Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged serious 4×4
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 >
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 >