Going off-road is great fun. Something off-road capable can open up a lot of doors to places you were otherwise unable to visit. It changes a vehicle from being a conduit between A and B, into a ticket to adventure. But, having a proper 4WD does come with compromises. Take it from me: while great off-road, my own 4WD is abhorrent to park, loud and noisy, and is eons away from being a capable commuter...
They don’t call Australia the big brown land for nothing. Most of us may live near the blue of the ocean and travel on roads that are black, but there is plenty of brown stuff to be found everywhere else. Country folk who want a medium SUV aren’t necessarily looking at parking prowess or kerb-hopping abilities; rather the ability to cross big distance efficiently and effectively, often on dirt, is the score...
Assembled for this mega-test are 10 models that represent one-third of total SUV volume in Australia – and that’s without including sales for the newest contender here and catalyst for this test, the Jeep Cherokee. It looks bold, it’s available only with petrol engines (for now), and it’s priced under $40,000 to compete with the mainstream...
