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Jane Hyde

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The Grand Vitara may have given way to a smarter, smoother newcomer, but the veteran Suzuki still has value as a family car with true off-road ability

 TARGET RANGE:  £3,000 – £20,000 

Just as the Grand Vitara seamlessly replaced the original Vitara in 1998, a new Vitara has arrived to replace the Grand Vitara. The new Vitara is safer and much more efficient than the Grand Vitara, but it’s also considerably smaller, so while anyone wishing to buy a modern compact SUV might consider a new Vitara as an alternative to, say, a Nissan Juke or a Vauxhall Mokka, there’s still good reason why an adventurous family might prefer the more spacious – not to mention more off-road-capable – Grand Vitara. The original Grand Vitara was not the most refined of vehicles, but succeeded because it met its design brief as a logical step up for the young-at-heart enthusiasts who had so enjoyed the boy-racer Vitara and needed to move up into a more practical family car, yet one that offered similarly competent off-road capability. The rough edges were honed away for the all-new car for the 2005 model year, which brought the Suzuki more in line with key rivals with improved style, much better refinement and a more comfortable, capacious interior, though it retained the dual-personality approach of having a racier-styled three-door alternative to the more mainstream five-door estate, neatly appealing to younger buyers as well as family users. The new model did away with the separate ladder-frame chassis, opting instead for a lighter unitary body with integral underfloor reinforcement. This made it stiffer, combining with the all-independent suspension to give it a more comfortable and refined quality of ride, while losing none of its off-road ability. Safety features were also improved, all models incorporating side and curtain airbags as well as airbags for driver and passenger.

The engine choice was interesting in view of the moderate 1600cc capacity of the new Vitara; the 2005 model featured a 1600cc 16-valve petrol engine in the three-door, though with only 105bhp compared with the 118bhp of the modern Vitara engine. Fortunately the heavier five-door was equipped with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, developing an adequate 126bhp, and this could be chosen with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. All versions had four-wheel drive, a more advanced system than the simple selectable arrangement in the old Vitara. It is a permanent system in that drive is normally directed to the rear wheels – it’s an oddball arrangement in an era when most compact cars have transverse-mounted engines driving the front wheels – while a torque-sensing limited slip centre differential adds drive to the front wheels if a rear wheel loses traction. Oddly, although the three-door is styled for fun and adventure, a petrol-engined version isn’t the best choice as an off-road funster because it doesn’t have low-range gearing. Turbodiesel versions have the same drive train as the five-door which does have low range, with a dash-mounted turnwheel that allows the centre diff to be locked and low range to be selected.

The DDiS turbodiesel became available in the five-door for the 2006 model year; this was a Renault-sourced common-rail unit with similar power to the 2.0-litre petrol engine, but more low-rev torque. The three-door gained turbodiesel power from 2007.

The first major upgrade was during 2009 when the turbodiesel engine was worked over to improve its efficiency, returning a claimed 41.5mpg in the five-door, compared with the 36.7mpg of the original, and CO2 emissions of 179g/km rather than the original engine’s 205g/km. At the same time the 2.0-litre petrol engine was replaced by a more powerful and smoother-revving 2.4-litre unit, which had its refinement enhanced by a balancer shaft. An Electronic Stability Programme was also introduced to all versions.

This was followed by a ‘facelift’ during 2010 which proved to be more of a nip and tuck to the rear – the advertising blurb referred to the latest models having a cleaner and more sophisticated bodyline at the rear giving the Grand Vitara a more urban look together with a 200mm reduction in overall length.’ What it actually meant was that they’d removed the tailgate-mounted spare – resulting in the 200mm reduction in length – and replaced it with ‘a tyre repair sealant and inflationary device.’ Obviously buyers looking at a car of this age will need to balance the lack of a spare against the possibility of buying an older car with a proper spare.

Perhaps the oddest development of all was the reinstatement of a ‘proper’ spare wheel for the facelift for 2013 – a temporary-use tyre on a steel wheel, not much use as a replacement for a mud terrain tyre damaged on an off-roading outing. This final upgrade, aimed obviously at improving the car’s image to ensure continued popularity before the model went out of production, saw new front and rear bumpers and a slightly revised interior with new seat trims and a more sophisticated infotainment system.

 Our verdicts 

We were somewhat ambivalent about the new Grand Vitara on our first encounter. In our December 2005 issue our debut report on the car praised the tidier, sleeker styling and smarter, more comfortable interior but bemoaned the mediocre performance from the lacklustre engines. It may, even 10 years ago, have been an emissions thing but the lustier 155-horse 2.5 V6 wasn’t officially imported to the UK. We said of the seemingly advanced VVT (variable valve timing) 1.6 16v engine in the 3-door: ‘Although initially free-revving and lending a nippiness to what is a daily runabout, it feels more like a 1200cc, with the 105bhp struggling to peak at 5900rpm, and the lowly 107lb ft of torque reflected in a harsh tone through the revs.’ We were no more excited by the 2.0-litre engine in the 5-door: ‘Thankfully this has more refined acoustics, but propelling the extra weight of the 5-door it feels noticeably underpowered and, shown an incline, labours to find all its 138 horses.’ Horses for courses, as ever, since we had no complaint about the fuel consumption, better than 30mpg in both cases, and we also liked the five-speed manual gearbox: ‘A saving grace is the remarkably positive feel of the gearshift that helps unlock what little strength both engines might be hiding, unlike the optional four-speed automatic on the 2.0-litre which jumps between ratios in a demented fashion.’

