Off road

Off-road adventurers around the world are being called to compete in another ultimate four-wheel-drive challenge.The Land Rover G4 Challenge is touted as the “adventure of a lifetime” and pits competitors from 18 countries against one another and the environment.The third running of the G4 Challenge will be held in remote Asian locations with a combination of off-road driving and sporting contests, ranging from kayaking to mountain-biking and climbing.The aim is to test the two-member teams in trials of their strength, stamina and strategic awareness.The G4 challenge has been held twice before. Belgian fighter pilot Rudi Thoelen won in 2003 in the Moab Desert in the US. South African Martin Dreyer won in 2006 on a course that included Thailand, Laos, Brazil and Bolivia.Australia has been represented by champion ironman Guy Andrews, but Alina McMaster did best when she won several individual events and finished sixth of 18 competitors two years ago.“The challenge is all about pushing yourself and your vehicle as hard as possible in some of the world's most spectacular locations,” G4 challenge manager Ed Tilston says.The challenge is an amazing event that gives people the chance to experience a real adventure. It tests not only physical strength, but also mental and strategic talents and teamwork. And this time it will be raising money for a very worthy cause.The objective is to raise $1 million for the Red Cross, and the winning team will get a Land Rover vehicle for their country's Red Cross or Red Crescent Society.Australian hopefuls will be up against men and women from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Norway/Sweden, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and the US.The Australian selection trials will be held late this year to choose the two men and two women who will advance to the international selections early next year before the G4 Challenge finals in the middle of next year.“Only two people from Australia will go to Asia for the adventure of a lifetime, but winning a place on the challenge is all part of the excitement,” Tilston says.“The new team format marks a massively exciting move for the challenge and we are expecting thousands of entrants from the 18 nations on the list,” he says.For more information and to register for the event, go to www.landroverG4Challenge.com 

This is the modern incarnation of the Land Rover.It boasts 50 per cent better ventilation and a new integrated dash with an upgraded sound system and new, more comfortable seating. Ergonomics is not a strong point - the Defender's cabin design has little that falls into the category, with an average driving position, oddly placed switchgear - the horn is on the end of the indicator stalk - and the door is too close. But much of that matters little if you're looking to head way off the beaten track, as this machine has all the skills without resorting to electronics.Low-range, wheel travel and a centre diff lock allows it to climb just about any terrain at which you point its bumpy, square nose.It all but stops on steep, tricky descents, allowing the driver to pick a perfect path downhill with ample grip from the off-road tyres.The Defender is powered by a 2.4-litre 16-valve turbodiesel four-cylinder engine that works well with the low gearing off-road, but offers leisurely sealed-road performance. Filling the tank is also something of a low-speed thrill - the near-horizontal filler neck makes pump blow back a regular occurrence - don't even bother with a high-speed “trucker” diesel pump.You have to admire the courage of convictions in sticking with the Defender in a form that flies in the face of modern design. While it works beautifully in serious off-road environs, many will never experience its rough-terrain abilities; they've been spoiled with modern SUVs and won't put up with the idiosyncrasies. SnapshotLand Rover Defender 130 cab-chassisPrice: $50,990.Engine: 2.4-litre 16-valve common-rail turbodiesel four-cylinder.Transmission: Six-speed manual.Power: 90kW at 3500rpm.Torque: 360Nm at 2000rpm.Performance: 0-100km/h 15.8 seconds. Top speed 132km/h.Fuel consumption: 11.1 litres/100km, tank capacity 75 litres.Emissions: 295g/km.Suspension: Live beam axle, coil springs, dampers, Panhard rod (front). Live beam axle, coil springs, dampers, A-frame, co-axial helper springs (rear).Brakes: Front and rear discs.Dimensions: Length 5170mm, width 1790mm, height 2021mm, wheelbase 3225mm, track fr/rr 1486/1511mm, approach/departure angles 49/35deg, ground clearance 314mm, weight 2120kg.Wheels: 16in steel. In its class:Toyota HiLux SR 4x4 dual-cab chassis, from $40,890.Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 GLS cab-chassis, from $51,990.Nissan Navara D40 dual-cab ST-X, from $45,990.Ford Ranger 4x4 XL turbodiesel crew-cab chassis, from $36,990.Holden Rodeo 4x4 LX crew-cab chassis turbodiesel, $41,290. 

