Off-roaders and Pickups

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Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The best buys and the ones to avoid for the off-roader and pickup market in 2006....

The Best

OUR PICK

Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento has been a remarkable success ever since it went on sale two years ago and while others have entered the fray in the meantime, it still hangs onto it’s top-five spot on account of its remarkable value and high standard specification.

The Sorento is a seriously chunky and attractive off-roader that has an appealing interior and actually drives pretty well too, thanks to a multi-link suspension front and rear.

It’s also particularly good value, starting at a smidge under €39,995.

For that you get a 138 bhp, 2.5-litre common-rail turbo diesel, air-con, alloys and self-levelling rear suspension.

The GSE model costs an extra €4,800 and includes cruise control, heated leather seats and an electric sunroof, which isn’t as good value.

Stick to the basic model and residuals should hold up pretty well for the Sorrento.

This is good news as buying an expensive vehicle from a young brand like Kia can be hit or miss.

Nissan Navara
Nissan’s new Navara is a world away from the old model, probably the vilest thing on wheels you could buy until recently.

New pickup looks great, stealing everything forward of the B-pillars from the €60k Pathfinder, but adding a chunky and versatile pickup rear end.

It also drives pretty well and rides better than the Pathfinder despite its leaf-spring rear axle.

Power is from Nissan’s new 172 bhp 2.5-litre dCi four-cylinder diesel which bestows reasonable pep on the hefty truck.

The specification is generous with AWD, remote locking, an alarm, side-bars, 16-inch alloys, climate control, a leather steering wheel and a fold-flat passenger seat as standard.

LE comes loaded with 17-inch wheels, side airbags, rain-sensing wipers, trip computer, cruise control, front fogs, a 6-CD changer and tinted rear windows.

The €34,995 SE Double Cab is all the truck you need, but the LE is only €2,700 extra and worth the extra if you can stretch that far.

Suzuki Grand Vitara
The all-new Grand Vitara is longer, wider, more spacious and a lot better looking than its ancient predecessor.

The new three-door Vitara is powered by an extremely tax and insurance-friendly 105 hp 1.6-litre engine, while the five-door petrol model uses a 138 bhp 2.0-litre engine or a 127 bhp, 1.9-litre, Renault-sourced, common-rail turbo-diesel.

All Vitaras have a multi-link rear suspension, climate control, electric windows, CD player, remote locking, side and curtain airbags and 17-inch alloys.

The five-door model adds heated electric mirrors, alloy wheels and front fog lamps.

Three-door models have permanent four-wheel drive, though no centre differential lock making it more suitable for on-road use.

The five-door has a diff lock and a low range transfer case for more serious off-roading.

The Grand Vitara three-door is priced at just €25,495, while the five-door petrol is €31,995 and the diesel is €34,995.

Toyota Rav4
The all-new Rav4 boasts a bigger, stiffer platform and is more refined and comfortable than ever.

The three-door model is gone now while the five-door grows to push the Rav4 more upmarket.

Double-wishbone rear suspension works well for on-road handling though it’s still capable off-road.

AWD system is ‘On-Demand’ so the rear wheels don’t engage unless the Rav’s computer senses wheel-slip, hard cornering or you want to make a quick getaway.

Three engines are available from launch: a 150bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine, and two 2.2-litre diesels developing either 134bhp or 175bhp.

Standard equipment will include alloy wheels, air conditioning, knee airbags and fold-flat rear seats.

Toyota Land Cruiser
The current Land Cruiser was a remarkable leap forward for Toyota in terms of styling, refinement and interior design.

The ride and refinement is class-leading, while the 165 bhp 3.0-litre D4-D engine does a fine job of pulling this large off-roader along.

It’s steering and brakes are amongst the class best, too, and there’s plenty of space inside.

It’s such a good 4X4, in fact, it’s sold as a Lexus in the US, although there it’s V8-powered.

The somewhat cheap interior plastics and the popularity of van derivatives detract from the upscale image that the Land Cruiser enjoys in other markets, but that still shouldn’t put you off buying one.

Short wheelbase models make no sense, and while the entry-level LWB model costs €63,985, the eight-seater range topper with an auto box is only €4,300 more so go for that.