We mostly liked the interior: ‘The improvement in quality is pronounced, with a sharper, more youthful design highlighted by graphite-effect plastic trim on the centre console, around the three-dial instrument readout and on the door pulls. The shiny rectangular chrome bezel around the gear lever is singularly out of place, but the driving position is easy to get on with, with good knee clearance and plenty of pedal space.’ Ultimately it came down to money: ‘Suzuki’s key element has to be its pricing, but with established rivals like the Toyota Rav4 and the Korean surge of cars like the Kia Sportage, it isn’t going to be easy.’

It was only natural, then, that we should put that comment to the test. When we eventually got our hands on a UK specification car, which coincided with the arrival of the DDiS turbodiesel engine, we pitted it in a three-way shootout with the RAV4 in XT5 2.2 D-4D form and a Sportage 2.0 CRD XE. And we were right to suggest it wouldn’t be an easy match for the Suzuki. Bearing in mind that the Toyota was over £8000 more expensive than either of the others, our verdict said: ‘The RAV4 is a great on-roader, but the price lets it down. The Grand Vitara doesn’t offer quite the value for money you’d expect at around £17,000. After many years in limbo it’s a shame how downmarket the new Suzuki feels. Top honours have to go to the Kia. It has the least power and the least desirable badge of our trio, but all-round performance is good, and practicality is unchallenged.’

We’d still rate the Grand Vitara as being underpowered and less refined than its class rivals, but that doesn’t mean we dislike the car. In one area it proved its worth as a reasonably priced but competent alternative – off-road. In our January 2008 issue we reported on a Welsh off-road adventure with a turbodiesel three-door. We wrote: ‘It was apparent that a potential weak spot is the large plastic front and rear bumpers. It would be so easy to catch one of these on an obstacle and cause some expensive cosmetic damage. On the upside, the air intake for the engine is at the top of the grille, meaning that water would have to be very deep to cause mechanical damage. Ground clearance looked limited but there was nothing vulnerable hanging down. With the Suzuki in low box we tackled the rutted green lane.

‘Ground clearance was a limiting factor, requiring a careful choice of line especially through Land Rover-sized ruts where it would have been easy to become high-centred. Other than this, the Grand Vitara impressed on a tricky route on standard road tyres. Low range first gear allowed snail’s pace driving around rocks and ruts without kangarooing. It was a practical test proving that if you want an economical diesel country car with more off-road capability than some of its rivals, the Grand Vitara is definitely one to consider.”

 Which one to buy 

The original range was limited with the 1.6 16v three-door, from a pricing point of view, being the entry-level model, but like the 2.0 16v five-door it had impressive convenience and comfort equipment including remote central locking, electric windows, a stereo with steering wheel-mounted controls and climate control air conditioning. The ‘+’ version has alloy wheels, heated door mirrors and driving lamps. The automatic, originally available only with the 2.0-litre petrol engine, added around £1500 to the purchase price. Though priced at a budget level to begin with, even the base Grand Vitaras have held their value well, so you could still be paying £2000 for a good-condition but high-mileage 10-year old example, more like £3000 for anything with under 100,000 on the clock; a rare find was the red 55,000-mile 1.6 SE 3-door, MOT to September, a bargain at £2650, priced to clear at Trade Sales of Bristol (07789 003322). Hut Green Garage of Eggborough (01977 661055) had a 2006 2.0-litre five-door, 89,000 miles but a well-maintained one-owner car with stainless steel bull bar on offer at £2990.

A high-specification model, the X-EC, joined the range for 2008, boasting cruise control, unique Azure Grey Pearl metallic paint with silver roof rails, 10-spoke 17-inch alloys, silver bonnet trim and black side mouldings. The Alcantara upholstery and leather-trimmed steering wheel added a touch of opulence, as did the enhanced satnav and the electric sunroof. Dubizzel of Wembley (07716 181816) were offering a pristine 2009 example, a well maintained 26,000-miler  – a real one lady owner car – for £8495, MOT to Feb 2016 and a three-month warranty.

The range expanded with SZ3 as the lower-end trim, though this did include an enhanced stereo with speed-sensitive volume control; expect to pay around £6000 for a clean reasonable-mileage 2009 or 2010 3-door. The SZ4 and range-topping SZ5 have 18-inch alloys, front driving lamps, an in-dash 6-disc autochanger and heated leather seats. Farrell of Glasgow (01418 914999) were offering a metallic grey 2010 SZ4 with the 1.9 DDiS engine and 45,000 miles for £8700, a car in excellent condition with metallic paint and tow bar, full dealer history, a year’s MOT and six month’s warranty. The SZ5 also has cruise control, high-end stereo, electric sunroof and keyless start and used prices will be keen to match; Arnold Clark of Bishopbriggs (01413 059411) were offering a silver one-owner car on a 61 plate and 31,000 miles at a sale price of £11,500.
Look out for the limited edition SZ-T, based on the five-door 1.9DDiS but with a different design of 18-inch alloys, contrasting seat fabric, bonnet side vents and turn signal lamps built into the door mirrors. Significantly, this has a tailgate-mounted spare, along with the cruise control and keyless start features. Only 500 were made so they’ll be rare second-hand, London Road Car Sales of Romford (01708 320310) had a black metallic 2012 example with 34,000 miles, in mint condition with a year’s MOT and 6 months’ warranty for £12,499.