Statistically, however, that is no longer replicated in the sales leadership once enjoyed by Jeep.It's not as if dedicated four-wheel drivers have deserted the brand. They haven't. It's just that the competition has become more savvy at attracting a softer audience.Clawing back its iconic reputation is a new Jeep, the third-generation Cherokee dubbed KK that replaces the bug-eyed KJ.Bigger - as all things seem to be becoming - with more refinement and features, the KK's evolution hasn't come at the loss of any offroad prowess.In fact, going bush has been made safer, easier and more comfortable than the outgoing KJ model.Jeep is confident it has a solid future with the latest Cherokee and a lot of that has to do with styling.It sold 18,644 of its square-rigged XJ model that ran hard from 1994 to 2001. It's no-nonsense looks oozed a sense of offroad capability.Then came the KJ (2001-2008) that attracted 12,747 Australian buyers but though that's an impressive sales figure, the round-eyed and curvaceous Cherokee didn't quite hit the mark.Chrysler Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins said the new KK launched this week was reminiscent in styling to the macho XJ _ a feature that research found was lacking in the KJ.“Cherokee is the iconic Jeep and since 1984 is responsible for one-third of our business,” he said.“The KK brings back the look of this original model.”A lot of died-in-the-wool Jeep owners will love him for that.The KK arrives as a chunky, purposeful and imposing 4WD that is a big step forward from the cutesy look of its more female-oriented predecessor.It now sits on a Dodge Nitro platform, increasing its wheelbase over the KJ by 45mm.Yet the new model's length shrinks by 3mm, a product of moving the spare tyre from the back door to beneath the chassis.Meanwhile the interior room increases in length by 250mm to primarily benefit rear passengers and, to a lesser degree, boot space.The KK also has a wider track - up 26mm - for improved stability.Other good news includes a tighter turning circle that drops to 10.4m from 10.8m.A penalty is weight that grows by 106kg in the V6 petrol and 32kg in the turbo-diesel. Both now hover around the 2-tonne mark, quite portly for a medium-size 4WD.To compensate, the two engine choices move up in power and torque output thanks to some tweaking.The 3.7-litre V6 petrol adds a mere 1kW - barely quantifiable - to 151kW and has 7Nm more torque at 314Nm.Fuel economy improves by 0.5 litres/100km to a claimed 11.7 l/100km.Better news for the Wrangler-derived 2.8-litre turbo-diesel that gets 10kW more at 130kW. It adds a powerful 60Nm to 460Nm delivered at 2000rpm though 80 per cent of that is on tap at 1000rpm.The turbo-diesel gets a 0.6 l/100km improvement in economy to average 9.4.No Cherokee is available with a manual gearbox. Jeep said poor demand didn't justify its inclusion, though certainly the restricted driver footwell in right-hand drive form would have been a factor.The V6 petrol has a five-speed auto shared with the Chrysler 300C sedan and the bigger Grand Cherokee 4WD and the diesel continues with a six-speed auto unit.New for 2008 is the electronic transfer case that replaces the awkward manual-shift system in the KJ.The Cherokee is a 2WD vehicle though no can switch from 2WD to 4WD High at any speed. It still requires the vehicle to be stationary to engage 4WD Low that locks drive 50:50 front to rear.The 4WD High mode activates a multi-plate centre clutch to allocate 42 per cent of power to the front wheels and 58 per cent to the rear. There's a Neutral mode for towing the Jeep behind a mobile home - remarkably, quite a sought-after feature.On top of all this is an active traction control system that brakes a spinning wheel to transfer power to the wheel or wheels with traction.It's an aid for slippery on-road conditions though primarily benefits off-road activities.For going bush there's a switchable electronic stability control (ESC). But unlike many systems, this is dormant and will automatically engage ESC at speeds above 56km/h. Drop back under that speed and it will return to its dormant state.The KK gets hill start assist _ basically the brakes automatically engage for two seconds to minimise rollback in forward or reverse _ and hill descent control. Both are standard features.Clearly it's not a soft roader. Jeep claims a 38.2-degree approach angle when the small lip spoiler is unclipped, and a 30.3-degree departure angle. It will ford a stream up to 510mm deep and tow up to 2270kg.There are two models - Sport and Limited - with the petrol V6 or turbo-diesel and with prices that start at $39,990 and rising to the Limited diesel's $49,990.Standard equipment on the Sport includes a lift-up rear glass section within the hatch; a removable cargo floor panel that is a reversible waterproof tray; fold-down rear seat that actually folds flat; a flip-back front passenger seat to further increase cargo room; cruise control; climate airconditioning; rear park assist (a camera is under