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4x4 Mega-test
Big SUVs are beginning to win buyers’ affections again... as can be seen by four new models on the market. So which is our star?
Photos: Otis Clay August 2010
The tide looks to be turning for large SUVs. Environmental pressures and the financial crisis have blunted the popularity of these models, but four new sporty diesel-engined 4x4s have just landed on our shores. This latest wave of cleaner and more efficient cars aims to silence the critics, and return to the top of British buyers’ wishlists.
Leading the way are the new Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. They share the same V6 diesel engine and are larger, yet cleaner and more economical, than the cars they replace. However,
one of their main rivals, the BMW X5, has followed a similar approach. The revised model benefits from a host of improvements, and in 30d trim matches the sub-200g/km emissions of its new opponents.
There is another option for buyers who want to make a splash, though – in the eye-catching shape of the Infiniti FX. It has the looks to turn heads and now, for the first time, is available with diesel power. Do the attributes which make its petrol stablemates such a hit on the other side of the Atlantic transfer to the UK? We find out as we put all four to the test...
For an alternative review of the latest Volkswagen Touareg visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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25 Comments
Or...
Marko, what about a Land Cruiser?? I don't see it here and it is a much better off-roader than these 4 "luxury suvs".
Make that three...
I echo the comments above. If you want true offroad ability then buy a Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser (SWB) or even a Jeep Wrangler.
Large Soft-Roaders are beginning to look a bit naff. There's no point to them at all. There are more classy and effective ways of flashing your wad, if you are so inclined, than to clatter around in a tricked out brick...
flashy crap
...and not one of these cars is ANY use off road...a damp paddock will have them all scrabbling for grip! if you want a quick exec road car why dont you buy a 5 series/lexus400/phaeton/panamera.....if you want a vehicle with off-road ability and luxury then buy a rangerover but DONT buy 22" blingy wheels....
vile machines these- every one!
well i was limiting it to the "big suv that is primarily comfortable road transport with ability to tackle most terrain" hence why i dint mention the defender/land cruiser etc...as they arent the swiftest on road.
the porsche / bmw and audi q7 just make my blood boil as they failat everything - too high a centre of gravity to be a sports car and utterly stupid rubber and too low a ground clearance for any use off road....i'm not a 4x4 hater - i am currently seeking an LR lightweight and if i had the means i'd by a discovery or similar ....
....but these twonks that buy the flashy x5s etc are just d**ks imho... ;-)
well i was limiting it to the "big suv that is primarily comfortable road transport with ability to tackle most terrain" hence why i dint mention the defender/land cruiser etc...as they arent the swiftest on road.
the porsche / bmw and audi q7 just make my blood boil as they failat everything - too high a centre of gravity to be a sports car and utterly stupid rubber and too low a ground clearance for any use off road....i'm not a 4x4 hater - i am currently seeking an LR lightweight and if i had the means i'd by a discovery or similar ....
....but these twonks that buy the flashy x5s etc are just d**ks imho... ;-)
These are four incredibly ugly pointless vehicles, I've rather have a BMW 5 or an A6 Avant Quattro. These soft roaders can't offroad and have a high ride heigh while riding on rubber band tyres. Best 4x4xfar?? That'll be the Range Rover....why was it omitted? Because it would p!ss on these 4..
These are four incredibly ugly pointless vehicles, I've rather have a BMW 5 or an A6 Avant Quattro. These soft roaders can't offroad and have a high ride heigh while riding on rubber band tyres. Best 4x4xfar?? That'll be the Range Rover....why was it omitted? Because it would p!ss on these 4..
well i was limiting it to the "big suv that is primarily comfortable road transport with ability to tackle most terrain" hence why i dint mention the defender/land cruiser etc...as they arent the swiftest on road.
the porsche / bmw and audi q7 just make my blood boil as they failat everything - too high a centre of gravity to be a sports car and utterly stupid rubber and too low a ground clearance for any use off road....i'm not a 4x4 hater - i am currently seeking an LR lightweight and if i had the means i'd by a discovery or similar ....
....but these twonks that buy the flashy x5s etc are just d**ks imho... ;-)
btw i'm only posting these once...honest!
Fair comparison
Hi,
I bought and read with interest this SUV comparison.
I note that the prices as tested look as if you are comparing apples with onions ie VW £40k, Porsche £54.5k and BMW £53k.
What are the extras on the Porsche and BMW, and do they effect the driving dynamics or are they cosmetic ie adaptive suspension vs metalic paint ?
When I have tried to look at these cars on an equal basis I seem to produce a price differential of about £10k, which is a masive difference if one is buying !
As the experts in car comparisons I will welcome your comments.
Thanks
The Best 4x4xfar is where exactly?
Note to make the Germans feel better, you stick them up against a Infintity, rather than a LR product any of which would blow these pointless cars for people with fat arses to match their fat wallets!
The best thing I saw last winter in the bad snow was an X5 being pulled out of a hedge by a LR Defender, I bet the X5 driver had wish he bought one in the first place, it must have been humbling as well as humiliating!!
Children behave
Believe the driver named above (in his X5) was probably not as humilated as the Disco driver pulled out of the snow earlier this year by me ..... in my (according to this panel of experts) useless Q7 .....