Naturally the DDiS versions will be the most desirable if economy is important, but the 2.4 petrol version does add almost sporty driving excitement to the Grand Vitara SUV equation, pay £6000 for an early 2009 SZ4 five-door, £11,000 for a low-mileage 2012 3-door.

With dealers keen to shift the last remaining stocks of Grand Vitara to make way for the new Vitara, look out for good deals on nearly new cars, in particular pre-registered cars that haven’t yet sold. There aren’t that many around, but dealers are knocking around £1500 off the list price on some examples. Sturgess of Leicester (01164 161032) were offering a 2.4 SZ5 5-door, with just 25 miles on it, for £20,000 (list price £21,570), Heathrow Suzuki (01784 335969) were offering a three-door 1.6 SZ3, a pre-registered car but new with just 20 miles on it, for £14,499, again nearly £1500 off the list price, Norton Way of Letchworth (01462 754424) had a DDiS SZ5 with 50 miles at £20,495 against the new list price of £23,875.

ENGINE DRIVETRAIN CHASSIS BODY AND INTERIOR
One advantage of an engine that isn’t tuned for performance is that long-term reliability is enhanced, so there aren’t many common failures on any of the Grand Vitara power plants, though it’s worth checking for leaks or squeaks from the water pump, particularly on the turbodiesel, because a seized pump can strip the timing belt and cause serious damage. On the diesels it’s worth changing the water pump along with the regular timing belt change just to be sure. With newer diesels fitted with diesel particulate filters make sure the engine revs freely and pulls strongly, a clogged filter can be ridiculously expensive to replace.
There don’t appear to be any common faults with either the manual or automatic transmissions, so it’s a matter of general checks such as making sure the manual selects gears smoothly, any crunching suggests wear to the synchromesh – particularly on cars that have been used for towing, where the mild engine performance might have required many a snatched downshift under load. The clutch might also have taken a beating on a car used for towing – the Grand Vitara is rated to pull up to two tonnes, which is quite a lot for a small-engined compact – so check the clutch takes up progressively and there isn’t excessive pedal movement. Automatics tend to hunt between gears to cope with the mild power output of the petrol engine, but the changes shouldn’t be jerky or accompanied by significant clonking or shunting from the propshafts.
Check the brakes for excessive scoring of the discs, which might indicate that the car’s been used off-road – not necessarily a bad thing since it’s designed for the purpose, but there might be other damage to sills and bumpers that may have been disguised under filler and paint. The rear brakes on the 1.6 are drums, it’s worth checking the condition of the shoes which may be well worn on an older car – an MOT will confirm that the handbrake works, but it won’t tell you if the linings are down to their last useful millimetre. Reject a car that knocks or rattles when running over potholes, it could just be worn bushes but replacing ball joints can be expensive.
Some of the interior plastics were still of a cheap ’n cheerful nature, so may show more than average evidence of wear and tear – check for signs that scuffs and scratches have been disguised by colour polish. If you’re going for one of the 2010-on models lacking a spare wheel make sure that the sealant and inflation kit is still intact – the previous owner might have used it and forgotten to replace it. On an earlier car with a tailgate-mounted spare, make sure the door opens and closes cleanly and hasn’t sagged on its hinges. Check that all electrical items work properly.

 Or you could consider… 

Kia SportageSubaru ForesterSsangyong Korando


Even in its earlier guise the Sportage is worth considering, because it offered excellent value for money with good equipment and a comfortable five-seater interior, not to mention the seven-year warranty that should still apply to nearly new used examples. It’s more practical than the Grand Vitara in having a clever ‘fold and dive’ arrangement that has the rear seats folding down to floor level, a failing in the Suzuki where the rear seats don’t fold all the way. Pricing of second-hand examples is roughly at the same level as the Suzuki, a reflection of the Kia’s growing reputation for reliability. The revised model from 2010 is more stylish in an urban SUV way, also bigger and with more powerful and refined engines. Not as competent off-road as the Grand Vitara since it lacks low range gearing.

On the basis that anyone considering a Grand Vitara isn’t necessarily looking for something with cutting-edge modern styling, may we suggest a Forester as a conservatively styled but much more practical alternative? With its boxer engines even without bags of power the Forester is also a good car to drive; refinement, build quality and interior appointments outclass the Suzuki even in the earlier generations. The new model for 2008 included a lusty boxer diesel engine, but reliability isn’t as good as it should be so we’d recommend sticking with the tried and trusted petrol units. The Subaru is also very competent in off-road conditions, with particularly comfortable ride quality over rough surfaces. You might have to pay a bit more than you would for a Grand Vitara, but it could be worth it.

