http://www.consumerreports.org/content/Pressroom/Presseng/PDF/eng0403suv.pdf

though, to be fair, no jeep wrangler either, guess the ride is too rough. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

well, they don't make troopers anymore...

and the wrangler was probably either too obvious or maybe didn't qualify since you can't squish 11 bags of groceries behind the back seat <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

(notice the XJ is missing because it's no longer made and the escalade is missing .. uhh... probably because the type of people who buy those have brain hemmorhoids. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> )

Land Rover? They need to come see the Defender 90 over here in Germany. Turbo Diesel, with the 4 seats facing the center in the back. That's when Land Rover made off-road vehicles. (Even the Kia's over here are turbo diesel....never thought I'd lust after a Kia!)

I wouldn't call a lot of those vehicles "off road" unless by that they meant "flat, slighly rutted dirt road." Some of them are just too big--the Wrangler is a great off-road vehicle for a reason--good power in a small package. Well, it rates high in every other magazine, the court of public opinion, sales, aftermarket suppliers, etc., but not here.

CR is conducting this apparently very subjective test, in vehicles that are more prone to be driven by soccer moms driving in inclimate weather, rather than for those who are going to put their car's and own personal wellfare on the line to get over the next obstacle in the path. I guess in order to appeal to the masses you have to stoop to their level.

I am actually tending to agree with this chart. The only
inconsistencies are:

1. Where are Rodeo and Axiom ? They are no less capable
in their stock forms than the current edition of
Mitsu Montero.

2. Land Rover Freelander is just a re-branding of Ford
Escape. I do not see how Freelander can be used offroad,
with it's miserable tires, it's clearence, weak unibody,
all-independent suspension and without transfer case.
May be, this is their corrector's mistake
and they actually wanted to put it into the "worst"
category ?

Our local Land Rover dealer HAD TO REMOVE THE
"ARTICULATION" RAMP on it's territory when Freelanders arrived <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

3. No Wrangler... That's funny. Somebody is having
good time.

4. Where is Jeep Liberty ? Not great, but on the same level
as Kia Sorento and Xterra.

5. Where is the whole bunch of modern 'crossovers' in the
"worst" category ? Do they really believe that
Toyota Highlander is better off-road than Explorer ?

6. It's funny not to see Ford Escape in the "worst"
category. Actually, I believe that Escape deserves
it's own "super-worst" category.

I am glad to see no Subaru Forester as a best off-road SUV
performer, as I saw once in a stupid magazine off-road test.

Oleg

where is the obvious leader...the Jeep Rubicon

Re: Landrover Freelander vs Ford Escape
I have to disagree on that one. The Freelander has been in Europe for about 6 years; it came out of the gate an unknown and became the #1 SUV in a matter of 2 years. It was only introduced as 1 model to the USA last year.

It helps that the Freelander in the USA and the Freelander in Europe are two different beasts. Sure, there's a basic frame and sheet metal under there, but that's about it. In Europe, it's almost all Turbo Diesel Manual tranny; I haven't seen one yet that's anything else. (I haven't been to a dealer.) There are several body styles (minor changes for looks that actually lead to several different "personalty" looks for the vehicle) and of course the interchangeable hard/soft top.

The dealer I saw in the USA had the Freelander in low power/efficiency gasoline engine, auto trans, hard top, one package/personality "style" only (and it was the "plain" looking one). What was really cool in Europe, is really dull and overpriced in America.

The Escape has only been out a couple years; it's younger than the freelander. It also doesn't look too much like it--the escape looks more along the Rodeo look, although with a flatter back end.

I'm curious where you got that info about them being the same--do they share the same engine/trans/frame/suspension and just have different sheet metal on top?

Well, I have to admit that they are definitely not exactly
the same vehicle. I apologize, my words about re-branding
was kinda over-reaction. They just share general ideas,
and some people where shared in the design teams -
at least, this is what I got from articles about Escape
creation.
Also, I saw information that these vehicles are destined
to merge eventually into the same platform. I have not been
following this topic for couple years, so it is difficult
to remember all details.

General architecture is basically the same - both are
classic crossovers. I just do not understand how
Freelander can be among best off-roaders.

It was funny to see how our Land Rover dealer tried to fit
Freelanders onto the ramp for a while, and then the ramp was
removed completely <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oleg

What surprised me was one of the 4x4 magazines rating 4x4's for out of the box offroading. Toyota LandCruiser scored #1. No Wranglers in it, either, but all the other classic SUV's. I think someone posted it here.

Despite the Landcruiser's huge size, to the surprise of all, it actually performed on off-road situations with a good degree of comfort.

I generally believe you have to sacrfice comfortable ride to get more off-road capability (all other things being equal--you can increase both comfort and 4x4 at the same time if you spend more $$$ if you want to), but it scored well.

Not having driven one of the newer ones offroad, I can't comment personally, but sometimes you're surprised. I'd think it would still be a high-center hazard.

I can understand leaving Isuzu out given market size. I don't like it, but you can only review so many vehicles in so much time, and the companies have to donate the vehicles (which is why you never hear the really terrible things--you want to get that next donated vehicle!).

The really odd thing is why offroad tests leave the Rubicon and even the regular Wrangler out....unless, as is ponted out earlier, it's for the crowd that's hauling a family of 4 or 6 plus a ton of gear. (cough...to the mall...cough)

I am not sure that we were reading the same magazine, but
I remember that LandCruiser's twin in Lexus form really
took first place as an off-road machine. It has some funny
things, like automatic sway bars disconnect,
some sort of "diagonal" sway bars etc. And it has
lockers. No surprise it shined among stock vehicles.
But, for the price of Lexus... well, it should be competing
with something like MB Gelendwagen, not with a bare stock
Axiom.