Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged 4×4
2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab
Jan 8th
Not many people have a use for a piece of equipment as serious as one of Ford’s Super Duty pickup trucks. That doesn’t stop plenty of people who don’t need ‘em from buying them, of course, but that’s between them and their credit cards. For the Super Duty’s many loyal, hard-working customers, Ford has introduced a round of revisions and updates that should keep the Super Duty on top of the best-seller list.
Before we noticed the new design and refinements to our test truck, however, we noticed the color. This just might be one of the most overwhelmingly yellow vehicles ever built. The hue is called “Screaming Yellow,” to be specific. Unfortunately you can’t get this cool color unless you’re in Texas, Colorado or California; it’s part of the special “Amarillo” edition, of which just 1500 will be built. Luckily, the rest of the new Super Duty’s good points are available to all. More >
2005 Land Rover LR3 HSE
Dec 31st
It’s not hard to imagine the all-new Land Rover LR3 as a simple appliance. Get one in basic white or upscale silver and park it at the back of the garage between the full-suspension mountain bike and the carbon-fiber kayak. “That? Oh, that’s our LR3,” owners would say. “We use it when we have to go someplace that our SUV can’t.”
Looking like an avant-garde refrigerator (and not in a bad way), the LR3 replaces the Discovery in Land Rover’s U.S. lineup. Overseas, it’s still called the Discovery, but apparently Land Rover’s U.S. arm preferred the technical sound of the alphanumeric name. This all new mid-size sport-ute is a true seven-seater, and ditches the Discovery’s solid axles in favor of a smoother-riding independent suspension. Don’t worry, though, Land Rover isn’t going soft on us. The LR3 just might be more capable off-road than its rugged predecessor, and it could take days to describe each and every feature of this Swiss Army truck. We’ll just hit the highlights. More >
2006 Jeep Commander
Dec 31st
When designing its new large SUV, Jeep knew it had to back up the vehicle with some obvious heritage. After all, the venerable Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Range Rover would likely be among its competitors, size-wise and ability-wise. Taking inspiration from the Grand Wagoneer was the obvious choice; that V8-powered off-roader is almost as much of an icon as the Wrangler. Unfortunately, wood paneling just isn’t fashionable these days. With a modern-day Wagoneer out, Jeep moved on to its next most-recognizable product, and that’s why the 2006 Commander bears more than a passing resemblance to the Cherokee of the 1980s.
Slotting into the lineup above the Grand Cherokee but not much bigger physically, the Commander is large and luxurious without sacrificing Jeep’s “Trail Rated” off-roading capabilities. Three-row seating offers seven-passenger capacity, and while it’s still a truck at heart, the Commander offers a decent amount of luxury as well. More >