Perhaps unfair to include this as an option for anyone looking for a budget-priced older car to use as an off-road plaything, because it’s only been around for five years, lacks low-range gearing and you’ll need at least £10,000 to get into an early example. However, while it can’t match the Suzuki as an off-roader the Giugiaro-designed five-door estate makes a stylish, comfortable, economical and good-performing road-biased family SUV; another positive point is the 250,000-mile warranty, something for the high-mileage user to take into account if considering a nearly-new car. Don’t just jump into the first one you see in your price range, because most will be two-wheel drive versions, so do make sure you’re getting one of the rarer 4x4s. Go for a post-2012 example with the revised more efficient 2.0-litre turbodiesel.

1146814_95108lrover_500k evoque cheerLand Rover is celebrating the production of its 500,000th Range Rover Evoque at Halewood, just over four years after deliveries of the luxury compact SUV commenced.

Evoque is the fastest-selling and most successful Land Rover ever produced, having become the quickest to reach the half-a-million vehicle production landmark.

One in every three Land Rovers sold around the world is an Evoque and strong global demand ensures the production line at Halewood is in operation 24 hours a day, with a new vehicle coming off the line every 80 seconds.

Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Land Rover, said: “Evoque has been a huge success for Land Rover winning more than 165 international awards, bringing new customers to the brand and evolving to stay ahead of the competition. With our bold new Evoque Convertible we have broadened the range and will attract even more new customers to the brand.”

The completion of the 500,000th Evoque is the latest in a series of Land Rover production milestones achieved recently. In April 2015, Land Rover celebrated its 6,000,000th vehicle sold – a specially manufactured Range Rover Vogue SE LWB fitted with unique puddle lamp designs to mark the occasion.

In June 2015, Land Rover marked the 2,000,000th Series Land Rover and Defender vehicle with a bespoke model assembled by key figures from the legendary 4×4’s past. It was auctioned at Bonhams auction house in London, UK, on 16 December to raise funds for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Born Free Foundation, fetching £400,000 to be shared equally between both charities.

First UK customer deliveries of the new Evoque Convertible will be in June this year with prices starting from £47,500 for the HSE Dynamic.

1144565_Maserati Levante (2)Maserati’s first SUV receives its eagerly-awaited world unveiling at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show

Maserati reveals the exterior form of the Levante, the first SUV in the brand’s more than one hundred year history: the new model completes the existing range of saloon and sports cars, extending the offering together with the Quattroporte, Ghibli, GranTurismo and GranCabrio models.

The design of the Levante features clear associations with the Maserati brand and its distinctive Italian character: the aggressive front introduces new, tapered headlights separated into two elements, with the upper headlight unit connected to the radiator grille. Maserati’s design signature is clearly visible on the sides: the three iconic air vents on the front wings, the trapezoidal C-pillar with the “Saetta” logo and the large, frameless door windows. The rear is dominated by the very tapered back window and streamlined shape, both typical of a high-performance sports car.

At a technical level, the Levante’s chassis is designed to combine the outstanding on-road performance typical of every Maserati with unrivalled handling even on very low-grip surfaces and an excellent off-road performance and ride. The new SUV boasts a high level of content as standard, with all versions featuring : sophisticated electronic suspension with controlled damping and air springs, which can be set on several levels, “Q4” intelligent all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic transmission specially calibrated for the brand’s new SUV.

When it comes to power units, the Levante is equipped with both petrol and diesel engines that are all Euro6-compliant.

The Maserati Levante is built at the Mirafiori plant in Turin; the first cars have already come off the assembly line with the launch planned for this spring in Europe, to be followed by the rest of the world later this year.

1139631_120216-daciaCar buyers can now make their money go further with the latest finance offers from Dacia – offering customers deposit contributions of up to £750 across its award-winning model range.

The Dacia Dimensions PCP offers ensure that vehicles from the UK’s best value car brand are now even more affordable and are available on selected Ambiance specification models as well as the Laureate dCi 90 version of the Logan MCV.

As an extra bonus, customers who take advantage of the offers also enjoy complete peace-of-mind for five years with a complimentary five-year/60,000 mile warranty on their new Dacia – the free cover worth £395 when bought separately.

So successful has Dacia proved in its goals that it was ranked number one brand for value for money in the 2015 Auto Express Driver Power survey and rated first for overall brand satisfaction in Which? Car Guide 2015/16.

Rugged, spacious and comfortable, the multi award-winning Duster is perfect for cost-conscious SUV buyers. Customers of the already keenly priced Dacia Duster Ambiance dCi 110 4×2 will receive a £750 dealer deposit contribution towards its tempting £11,995 price tag.

Motorists keen to join the ever-growing number of people driving a compact crossover will find that the Sandero Stepway is now even more appealing, the purposeful looking Ambiance TCe 90 versioncoming with a £500 dealer deposit contribution against the recommended retail price of £8,395 when bought through the Dimensions PCP package.

For even more peace of mind and representing even greater value, customers can upgrade from the complimentary five-year/60,000 mile warranty to a 7-year/100,000 mile warranty for a one-off fee of just £395 RRP – a saving of £455 over the usual price2.

For more information about Dacia’s model range, current offers and full terms and conditions visit www.dacia.co.uk/offers

1143329_VX_15047Vauxhall’s new Mokka X, which reaches UK showrooms late this year, debuts at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show with a fresh interior and exterior design, a new powertrain and featuring OnStar and Apple CarPlay.