development for future models); 16-inch alloy wheels including the spare (18-inch on the Limited models); and options including Bluetooth and the 20-gig MYGig infotainment system.An appealing `Sky Slider' full-length fabric roof opens either forward or backwards and claims low wind noise. It costs $3000 but is only available on the Limited.Similarly, MYGig costs $3000 but only comes with the Limited model.As expected, the V6 petrol is smooth, responsive and quiet while the diesel is harsher, stronger in the low rev range and a little hesitant to abrupt throttle prods.Sweeping bitumen roads show competent handling though the steering jerks at mid-corner bumps.The ride, however, is supple and comfortable despite the rather simple live-axle rear suspension.Visibility is very good, mainly because of the KK's boxy shape.Despite the vehicle's size increase, the Cherokee's cabin isn't expansive. It suits four adults but entry to the rear is still a squeeze and legroom is only marginal. No complaints, however, with the generous headroom.In the dirt the diesel's relentless clatter produces impressive performance.It's naturally a more responsive unit when driving through the low-range system, able to pull unfussed from 800rpm and yet rev towards 4500rpm when needed.The diesel, when tested this week on Fraser Island, was almost unstoppable. It did, however, come to grief when the underbody sound deadening panel jagged itself on a tree root and cleanly ripped off. Four other diesels on test met the same fate.The V6 petrol's offroad manners were very similar, though there was no underbody panel to prise loose.The main difference was the petrol's wider operating rev range which gave it more flexibility.It also endeared itself with smoothness and quietness _ all strong arguments to override its thirstier fuel habit.The KK is an impressive unit but may find greater fortune with the more enthusiastic off-roader.It sits in a busy price segment that includes similarly off-road competent Prado, Pathfinder and Pajero though fights the established soft-roader group including Territory, Captiva, Kluger, Santa Fe and Sorento.

Gone are the rounded shapes, and instead there’s a more upright glasshouse, squared-off sculpting on the fascia, and – with the signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches – a strong echo of the original XJ Cherokee that first arrived here in 1994.It’s also larger – and smaller. It arrives with wheels pushed out further to give a 45mm wider and 26mm longer wheelbase, and 25cm more usable length in the strengthened monocoque body, but measures 3mm less overall.This is mainly because US regulations have moved the fuel tank further forward of the rear axle, leaving room for the full-sized spare wheel to come off the tailgate and be mounted underneath the vehicle.This has also allowed designers to ditch the swing-gate in favour of a two-piece liftgate that is more workable when you’re trying to load the cargo area in parked traffic.Cargo area has lengthened 84mm at floor level, and the seats fold flatter to make the space more versatile, while a recess in the back of the passenger seat and a reversible lidded bin in the back of the vehicle add some clever load options.The approach angle has been lowered to 28.2 until you click off the removable front spoiler which raises it back to 38.2. The breakover is marginally increased at 21.7 and the departure angle is slightly lower at 30.3.Towing capacity is about the same at 2270kg braked, which is enough to tow a decent fishing rig. Add a fording depth that has been increased to 51cm by tucking the air intake, alternator and emissions control system up higher, and you’re ready to have fun.The engines are largely unchanged, but have been tweaked to produce more power for less fuel.The 3.7-litre V6 now develops 151kW at 5200rpm and 314Nm of torque at 4000rpm, a rise of 1kW and 7Nm, but has trimmed its official fuel figure to 11.7L/100km – a cut of 0.5L.The 2.8-litre CRD turbodiesel (a $4000 premium over the petrol) has been given a bigger lift, and now produces 10kW more to hit130kW at 3800rpm and a whopping 460Nm – up 60Nm – at a low 2000rpm. It’s cut the fuel consumption by 0.6L to 9.4L/100km.The petrol engine is mated to an upgraded four-speed automatic and the diesel to the Mercedes-Benz sourced five-speed with sequential mode that is used in the Grand Cherokee and 300C. The manual transmission option in the previous diesel has been dropped.The Cherokee now gets Jeep’s SelecTrac II all-wheel drive system, which means each transmission drives the rear wheels in normal conditions but – with an electro-mechanical wet plate clutch – is switchable to either 4WD Auto’s 42:48 rear bias or 4WD Low’s 50/50 locked split.The drivetrains are pushing heavier packages, with the petrol putting on 106kg and the CRD just 32kg. Some of this has come from the stronger and larger body, and some from the extra equipment.The KK Cherokee will only arrive in the base Sport and upper Limited spec, with the Renegade