Latest Car Reviews

Sunday, 21st of March 2010

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4x4s

4x4s rated by performance, ride and handling, build quality and reliability, safety and security, space and practicality plus ownership and value.

Volvo XC60

2009 R-Design - The XC60 R-Design comes in standard and SE trims, both of which provide a plethora of standard equipment to feel every inch the luxury SUV. With strong residual values, competitive pricing and Volvo’s... read more

Kia Sorento

2.2 CRDi 4WD manual - The old Sorento was a tough 4x4 workhorse that could tow a laden horse box up Ben Nevis, almost. But seeking broader appeal the all-new 7-seater Sorento is comfier, quieter, more family orientated and... read more

Audi A4 allroad

3.0 TDI - The A4 Allroad is, on the face of it, something of a conundrum. A high-riding executive estate car, with the extra ground clearance built in to allow it to go off-road, it has to be an idea with limit... read more

Citroen C-Crosser

2.2 HDi DCS - The C-Crosser has quite a high list price, but Citroen dealers are open to negotiation, which will help bring the cost down and offset the heavier depreciation the C-Crosser will experience compared t... read more

Jeep Grand Cherokee

3.0 CRD Overland Auto - Big, butch and mean looking the Jeep Grand Cherokee is one masculine machine and sits just below the Commander as the biggest Jeep on UK roads. It’s also easily the most luxurious Jeep out there. With... read more

Mazda CX-7

- Mazda first launched its Mazda CX-7 crossover – a high-riding family car masquerading as a sports utility vehicle - in 2007. On paper, it had the looks and on-road presence to offer a real alternative... read more

Saab 9-3X

2.0T - Launched at the 2009 Geneva motorshow, the Saab 9-3X is the latest addition to the 9-3 range and, according to Saab, it’s ‘aimed at people with active outdoor lifestyles who don’t want a large and hea... read more

Peugeot 4007

XS Sport 2.2 HDi 156 FAP - The Peugeot 4007 is the very close sibling to the Citroen C-Crosser, its position in the market is that of a crossover SUV – offering plenty of room for five, the potential to squeeze seven at a push,... read more

Toyota Land Cruiser

3.0 D-4D Auto LC5 - Toyota’s now legendary Land Cruisers have always been spacious, rugged, dependable and very capable if somewhat spartan off-roaders. But with the advent of this new fourth-generation Land Cruiser the ... read more

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

5.0 Supercharged - With a supercar-rivalling 503bhp on tap from its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, the Range Rover 5.0 has no problems ticking off 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds. Making something this big and heavy so agile ... read more

Infiniti FX

50S - Nissan has launched its luxury arm in the UK with a five-model line-up. Of those, the biggest, most powerful and priciest variant in the Infiniti range is the FX SUV. Everything about the flagship FX5... read more

BMW X1

xdrive 23d - SUVs aren’t the most popular type of car in these times of heightened environmental awareness - especially in metropolitan areas, where green campaigners have made ownership of one the latest social f... read more

Volvo XC60

DRIVe - Volvo has wrought a number of changes on the XC60 DRIVe to make it cleaner and greener than its standard diesel-engined compact SUV. Most obvious of these is to ditch four-wheel drive in favour of fro... read more

Land Rover Discovery

4 - A new 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, borrowed from Jaguar and retuned by Land Rover to suit their particular needs has transformed the Discovery from merely brilliant to quite possibly the best, most round... read more

Ford Ranger

- Compared to other pick-ups available to private buyers who might want to use the Ranger as a family car, the Ford acquits itself reasonably well. The soft-ish suspension wallows and lurches its way al... read more

Suzuki SX4

1.9 DDis 4 Grip 4WD 5 Door - The SX4 is one of a growing number of models aiming to be all things to all people. Part small family car, part SUV, the SX4 is a great budget alternative while still offering much of the function and... read more

Suzuki Grand Vitara

SZ5 - The name Vitara has been a key component of the Suzuki car offering since the first three door 4x4 Suzuki Vitara’s first appeared on the roads back in 1988 – compact, well built, value for money, fun-... read more

Suzuki Jimny

SZ4 - Mini 4x4s don’t get much smaller than the Jimny. With much of the height of its bigger rivals, the Jimny has the ride and off-road ability of a more sizeable competitor yet with all the impracticaliti... read more

Kia Sorento

2.5 litre CRDi XS - The Kia Sorento is the largest model currently in production from the Korean manufacturer, offering a huge amount of space to comfortably accommodate five adults and still hold plenty of luggage. All ... read more

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

TDV8 HSE - Since its debut in 2005, Land Rover’s most performance-oriented vehicle yet – dubbed a ‘sports tourer’ by the company – had been in consistently high demand, at least until the global recession. With ... read more

Audi Q5

3.0 TDI - Audi’s rise over the last decade or so has been nothing short of phenomenal. The German carmaker has taken on its rivals in the premium segment of the car market – most notably Mercedes-Benz and BMW –... read more

Chevrolet Captiva

Ikon 2.0 LS - The Chevrolet Captiva Ikon is the special edition version of the popular SUV, offering plenty of space and chunky good looks, in an attractive low price package. The special edition Ikon is based on t... read more

Lexus RX

450h SE-L Premium - If ever a car tried to be all things to all men (and women) then it’s the Lexus RX. Part family car, part exec cruiser, part estate and part 4x4 SUV, the new, much-modified RX450h is the third-generat... read more

Volkswagen Touareg

V6 TSI Hybrid - The Touareg has always been known as a slightly bling but sturdy and luxurious SUV. It’s more capable off-road than many a so-called mud plugger and it makes for an excellent towing vehicle. Those mer... read more