With over half a million sold in Europe and nearly 100,000 in the UK, Mokka has seen huge success since its launch in 2012. The Mokka’s compact size (4.28m long), sporty looks and elevated seating position having wowed customers looking for an affordable SUV.

Incorporating cues from Vauxhall’s new design philosophy, the new Mokka X will be the first model to introduce the “X” segment identifier for future Vauxhall SUV and crossover vehicles.

The Mokka X’s bold new look is thanks to work carried out by a design team led by Brit Mark Adams. Its new front treatment is aligned with Vauxhall’s new design philosophy including a wing-shaped horizontal front grille and the dominant, sharp double-wing signature of the LED daytime running lights. At the rear is another double wing signature highlighted in the tail lamps, with LED technology an option. Vibrant new colours such as ‘Amber Orange’ and ‘Lava Red’ will also be available. On the inside, the Mokka X has a completely new dashboard inspired by the new Astra.

After introducing the much-lauded 1.6-litre ‘Whisper Diesel’ engine last year, the Mokka range is now extended further to include a new generation 1.4-litre Direct Injection Turbo (152PS) petrol unit which first appeared in the Astra. With a six-speed automatic transmission, adaptive all-wheel drive and start/stop, this Mokka achieves 42.8mpg* and CO2 emissions of 154g/km*.

In addition to the AWD system, Vauxhall engineers have once again made innovative technology available to a broad group of customers by introducing LED Adaptive Forward Lighting headlamps. The new AFL LED system adapts the headlights’ lighting patterns automatically to the driving situation so that the best possible light performance is given without dazzling other road users.

1142823_Kia Niro - Exterior 4The all-new Kia Niro will make its European debut at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show (86 Salon International de l’Automobile) on 1 March. An all-new low-emissions hybrid crossover, the Niro marks the development of Kia’s first dedicated eco-car platform.

The Kia Niro will offer the practicality and kerbside appeal of a spacious crossover, together with the high fuel efficiency of an advanced hybrid powertrain. Engineered from the ground up as a dedicated hybrid vehicle, its attractive, modern design will help the car stand out among conservatively-styled hybrid rivals.

The Niro’s all-new platform has been engineered in isolation from existing Kia models, and is designed to accommodate a specific set of environmentally-conscious technologies and next-generation powertrains. While the Niro’s hybrid powertrain – made up of a 1.6-litre GDI (gasoline direct injection) engine, lithium-ion polymer battery pack, 32 kW electric motor and six-speed double-clutch transmission – is under development, Kia’s engineers are targeting CO2 emissions of 89 g/km*.

Michael Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Kia Motors Europe, commented, “The Kia Niro will offer buyers a compelling blend of crossover practicality with the cool, modern styling for which Kia is famous, and an efficient new hybrid powertrain to keep running costs down. The Niro fills a gap in the market for a crossover with typically low hybrid emissions, and will appeal to a broad range of European buyers.”

Cole added: “Hybrid sales have more than doubled in Europe over the last five years, and are forecast to account for around 700,000 sales in Europe by 2020. The Niro will allow Kia to meet this growing demand for alternatively-fuelled vehicles, and help us meet our 2020 global target to improve average fleet fuel efficiency by 25% over 2014 levels.”

1142878_PEUGEOT_2008_1802STYP001

PEUGEOT 2008 is now taking on an even more assertive, powerful and appealing SUV design. Its wheel arch extensions (from Allure level), new vertical front grille and scuff plates (from Allure level) confirm its robustness, designed for everyday use. The new Ultimate Red colour further epitomises the power and desirability of the new 2008. The Access, Active and Allure levels are complemented by the new superior ‘GT Line’ model. This desirable trim level is already a very popular choice on other key PEUGEOT models (208, 308 and 508), and adds a sporty theme with a red/black coloured features.

The PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® is unique to the brand and embodies the driving characteristics of the PEUGEOT 2008, being agile, intuitive and safe. The compact sports steering wheel offers precise steering and improved manoeuvrability while the 7” multifunction colour touch screen puts all the functionality at your fingertips. In addition, the head-up instrument panel allows driver information to be accessed without taking the eyes off the road.

This stylish, high-tech Toyota has come a long way from its utilitarian roots, offering luxurious equipment for up to eight passengers, yet under this opulence lies a truly rugged and capable off-roader

 TARGET RANGE:  £8,000 – £22,000 

When the all-new Land Cruiser arrived in 2003 we praised it for its enhanced refinement and comfort, its improved off-road dynamics and its on-road performance. That praise did rather gloss over the reality that the new TLC was little more than a development of the Colorado model that preceeded it, the main visual change being the more curvaceous body styling with its bolder kinky-headlamped front end. The mainstream engine, the D-4D turbodiesel, was carried over from the Colorado, as was the transmission and permanent 4×4 drive train, the body still mounted on a separate chassis with rigid rear axle and independent front suspension. Anyone looking for the added refinement and handling crispness offered by rival Mitsubishi Shogun and Jeep Grand Cherokee courtesy of their switch to monocoque construction would have been disappointed; among the praise we heaped on the car in our first-drive report in the March 2003 issue was the comment: “There’s no escaping the fact that it is a huge barge, both to park and to drive.” On the plus side this conservative advance did at least ensure that the Land Cruiser remained a serious hard-core off-road workhorse, not to mention the feeling of occupant safety inspired by the use of that separate strong steel chassis. This does mark the short-wheelbase three-door version as an excellent off-road plaything, but for many users the most important feature carried over on the five-door estate is the eight-seater capability, and no matter if the interior appointments weren’t much of an advance over those in the Colorado because even in this previous incarnation the levels of luxury and convenience equipment were impressive. The Land Cruiser is a big car, and although there isn’t much leg and shoulder room, or luggage space to play with if there’s a full complement of passengers on board, it still provides safe and comfortable transport for all.