level having been dropped.The $39,990 Sport level has 16” alloy wheels, stain-resistant upholstery, cruise control, immobiliser and six-speaker, six-stacker CD/DVD system and now gets rear parking assist and automatic climate control airconditioning.The electronic stability program has three modes — on (using stability, traction, throttle, roll mitigation and ABS), partial (deactivates throttle management) and off (retains only traction and ABS) — and also has a brake lock differential calibration that automatically kicks in for offroad use.Hill start assist, hill descent control and tyre pressure monitoring add to the Cherokee’s capability, and help you avoid situations where you might need the bigger brakes it now comes with, or the twin front and side curtain airbags – the latter of which are set up to activate when they sense a rollover is imminent.Moving up to the $45,990 Limited spec gets you 18” wheels, automatic headlights, leather and brightwork trimmings, brushed stainless steel door sills, six-way power adjustment and lumbar on the driver’s seat, heating for both front seats, and three more speakers for the audio system.Options include the $3000 MyGIG 20GB hard drive audio/nav/communication system, $2000 power sunroof or $3000 full-length canvas sunroof.In the six years the original XJ Cherokee was on the market here, it sold 18,644 vehicles. That was followed up by 12,346 between 2001-2007 for the KJ, which trailed off a little over the past couple of years.Jeep is reluctant to make sales predictions for the newcomer, with managing director Gerry Jenkins saying only that they’d “like to return to the figures of the better years”.ON THE ROADThe extra room in the Cherokee is noticeable from the start, and the cabin feels airy and uncluttered, with large sensible dials and controls. There are lots of little storage nooks, but while the glove box is reportedly bigger it’s still uselessly small. However the bin under the lightly padded centre armrest is happily cavernous enough to lose small children in if you need to.Tilt but no reach adjustment on the steering column meant it was tricky to find the right driving position.And the front seats at first seemed a bit on the flat side, but after several hours of bashing over sandy tracks they proved to be extremely comfortable and supportive, and even the base spec that had no lumbar adjustment didn’t result in tired backs.Most of the interior surfaces looked like the hard plastic would wipe down fairly easily, but there were variations in some of the gap lines that disappointed the eye.Visibility seems to have improved, especially in right hand cornering – possibly due to a clever angle and a bit of twisting of the A-pillar that slims the view angle. There was wind rush around that area at higher speeds, and some tyre hum, but the cabin was fairly quiet otherwise.The power delivery from the petrol engine was smooth and progressive, and gear changes in the fully automatic transmission were well sorted. In the 4WD modes it tackled stretches of deep sandy tracks and ruts with confidence and the engine was happy to rev up for the more difficult sections.However where the petrol engine handled the terrain easily, the diesel did it effortlessly and just calmly ambled through every task we put to it.It has truckloads of torque low down to get you through most situations, and coupled with the sequential mode of the transmission this also came in handy for overtaking on the bitumen, although you had to allow for a couple of seconds lag in each shift.But the really amazing feature was the performance of the suspension system – an independent double wishbone front and five-link solid axle rear set-up – with a great rebound damping coupled with an ability to absorb badly corrugated surfaces in the dirt. We expected a bit of body roll once we got back on to sealed road, but what did appear was surprisingly fairly controlled.Clearance in the rough was pretty good, but the acoustic `skid pan’ underneath the vehicle can fall foul of embedded branches and other nasties, so if you’re going to get serious it’s worthwhile looking at a heavy duty replacement.We didn’t get the chance at this early stage to go rock-crawling, but the diesel’s ability to walk the torque suggests that it would be the preferred option if that’s the terrain you prefer.Unlike some other offroaders – that have become so `dial-up’ that you may as well be watching a movie – the Cherokee still gives you a drive that is involving, but with enough assisting technology to prevent it being exhausting.The impression we were left with is that with either drivetrain the new model offers more than the outgoing one – more room, more comfort and more ability. Overall, that adds up to more fun. Jeep KK CherokeePRICE: from $39,990DRIVETRAINS: 151kW/314Nm 3.7-litre V6 with four-speed auto (11.7L/100km). 130kW/460Nm trubodiesel with five-speed sequential auto (9.4L/100km)DRIVE: normal rear wheel drive switchable to either 42:48 4WD Auto or 50:50 locked 4WD Low. 