The Rest

Honda CR-V – Fine soft-roader but bested now by the new Rav4. Engine range isn’t expansive enough to be properly competitive in Ireland.

Nissan Pathfinder – Despite more sophisticated suspension than the Navara it doesn’t ride as well and feels heavy through the corners. Expensive, too.

Mitsubishi Pajero - Good looking, refined and nice to drive, the Pajero is well-equipped but pretty expensive. SWB diesels are the best option.

Land Rover Freelander – Getting on a bit but prestigious and upmarket with nice on-road manners. Buy cheap, though, because new model is coming soon.

Toyota Hi-Lux – New model is coming and is considerably better than the old model, though not as well finished or as nice to steer as Nissan.

Hyundai Terracan – Nice to drive with a rapid common-rail 2.9 diesel, but the styling is drab and the interior is cheap.

Hyundai Santa Fe - Deservedly popular due to excellent value and decent specification. Styling is, um, challenging.

Jeep Cherokee – Good looking and capable off road, its on-road manners aren’t too bad either. It’s not cheap and the diesel’s a bit rough, though.

Kia Sportage – Hyundai Tuscon sister is cuter but Kia offers more kit. More to the point, the Hyundai name and dealer network is better established in Ireland.

Hyundai Tuscon – Pleasant little SUV that suffers from a lack of air-conditioning (standard sunroof is a cheap cop-out) and a surprisingly high price.

Mitsubishi Outlander – Soft-roader from Mitsubishi has limited appeal with only one engine and transmission option. Clearly a US import.

Subaru Forester – Drives well and is surprisingly competent off road, but the facelift was a botch-job and the engine range is too limited.

Avoid

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport - Good looks hide ‘olde worlde’ interior, choppy ride and dire dynamics.

Opel Frontera - It was off the pace when it was new, and that was a loooong time ago. New model soon. Run.

Nissan Terrano - Remember the Ford Maverick? Me neither. Nissan won’t let its twin sister die with dignity.

Nissan Patrol – We’re still waiting for the new model to come along so lets point and laugh at the old one while we wait.

Tata Safari- Indian-made rubbish. Buy this and we’ll come round and hurt you.

Isuzu Trooper - Aptly named Trooper soldiers on despite age. Should be a retired General by now.

Daewoo Musso - It drives as well as it looks. Really, it does.

Ssangyong Rexton - Fab looks and steep price suggest a nice car. Don’t believe it. It’s slow, loud and awful to drive!

Daihatsu Terios - It’s reliable… and that’s about it. Get a mountain bike instead!

Suzuki Jimny - Avoid corners, rain and bumps in the Jimny and you’ll be fine.

Mazda B2500/Ford Ranger - Mazda/Ford siblings with late 80’s interior and late 30’s dynamics.

Subaru Legacy Outback - Body cladding and jacked-up suspension on a Legacy? Just stick to the Forester.

Honda HR-V – Prices have been slashed but there’s still no earthly reason to buy this silly, underpowered soft-roader.

Mazda Tribute - It neither looks tough or is tough and the interior is also surprisingly grim. Not for Ireland, really.

Jeep Wrangler – Nothing beats it off-road but it’s a lot of work on a wet roundabout. Ancient and feels it.

Mitsubishi Pajero Pinin – Tiny off-roader is old, expensive and redefines ‘pointless’.

Land Rover Defender - Rough as a bear’s posterior to drive on the road, but your only tool for serious off-roading.

Nissan X-Trail - The X-Trail’s still got the nicest interior in the business, but boxy looks are out and the diesel is a rough lump.

Suzuki SX4 –Small SX4 4X4 is based on the Swift platform, designed by Giugiaro and built in Suzuki’s Hungarian plant for the European market. Rather pointless though.

Fiat Sedici – Essentially the same as the Suzuki SX4, the Sedici is no less pointless and not as handsome

Mitsubishi L200 – Not bad for a pickup but the Navara does it better so much better it makes the L200 seem like a wheelbarrow.

Isuzu LT - Revised Isuzu runs the L200 close for second-best pickup but since when was second best good enough?