The major improvements featured in the new model centred on the additional electronic gimmickry including traction control, hill descent and hill start controls and electronically controlled suspension with height-adjusting air springs on range-topping models. This switch to greater electronic control allowed Toyota to do away with the locking rear axle differential, since the traction control is effective enough to cope with axle-twisting situations, helped by the Torsen auto-engaging centre differential. It seemed a little strange that Toyota should offer a 4.0-litre petrol V6 alternative to the impressively refined and powerful 3.0-litre direct-injection D-4D engine, considering that they’d dropped the 3.4-litre petrol V6 from the Colorado range quite early in its lifetime, mainly because most owners sought the better fuel economy provided by the diesel. Certainly most second-hand examples of the Land Cruiser are turbodiesels, but if you don’t do a high mileage and prefer the quieter running and potentially better reliability of the petrol engine it’s worth shopping around for a relatively low-mileage V6, which would almost certainly be more accessibly priced than an equivalent turbodiesel. First versions on sale in the UK came with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions, but by 2004 these had been upgraded to six-speed manual or five-speed automatic. One key reason for limiting your choice to a 2006 or later model is that the output of the D-4D was boosted to a more purposeful 170bhp, which not only offered better acceleration and more relaxed cruising but also better fuel economy and cleaner emissions, enough to switch the Land Cruiser (in 6-speed manual form) to a lower tax band – from £485 to £285 – so it’s worth checking the tax liability for any vehicle you’re thinking of buying. Also note that the Land Cruiser is badged Prado for other markets, and these might also have a 2.7-litre turbodiesel or 3.4-litre V6 engine; there’s no reason to pay over the odds for one of these, especially as the equipment level might not match the UK-market equivalent; by the same token there’s no reason not to buy one as long as you’re satisfied that it’s been properly maintained, has the engine and equipment you expect, and is road-legal for the UK.

 Our verdicts 

Despite its sleeker appearance the new Land Cruiser didn’t really seem that much different from the Colorado; eye-catching new grille treatment aside, we commented: “The interior is comfortable, but not shockingly different from the Colorado.” Understandable, then, that our interest focused on the new electronic driving aids, which included a significant innovation: “Just like Land Rover’s Hill Descent Control, Toyota’s Downhill Assist Control is pure magic in an off-road situation. Of even greater importance is Toyota’s Hill-start Assist Control. A world first, HAC is available on automatic versions of high-specification models; it controls wheelspin when trying to initiate a hill start on s slippery surface. It also acts if the vehicle begins to slip backwards, braking all four wheels and allowing the driver to pull away with total control.”

We were also impressed by the variable-rate suspension on the range-topping version, which included optional self-levelling air suspension on the rear axle: “The Toyota Electronic Modulated suspension offers four settings varying from sport to comfort. TEMS also enhances the Land Cruiser’s on-road dynamics and ride comfort by enhancing cornering ability and incorporating anti-squat and anti-dive features.”

We were able to put those electronic features to good use when, as reported in our May 2003 issue, we pitted the new Land Cruiser in a three-way test against a Nissan Patrol and a Mitsubishi Shogun. Even before we reached our photo location we’d had a chance to sample the traction control systems: “A tractor, or something similar with heavily-lugged tyres, had churned a great hollow out on either side of the trail as it climbed up among the trees. This had the gleaming silver Land Cruiser well and truly cross-axled as it straddled the central hump, rocking uncomfortably with a front wheel hanging in the air over one of the hollows, while the rear wheel on the other side scrabbled for grip in the depths of the other. But the Land Cruiser hesitated for only a moment before the various elements of its comprehensive traction controls assessed the situation, fiddled the braking on individual wheels and adjusted the torque output of the automatic transmission to make sure that the wheels that did have grip got the right amount of drive to keep the car moving.” That’s one reason why the Land Cruiser won the test outright; we considered the Nissan Patrol to be a better, more purposeful, off-roader, and loved the superb growling torque delivery of the Shogun’s 3.2-litre Di-D engine, but nevertheless gave the Toyota the big points for being a better all-round blend of off-road competence and on-road family-estate effectiveness.

In our April 2005 issue we enthused over the enhancements to the D-4D turbodiesel engine for the 2006 Model Year: “Although horsepower is only marginally up, it’s the torque that counts – it now boasts the highest torque output of any four-cylinder diesel engine. The D-4D can dig deep for 302lb ft between 1800 and 2600rpm, a 20 per cent improvement. Fuel economy has improved to 31mpg. Part of the reason for this is the new lightweight six-speed gearbox.” All the more reason now to resist the temptation to buy a pre-2006 example.