You have just paid something over $120,000 for your new toy and you are feeling like the cat's whiskers. It's big, it's luxurious and crammed under that stubby little bonnet is a big V8 that can launch you and your 2-tonne plus plaything from standstill to 100km/h in under six seconds.Do you care about the price of petrol? Do you give a passing thought to fuel economy? Do you need to be flung at the horizon at that sort of velocity? Not a chance — but this is still a free society and you do have the right to offend the sensibilities of a greenie at any turn of the road.And, if you choose to exercise your rights to conspicuous consumption there seems little reason to do so in anything but comfort.Well, do Mercedes-Benz have a car for you — the latest ML500. Large, luxurious, comfortable and powerful — the 5.5-litre V8 with 285kW and 530Nm guarantees that — the ML500 is everything that gets the hackles up on those who love to hate SUVs.From it's 2.2-tonne bulk — well disguised under a stylish (in that size 16 way) body — to its 19-inch wheels the ML is a poster child for urban assault vehicles. Mercedes boffins have worked diligently to make the big V8 as fuel efficient as possible.They should be commended on squeezing an additional 60kW and 60Nm over the outing 5.0-litre unit; while reducing fuel use to an ADR rated 13.4litresper 100km.Not that you are ever going to see that figure in the real world. Settle for around the 15-litre mark and don't be surprised when it gets a few points higher. This is, after all, an engine that demands enthusiastic application bolted to a very substantial vehicle with a permanent four-wheel-drive.The fact that the figures that can be achieved are achieved is a credit to the ML's no-nonsense seven-speed automatic. It is smooth and well sorted with enough of a ratio spread to deal with some low-gear crawling or highway cruising. Where the ML500 truly surprised was when it was out of what most would consider its comfort zone — real offroading.Most of the ML500s sold in Australia will never see anything more than a dusty road or a muddy polo field, yet, despite its luxury, the big Benz is a labourer at heart.Shod with low profile road tyres and without locking diffs or low range gearing (available as an option pack for those who really want to bash their luxury 4WD around) the ML was unfazed by some relatively serious free-ranging. Up and down steep loose-rock slopes, through moderately deep wading and across shifting surfaces the ML500 gave not a moment's cause for concern.The standard-fit air suspension helped with an elevated ride height at low speeds, defaulting back to the highway setting as the speed increased. The ML500 has the 4Matic all-wheel-drive electronic transfer system as standard, including traction and stability control.The package includes anti-lock brakes, eight airbags, active head restraints and the brand's award-winning Pre-Safe occupant protection system, which ABS and stability control sensors detect an imminent impact before it occurs.The car then prepares all of its passive safety features, primes the airbags and seat belts, and closes windows and the sunroof to maximise the level of occupant protection.It would be too kind to say that the big off-roader — it earned the right not to be lumped in with the soft-roader brigade — was an outstanding highway experience. Competent, certainly, but a little fidgety off freeway-smooth surfaces. While it soaks up the more undulating road imperfections, the active damping does struggle with sharper bumps such as corrugations and allows a fair degree of body roll through the twisty stuff.However, all of this can be tolerated while you are cocooned within the ML cabin. The seating position is excellent, the seats themselves trimmed in good leather and well styled for comfort and support.Throughout, the sense of space is never compromised, except maybe behind the passenger seats where the short rear styling of the rear does give the luggage area a truncated look.If you are not travelling with the full complement of souls then longer loads can be accommodated by folding the split rear seat.There are some special touches in the ML that don't