2204cc 16v four, 138bhp @ 4000rpm, 251lb ft @ 2000rpm
Transmission:
Six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Performance:
10.6sec 0-62mph, 112mph, 42.2mpg, 177g/km
How heavy / made of?
1637kg/steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?
4615/1785/1710
Need to know
CAR's rating
3
Handling
3
Performance
2
Usability
4
Feelgood factor
3
Readers' rating
3
Honda CR-V 2.2 CDTi (2006) CAR review
By Jed Maxwell
17 November 2006 09:00
The castrati of SUVs is back, eh?
Steady. The CR-V isn’t the most macho of off-roaders but that hasn’t stopped it being popular. In fact it’s been the market leader for the past few years and given the Land Rover Freelander a girly slap in the process. But you’re right, it looks a bit apologetic for a supposed Freelander rival.
So the CR-V is happy having its SUV credentials laughed at?
Absolutely. The Freelander and BMW’s X3 might seem the obvious rivals but Honda actually benchmarked the CR-V against small executive cars like its own Accord. It sees the the CR-V as simply a more versatile estate car rather than a proper mud-plugger and that’s exactly how buyers see it too: Honda’s research found that 75 per cent of buyers had never taken their cars off road and never planned to. More important to them is the commanding driving position, slideable seats and useful boot. And not being seen as an SUV means side-stepping the hate lobby. With good reason too: the CR-V is actually safer and more environmentally friendly than a Mini Cooper S.
This is Freelander 2, an all-new British-built small premium off-roader, not to mention the successor to the car that kicked off the whole market for such cars. The final Land Rover designed by Geoff Upex before his retirement, Freelander 2 is bigger - 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller - than the old car, faster, better equipped and, yes, more expensive too. A worthy addition to the Land Rover family? Read on to find out.
Under the skin
The new Freelander is just that, new. The body is a conventional steel monocoque constructed from high-strength steel but it’s not light, leading to a total kerbweight of around 1800kg depending on model. Suspension is all-independent by coils and gas dampers, the brakes are relatively large and plusher Freelanders will come with a version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system. Like the Discovery’s and Range Rover’s, it has four modes: general driving, mud and ruts, slippery surfaces and sand and uses electronics to brake each wheel and send torque wherever suits.
Jeep Wrangler information: everything you need to know if you own a Jeep Wrangler, are thinking of buying one or just want to find out more about the Wrangler. Click on the links below for all of CAR Magazine’s news, reviews, videos, scoops and spy photos of the Jeep Wrangler car range. We list the top 10 stories for each model – and where appropriate you can click on ‘More’ to browse even more of our archive content.
The Jeep Wrangler is the real heart of Jeep DNA: a classic, go-anywhere, no mod cons sort of 4x4. America’s Land Rover Defender, if you will. For more information on the Jeep Wrangler, click on our further stories on the links below.
This is Freelander 2, an all-new British-built small premium off-roader, not to mention the successor to the car that kicked off the whole market for such cars. The final Land Rover designed by Geoff Upex before his retirement, Freelander 2 is bigger - 50mm longer, 109mm wider and 32mm taller - than the old car, faster, better equipped and, yes, more expensive too. A worthy addition to the Land Rover family? Read on to find out.
Under the skin
The new Freelander is just that, new. The body is a conventional steel monocoque constructed from high-strength steel but it’s not light, leading to a total kerbweight of around 1800kg depending on model. Suspension is all-independent by coils and gas dampers, the brakes are relatively large and plusher Freelanders will come with a version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system. Like the Discovery’s and Range Rover’s, it has four modes: general driving, mud and ruts, slippery surfaces and sand and uses electronics to brake each wheel and send torque wherever suits.
CAR Reviews
Click Thumbnails to Enlarge
Statistics
How much?
£22,595
On sale in the UK:
now
Engine:
3778cc, 12v, V6, 202bhp @ 5,000rpm, 237lb ft @ 4,000rpm
Transmission:
six-speed manual or four-speed auto, two or four wheel drive
Performance:
est. 8.8 sec 0-60mph, 112mph, 22MPG, CO2 N/A
How heavy / made of?
1969kg / ladder chassis, open steel
How big (length/width/height in mm)?
4404/1877/1801
Need to know
CAR's rating
3
Handling
2
Performance
4
Usability
4
Feelgood factor
3
Readers' rating
2
Jeep Wrangler 3.8 (2006) CAR review
By James Foxall
30 August 2006 11:05
Jeep's most agricultural model looks the same as ever. Has anything changed?
Jeep's design boffins confusingly tell you that the new Wrangler is exactly the same but totally different to the previous model. In translation, that means it looks much the same as the model they derived from the war-time Willys Jeep, and it shares the same rugged utilitarian principles. But under the skin they've worked hard to make it more user friendly and better on-road. They've even given top models two more doors and a removable roof, making it the only production four-door convertible currently on sale.
Are you saying it’s gone all girly on us?
No. The four-door Unlimited model looks like a mini-Hummer from some angles. And they still want it to be one of the most capable off-roaders in the world so they've worked hard at improving its talents in that department. They've added uprated transfer cases, new electric axle locks and an electronic disconnecting sway bar, as well as increasing the ground clearance and giving it larger wheels and tyres.