 Which one to buy 

The new Land Cruiser brought new trim designations with it. Even the base LC2 has the traction and hill-start controls, along with electric windows and electrically adjusting door mirrors, tinted glass, a six-speaker stereo, manual air conditioning, velour upholstery, heated front seats, front, side and curtain airbags and 17-inch alloy wheels. This variant quickly vanished from showrooms, and even though any example you find will date from 2003 or 2004 you can still expect to pay up to £12,000 for a low-mileage, well-maintained one; Autotrade Car Warehouse in Ayr  (01292 290212) had put a more reasonable £8000 price tag on the clean black 90,000 mile example including a new MOT.

The LC3 effectively became the entry-level version, the specification adding headlamp washers, cruise control and dual-zone climate control. An early high-mileage example could be yours for under £8000 but we’d prefer a 2006-on model, though the 78,000 mile silver six-speeder at the Diesel Car Supermarket in Southampton (0844 662 7479) asking £11,500 did seem a little expensive; it is at least in remarkably clean condition, and you could expect to pay at least £14,000 for a run-out 2009 model.

Leather upholstery features in the LC4, along with an electric sunroof and satnav, making it possibly the best-value mid-range choice, particularly in the case of the smart ’06 blue example with full service history, not unreasonably high mileage at 123,000 going for £9500 at Longueville Car Sales of Peterborough (01733 233277).

The range topping LC5 has an uprated satnav system, more speakers for the sound system and separate climate control for the front and rear of the car. We’ve seen a few examples at under £9000 but with high mileage and less comprehensive service records; we’d feel happier with something like the aluminium silver one-owner car with full service history, new MOT and 6 months’ tax being sold by Ben Hodgson Cars of Carlisle (01228 899441) for £14,000, perhaps a bit much for a 120,000-mile car dating from 2006, but again it’s in good shape and lower-mileage cars are asking upwards of £16,000.

The Invincible is of course the most desirable Land Cruiser, as much for the name as for the equipment enhancements, which includes Bluetooth integration and rear-seat DVD entertainment. This first appeared in 2006 as a special edition, but eventually joined the range as the new premium model. There’s a good selection around – some asking as little as £10,000 from private sellers – but prices seem to vary more by what dealers imagine they can sell them for than by mileage and condition; typical is the silver one-owner 2006 car with 77,000 miles selling at £13,000 on an Arnold Clark forecourt in Edinburgh, while Inchcape Toyota of Basingstoke were selling a similar-age black two-owner 70,000 mile example for a fiver under £16,000. That makes it all the more important to shop around for a good-value purchase; in any case you shouldn’t have to pay more than £22,000 even for a run-out 2009 Invincible.

ENGINE DRIVETRAIN CHASSIS BODY AND INTERIOR
It seems no matter how well a turbodiesel engine is built there’s still room for problems, which in the Land Cruiser’s case is the possibility of the engine seizing – in some cases possibly because injector seals have allowed fuel to contaminate the lubricating oil, in others possibly because of sludging of the lubricant after the failure of an oil filter. In either case it’s more important than usual to make sure the car you’re intending to buy has a full service history, and to use only top-quality lubricants. On higher-mileage engines check for excessive black exhaust smoke or dull performance suggesting an inefficient turbo or worn injectors, and on cars approaching (or just over) 100,000 miles make sure the timing belt has been changed. The petrol V6 is generally trouble-free, but again on higher-mileage cars check that the timing belt and the tensioner have been changed.
Pick a six-speed manual if you can find one, partly because the auto doesn’t enjoy the lower car tax until 2009 run-out models, but also because this box seems to be trouble-free, just check for noisy shifts that could suggest synchromesh wear – possible on a car that’s been used for heavy towing. If you prefer the automatic check that the box shifts smoothly and kicks down responsively and that there isn’t excessive shunt when shifting between drive and reverse. In some cases cracks in the transmission oil cooler have allowed engine coolant to mix with the transmission fluid, leading to gearbox failure; check for signs of contamination in the coolant.
The main concern here applies only to the top-specification LC5 and Invincible with the TEMS suspension. Rear suspension height sensors are known to fail, as do individual air struts. Make sure the various settings of the TEMS system actually do work and that the car sits level. The chassis isn’t known to have rust problems – any serious corrosion would in any case be noted at an MOT inspection – but it’s worth checking spring and damper mountings to make sure they’re sound. The Land Cruiser is rated to tow 2800kg, so shouldn’t have been abused as a tow car, but it’s still worth checking the state of the tow bar and its mounting points especially if there’s a possibility the car may have been used to launch a boat in salt water.
On models with the spare hanging on the tailgate check that the door swings straight on its hinges. Also have a close look at the paintwork, if the car’s been driven even quite moderately off-road the paint could have suffered significant scratching from undergrowth, faint marks that may not look serious but nevertheless can dull the overall appearance of the car and may have been disguised by a layer of colour polish. The interior is quite hardwearing, though the front seats may sag or lose their shape, so check that they provide the right comfort and support. Electrical problems aren’t commonplace, but it’s always worth checking that items such as electric windows, the stereo and satnav and electric sunroof do work properly.