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

- A seven-seat car with full off-roading capability, the Mercedes GL-Class is distinctly unfashionable as we all become increasingly aware of climate change and the part played in it by internal combust... read more

Nissan X-Trail

2.0 dCi 150 Aventura - The X-Trail was first launched back in 2001 and was among the first of a new generation of so-called soft-roaders. In 2007 came the all-new X-Trail and, like its predecessor, this model is a lot more ... read more

Renault Koleos

dCi 150 4x4 Auto - French maker Renault has launched a 4x4 alternative called the Koleos. With Renault’s alliance with Nissan, the underpinnings come from the Japanese maker, so when off-reading the new Koleos should pr... read more

Kia Sportage

2.0 CRDi TITAN - The Kia Sportage is a small and pleasant 4x4 that represents a sound choice for those on a modest budget.... read more

Land Rover Range Rover

V8 Vogue SE - Land Rover has given the Range Rover a touch-up for 2009 with new wheel styles, exterior colours and optional wood and leather heated steering wheels to choose from.... read more

Toyota Rav4

2.2 D-4D SR180 - The first RAV4 hit the streets way in 1994. Initially in 3-door guise, it bravely pioneered the still highly popular soft-roader niche. Since then the ‘RAV’ has been completely re-designed twice and g... read more

Kia Sportage

XS 2l CRDI Auto - A fab example of a low cost 4x4 style car which undercuts most rivals on running costs, is generously equipped, and is signified by its’ punchy engine. A must for those families seeking as much car a... read more

Kia Sportage

Volvo XC60

2.4-litre diesel - This vehicle stops you from hitting cars, which are directly in front – pure sci-fi? Actually it’s not. The boffins have developed a Crossover, that uses the latest technology to keep you as safe as... read more

Toyota Land Cruiser

3.0 D-4D 5-door - In recent times 4x4s have become high-rise family estate cars with varying degrees of off-road capability. Toyota’s Land Cruiser is different. Originally launched over 50 years ago, it’s a robust, pur... read more

Subaru Forester

Diesel - Heavily facelifted this year, the Forester has now caught up with the rest of the SUV crowd with the option of a diesel engine. The Japanese brand is boasting top fuel economy with the lowest insuranc... read more

Jeep Patriot

2.0 CRD Limited manual - The Jeep Patriot was launched in the Summer of 2007, at the same time as the similar Jeep Compass. Both models come with the same choice of engines, although the more rugged-looking Patriot costs a £2... read more

Fiat Panda 4x4

1.2 - Need a 4x4 but don’t want to break the bank? Want to get your tyres properly muddy occasionally but don’t wish to be branded as some kind of maniac eco-saboteur? Fiat’s thrifty, diminutive and surpris... read more

Nissan Murano

2009 UK - A few months back we drove the 2009 Nissan Murano in American spec to give you a taste of what was to come…now we have got our hands on the UK version.... read more

Jeep Wrangler

2-door and Unlimited 4-door - The bloodline of the latest Jeep Wrangler can be traced directly back to early World War II. These days it’s still a robust and purposeful workhorse, but it’s now available with four doors – four more... read more

Kia Sorento

2.5 CRDi XS - The Kia Sorento offers generous torque levels and a comfortable and easy ride. Solid build quality and reliability has become a Kia trademark.... read more

Jeep Cherokee

2008 2.8 CRD Auto - An icon is back – Jeep has launched the all new Cherokee and its boxy design is also back. This will please the die hard Jeep fans as the previous generation was too much of a soft roader for their ta... read more

Nissan Murano

2009 US - The 2009 Nissan Murano has grown up and it looks good– we have been able to get into the second generation of the stylish 4x4 on a test in Spain. This car will not be available in the UK until October... read more

BMW X5

- The new BMW X5 is a significant improvement upon the old BMW X5. Featuring an excellent choice of engines, the third row of seats turns the X5 into a genuine seven-seater. The X5 is a capable performe... read more

BMW X6

- The X6 Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) is for drivers who like the high up seating position of the X5 but still want a classic sporty BMW drive and don’t really need the practicality. It may be odd to loo... read more

Audi Q7

- The Audi Q7 is well constructed and offers a smooth ride. However, it is expensive both to buy and run. Large, daring and authoritative – Audi’s first foray into the SUV market will make quite an impa... read more

Ford Kuga

2.0-litre TDCi Titanium - The Ford Kuga is a brand new model for the Blue Oval –known as a crossover SUV it’s the first time that Ford has entered into this segment of the car market. The car is certainly a head-turner but For... read more

Volkswagen Tiguan

2.0 TDI 140 4Motion S - The Tiguan has entered a jam-packed and competitive market but will probably still do well, mainly due to the desirable Volkswagen badge. It doesn’t offer anything dissimilar from the already recogniz... read more

Honda CR-V

2.2 CDTi - The vehicle we tested was the 2.2 CDTi which makes up the majority of the CR-V sales for Honda in the UK.... read more

Kia Sportage

4wd 2.0CRDi XS ME - Despite the credit crunch and the fuel prices off-roaders are still very much in demand – so how do you fancy a budget SUV? Well the Kia Sportage may not be to everyone’s liking but it comes in at und... read more

Volkswagen Touareg

R50 - Power hungry? Then you’ll like the look of this it’s the Volkswagen Touareg R50. It’s worlds apart from the recent Bluemtion range that has been introduced. For instance the Polo Bluemotion is a fruga... read more

BMW X3

2.0d SE - BMW very rarely make mistakes but that is what has happened here. Not up to BMW’s usually high standards, the X3 performs more like a saloon than the compact SUV it purposes to be and the build qualit... read more

Porsche Cayenne

S - The Porsche Cayenne S handles & performs like its classic 911 stable mate but has the space & practicality of a large family run around.... read more