Grand Cherokee got a redesign, with an all-new, boxier face, better-handling suspension and the powerful HEMI V8 under the hood. For 2005 this familiar SUV remains the same, with the addition of stability enhancements and slightly improved fuel efficiency. More >
2005 Nissan Pathfinder
Jan 8th
With the introduction of the all-new 2005 Pathfinder, Nissan moves its familiar sport-ute nameplate from the “They still make those?” category to “Gotta have one!” This ground-up redesign returns the Pathfinder to its off-roading roots with a new, truck-based chassis, larger body and a more powerful engine.
As the Frontier has become a mini-Titan, so the Pathfinder is now a mini-Armada. The familial resemblance isn’t accidental; underpinning the Pathfinder is a version of Nissan’s strong truck platform, making this mid-size SUV a direct descendant of the tough Titan pickup and Armada full-size sport-ute. The tougher platform marks a return to the Pathfinder’s roots; long before the SUV craze hit, the Pathfinder was crawling down gnarly trails and making a name for itself. Subsequent years softened the truck up, but the ’05 model is keen to remind you that its name is more than just hype. More >