 Or you could consider… 

Land Rover Discovery 3Mitsubishi ShogunNissan Pathfinder


For many the Land Rover is the Land Cruiser’s arch-rival, but apart from its dominating road presence it does have one area that anyone needing a seven-seater might like to consider – the rearmost seats in the Land Cruiser take up a lot of room, even when folded away, while those in the Land Rover fold neatly out of sight, as do the second-row seats, to give a remarkably flat load floor. Also when the seats are all in use the ‘stadium’ arrangement sits rearmost passengers high enough for them to have a good view of the road ahead so they don’t feel as if they’ve just been bunged in the boot.  Reliability isn’t a serious issue in this generation, and in any case there is a broad network of specialist garages that can fix problems for much less than you’d have to pay a main dealer. Packed with more electronic aids than the Toyota, top versions of the Discovery 3 are excellent to drive on the road, incredibly capable off the road and – for many a key advantage – it has a higher towing capability.

By this time Mitsubishi had already taken the plunge and produced a Shogun with monocoque bodyshell and all-independent suspension, with consequent gains in ride refinement and handling precision. The 3.2-litre DI-D engine – and the common-rail version in the latest generation from 2007 – may not have the ultimate torque of the Land Cruiser, but it delivers particularly refined performance for relaxed cruising. One consideration is that a well-equipped Shogun will offer as much in the way of luxury equipment as any Land Cruiser, but at a more accessible second-hand price; if there’s a downside it’s that the rearmost bench seat, which tucks away neatly into the boot floor when not in use, is not as substantial as those in the Land Cruiser or Land Rover and are thus suitable only for children. The Shogun does have excellent off-road credentials, courtesy of the Super Select permanent 4×4 transmission, but low ride height and the long rear overhang on the five-door versions limit ultimate off-road agility.

Being a somewhat simpler and less overtly luxurious vehicle the Pathfinder may not have the same cachet of more established mainstream rivals, but it is a big, roomy van-like estate offering comfortable seven-seater accommodation and, with all rear seats folded, gives a class-leading 2.8m long load bay. The four-wheel drive is simpler, a selectable system, but quite good enough to give the Nissan acceptable off-road ability. The turbodiesel has a mere 2.2-litres to play with but it develops similar power to its bigger-engined rivals, offering more reasonable fuel consumption into the bargain. Automatic transmission is an option, but we’d recommend picking the manual because automatics can be problematic. If the turbodiesel seems a little dull there’s also a 4.0-litre V6. For seven-seater functionality you’re looking at a higher-specification version, SE or SVE for an early model, later premium models are badged Adventura or Tekna, but you could acquire a low-mileage, well-maintained example for the price of an older, high-mileage Toyota.

1141957_6926A mosaic of a Citroën C4 Cactus, made of toy models of the Citroën range, will be unveiled in Birmingham’s Bull Ring shopping centre between 19 – 21 February.

Shoppers at the centre this weekend will be able to claim a free miniature toy car and enter a draw to be in with the chance of winning a multitude of prizes, ranging from vouchers to a family trip to France.

The mosaic installation pays homage to Citroën’s founder, André Citroën who, in the 1920s, began creating toy versions of his automobiles – which he named ‘dad’s car’ – for the children of his customers. The first such car to be turned into a toy was the Torpedo B2 10HP, of which more than 30,000 were purchased over a 10-year span.

Measuring 5m by 2.5m, the mosaic has been built in collaboration with final-year students from the University of Creative Arts in Surrey and will be joined at the shopping centre by a real Citroën C4 Cactus on display.

Those visiting the installation can walk away with one of the 2,677 toy cars that make up the mosaic. The toys are offered free of charge. By doing so, participants will be in with a chance of winning a number of prizes such as cinema tickets, vouchers and radios.

The grand prize is a family trip to France, which includes a day trip to Disneyland Paris and the opportunity to visit C_42, Citroen’s Brand Experience on the Champs-Élysées. Shoppers will also have the chance to learn more about the Citroën C4 Cactus, which is best-known for for its innovative Airbump® technology that protects the car from everyday bumps and scrapes.

The car combines simplicity and efficiency with practicality and low ownership costs, equipping the Citroën C4 Cactus to take on the challenges of modern life.

Powered by the latest generation PureTech and BlueHDi engines, fuel economy is up to 91.1mpg with CO2 emissions from just 82g/km and overall running costs 20% lower than the benchmark in the compact hatchback segment.

To see the mosaic and be in with a chance of winning one of the prizes, visit the Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham between 19 – 21 February.

To watch the creation of the C4 Cactus mosaic click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0dlFEFmXc4

1136237_94671kia_Sportage GT-Line 1.6 T-GDI MT6_002

Although the all-new Kia Sportage only went on sale on 5 February, Kia dealers up and down the country were reporting heavy showroom traffic. In the first three days almost 1,500 sold-orders had been placed by dealers – the best-ever three-day order-take in Kia’s history.

Paul Philpott, President and Chief Executive of Kia Motors (UK) Limited said: ”The all-new Sportage is a significant step forward for Kia, both in terms of interior quality and dynamic refinement and sophistication – and clearly both existing and new customers recognise that fact! Our dealers currently have only one worry – can we satisfy the demand? Well, both Kia in the UK and our factory in Slovakia are working flat-out to ensure we can!”

The all-new Sportage range consists of 18 trim versions, three engine variants and three different transmissions. With fuel economy ranging from 37.2 to 61.4mpg combined according to engine and transmission, CO2 figures starting at 119g/km,  the new model is priced from £17,995 to £31,645 OTR.