Hils Everitt – Editor at Large

Our Escape model is the off-road version of the Tiguan and therefore comes in at a smidgeon over £2000 more than the standard model. Both are equipped with VW’s 4MOTION intelligent four-wheel drive that kicks in when the system detects poor traction. I have always been a bit sceptical about these so-called ‘intelligent’ systems as they are reactive, i.e., you need your wheels to experience a bit of a problem before the electronics suss it out and then react accordingly and switch power delivery to a more even split between the axles.

I prefer a vehicle that lets me lock into four-wheel drive when I say so; which is why I will always be a bit wary of the intelligent SUVs that are swamping our 4×4 market these days. Yes, regular readers know that I am an old fashioned gal who loves a nice big transfer lever that you thrust into four low and know damn well that it is locked in and off you go into the wilderness.

Sue Loy

As a Toyota RAV4 owner, driving the CR-V was an interesting experience. The two models must be an ‘either/or’ for a lot of people looking for a family-sized SUV. I’m on my second RAV4 and will admit to being very happy with my choice, so being able to spend a week with the new fourth generation Honda CR-V was an opportunity not to miss.

To be honest, it’s not that obvious when looking at the fourth generation, what the difference is on the previous model, but then Honda has sold five million of them in total since introducing the model back in 1995, so I guess they know exactly what they are doing! The model is also built in the UK, which appeals to many a more patriotic consumer; OK, so the profits leave the country, but it’s great to know it was built up in the North East.

Bob Cooke – contributor

It’s just as well that I carry one of those head torch things in the Cherokee. Not just because we’ve entered the dark days of winter, though it’s useful on those odd occasions when you need to see if what you’ve just run over is edible. I don’t even need the torch to find my way up the driveway after parking because the Cherokee has a “sentinel” headlamp system, which leaves the lamps alight for about 45 seconds after switching off the ignition. I need the torch because the dashboard lamps have failed, so I need a means of checking my speed and finding the stereo and heater controls after dark. It’s an odd one – the dash illumination doesn’t work, nor does the stereo display, yet the digital clock still ticks away in the dark and the stereo still works, it just doesn’t show me what station I’m listening to. The handbook doesn’t assign a fuse to the dashboard illumination, so I’m somewhat bewildered.

Ian Seabrook

After repeatedly scraping the underside of my Maverick during a rock-strewn day of greenlaning, I decided it was time to check the ride height. The gap between the front tyre and wheelarch should be around 20mm less than the same gap at the rear. Use of a tape measure revealed that not only was the front end about 30mm low, it was another 10mm lower on the passenger side.

Thankfully, raising the ride height couldn’t be easier, or cheaper. The torsion bar suspension includes an adjustment mechanism to allow for sag over the years. All you have to do is undo the locknut on the adjuster and then screw the adjuster down for more height. It means a certain amount of scrabbling around on the floor but as the ride height goes up, this gets easier!

Hils Everitt – Editor at Large

So last month we said farewell to our ES Tiguan and now it’s a big hello for the winter to our VW Escape, just in time for the wintry season.

Temperatures have dropped, there is a severe frost outside and some parts of the country have been thwarted by horrendous floods and heavy snow; and we hope that our Escape gets to play in some wintry conditions to see just how good it is. The Escape is the ‘off-road’ version which has a more off-tarmac amenable body shape with an improved approach angle of 28° (from 18° in the ES), thanks to the shorter nose, and the ‘off-road’ button. It also sports front underbody protection plus side and underbody protection pack.

Shion Scudamore – contributor

It’s been some time since I put pen to paper on the progress of the Bedford rebuild, as usual life filled up with “stuff” and other projects got in the way. By popular request from my family, I now find myself the owner of a Volkswagen T25 camper as well as the Bedford, although alas not a Syncro.

Temptation to convert it has been curbed by my wife and the huge cost of Syncro transmissions. This has also meant the passing of another sad milestone, now for the first time in 33 years, I don’t own a Land Rover. The Discovery has moved on to new pastures to provide some funds and time for other projects.

Robert Pepper

Our Discovery 3’s odometer is now about to tick over 80,000 miles, many of which have been off-road, carrying a load or both. Lots of things wear out and need replacing over time – tyres and fluids of course, but also suspension. Sure, the Discovery has air suspension, which can be inflated so it doesn’t sag, but eventually everything wears out and for suspension in particular the dampers are a case in point. The Discovery was becoming rather too floaty over corrugations and bumps at cruise, and even at lower speeds the suspension bounced over rather than absorbed the undulations. So time for replacement dampers, but not a lot of choice. I spoke to Bilstein and found they have withdrawn their product from the Aussie market permanently, and then had a chat to Koni to discover that their product has also been withdrawn, albeit only temporarily. After a bit of research the best remaining option seemed to be the Land Rover standard kit, and as our Discovery is under warranty – thanks to a two-year extension programme – that was also the safe choice. So on went a set of shocks and, as ever with suspension changes, there’s quite a difference in handling, and that’s apparent even around town. There’s less pitch when accelerating, less nosedive when braking and more assured handling around the corners. And there’s better traction off-road, as all the sophisticated traction control in the world won’t help if the tyres aren’t well and truly in contact with the ground.