Ability
Most of these cars are reasonably capable off road in competent hands. However as soon as you encounter vaguely serious off roading then in my opinion you're down to a LR product, Land Cruiser, Shogun, and Pathfinder etc. I have to agree with the general sentiment here, which is that these SUV's are rather pointless and definitely rather vulgar. Having said that, people can spend their money however they like and I do not agree that governments should punish owners of these vehicles.
Calm down ....
What all you little dictators need is to realise that nobody cares about your ego-centric rantings. People can make up their own minds about what they like. The only thing pointless here are your rantings......... long live the large SUV.
AMazon
Surely the 4 featured cars, (SUVs?) are in the wrong group? They are definitely NOT BIG, their SUV qualities are in question, and surprise, surprise, they ARE NOT even off-roaders.
Lets get them downgraded into the category "Small wannabee SUVs". For sure the editor of this article should have gone to Specsavers!
I am struggling to see how these 4 cheap little Matchbox toys could even make it to the 'Big SUV' category.
Why weren't the Range Rover, the Pathfinder, the Shogun or the Amazon Land Criuiser chosen?
Sorry for the criticism but I don't see the editor's point here, unless he was meant to be doing an article on medium size 4WD MPVs?
Land Cruiser V8 - King of all roads.
re calm down
Let people be Parsley the idea of this panel is that everyone has his or her say, we dont need to agree with everything but that is what choice is about I dont agree with the road testers and have been bitterly disappointed driving something that was supposed to be the epitomy of motoring excellence, then been pleasantly surprised at something that was supposed to be rubbish. I still like to read articles but ultimately would never buy a car because a motoring road tester thought it was good, I would buy it because I liked it,
What about the Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi should be on here aswell. They are proven off road aswell. The above 4 would struggle against this aswell.
Problem is, in my view, the only cool one there came last. I think that the Infiniti is a really cool vehicle, especially as you do not see many of them. In fact I haven't seen a single Infiniti on the road. I don't mind the Porsche or the VW, but I absolutely hate the X5. If I had that sort of money (bearing in mind I'm not even old enough to have a licence yet) I would get the Infiniti or a Range Rover...
children!.....
land cruiser, pajero, jeep et al were probably not included because while they are fantastic off road, they drive like trucks on it. land rover products weren't included because they tend to break down every 42 miles.
Break down every 42 miles in what parallel universe does that happen?
Theos, honestly when was the last time you saw a Land Rover product broken down? I've not even seen an old one broken down, perhaps ever, that I recall. But you do see lots of really, really old ones, probably because of their bullet proof reliability!
I don't really like SUV's and Crossovers andf all of these pointless new vehicle catagories, however, I agree the Defender is horrid on the road, but if I needed a 4x4 which I don't it would either be one of those a Land Cruiser, or Pathfinder I mean real capable off roader. if I wanted a big Luxury car it would be none of the ones on AE's group test, they are all a dreadful compromise I rather buy a Jaguar XF, S class or styling aside a 5 series
To the 4WD haters
I drive an Audi Q7 4.2tdi, that according to you apparently fails in all areas.
My question to you is:
What other vehicle not in this class can:
-Tow a large boat long distance safely with ease?
-Easily deal with ski field roads?
-Make great pace point to point?
-Get reasonable economy given the capability?
-Carry 5 people in great comfort and safety?
-Go offroad adequately to suit 98% of typical situations?
For anyone with a truely active lifestyle these vehicles fit to a T.
As the wank factor why assume all people buy them for such reasons?
The only reason most of them come with premium badges is because putting all this ability into a vehicle usually means a larger than average price hence the premium brand positioning.
Slightly narrow minded prehaps?
also
Why is getting stuck in a X5 humiliating? Most people who can afford one probably dont have lives that "small" that they actually care. I have been stuck in a range rover, my q7, my previous subarus, and a hilux, ANYTHING can get stuck given the right conditions, as per the disco being pulled out by the q7..While some vehicles are CLEARLY more capable offroad, it certainly isnt always the defining factor in most peoples decisions. Wishing he had bought a Defender instead of a X5 hahahahahahahahaha....
p.s Iam sure the guy in the defender would be more humiliated when he dies an early death(not to mention his partner and kids) due to his rubbish safety rating when the guy(and partner and kids) in the x5 or similar walks away un scathed.
Is this not more tall poppy syndrom then anything else?
dasd
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Must do better
I just did a google search for 4x4 group test and this is test is the top result.
I don't read the guardian and don't have 40 grand, we do however occasionally need to pull 2 tonne of horse+box out of a paddock, covered in mud, get two dogs and or a saddle in the boot, the car needs to be driveable for someone with arthritis (ie not a defender), decent economy and be able to get into a multistorey - The selection of tart's handbags in this test misses the mark - as autoexpress have no doubt noticed from the appalling feedback.
Do the test again and do it properly.
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flashy crap
...and not one of these cars is ANY use off road...a damp paddock will have them all scrabbling for grip! if you want a quick exec road car why dont you buy a 5 series/lexus400/phaeton/panamera.....if you want a vehicle with off-road ability and luxury then buy a rangerover but DONT buy 22" blingy wheels....
vile machines these- every one!
By marko9910 on 19 August, 2010, 9:55am