always make their way into the top-end vehicles. Mercedes have taken the sensible — it should be compulsory — step of running a reversing camera through the dash-mounted satellite navigation and DVD screen. The cost is minimal and the safety benefits enormous.More on a feel-good level is the Harman Kardon Logic7 entertainment system. The 440W surround sound system runs 12 high-performance speakers (including a sub-woofer).Self-cleaning Bi-Xenon headlights with the ALS (active light system) cornering technology and dynamic range adjustment light up great swathes of the road ahead.Try as it might, the ML500 is never going to be invited to a Save the Planet rally. Its stablemate, the somewhat greener ML320CDi diesel may make the cut but not the Big Fella. Those that own it probably don't care. The bottom lineIt's everything you expect ... and a few things you don't.  Snapshot Mercedes-Benz ML500Price: $120,874Engine: 5.5L/V8; 285kw/530NmTransmission: 7-speed automatic, all-wheel driveEconomy: claimed 13.4L/100km; 14.9L/100km as tested The rivalsBMW X5 4.8iPrice: $118,300Engine: 4.8L/V8; 261kW/475NmTransmission: 6-speed auto, all wheel driveEconomy: claimed 12.5L/100km  Jeep Commander LimitedPrice: $71,990Engine: 5.7L/V8; 240kW/500NmTranmission: Multi-speed (CVT) automatic, all-wheel driveEconomy: claimed 15.5L/100km  Audi Q7 4.2 FSI QuattroPrice: $118,900Engine: 4.2L/V8; 257kW/440NmTransmission: 6-speed tiptronic; all-wheel driveEconomy: claimed 13.6L/100km 

It is big enough and tough enough to tackle the Toyota LandCruiser, but Kia Australia has given the thumbs down to its seven-seat off-roader, the Borrego.The off-roader was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show last week, but Kia Australia spokesman Jonathan Fletcher says there are three strikes against it reaching showrooms here.Even though it is built in South Korea, the seven seater is available only in left-hand drive, and aimed at North America, where it will be sold in two and four-wheel drive and called the Mohave.Fletcher also says it may be too big for our market and it is not available with a turbodiesel.“All those things work against it for Australia,” he says.In outright size, the Borrego is close to the LandCruiser Series 200, which starts at $70,000.It is 4879mm long, 1915mm wide and has a wheelbase of 2896mm, 46mm longer than the LandCruiser.As Kia's most powerful vehicle, the full-size off-roader will be available with a 3.8-litre V6 and Kia's first 225kW 4.6-litre V8, the same engine that powers the luxury Hyundai Genesis.The V8 will be mated to a six-speed sequential automatic.Visually, Kia's wagon is based on the 2005 Mesa concept vehicle.It has a contemporary look with flared back headlights, an upright grille and chiselled bonnet.Like the LandCruiser, the big off-roader has a body-on-frame construction designed for durability, off-road strength and towing.It sits on independent front and rear suspension matched with coil-over springs, designed to provide a composed ride on and off-road.Inside, Borrego has an in-dash, six-disc 600-watt CD stereo system and USB/iPod capabilities.When it goes on sale, the car will have electric adjustable pedals DVD navigation system, and a rear reversing camera with dashboard display.Kia has tried to make the wagon as versatile as it is big.Inside there is plenty of space. The middle row of seats folds flat and slides to allow access to the third row, which fold into the luggage area.It has dual front, side and curtain airbags, hill-descent control, anti-skid brakes, brake assist and traction and stability control.Kia expect to sell 18,000 Borregos in South Korea this year, with 30,000 destined for export markets. 

The Toyota LandCruiser arrives in Lexus form with a heap of extra equipment including an impressive 10 airbags.Although Australian pricing and specifications have not yet been confirmed, expect luxury features such as four-zone climate control, power sliding second-row split seating, navigation system with Bluetooth, nine-speaker premium sound, and power third-row seating, rear-seat entertainment system and 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.At the core of the beast is the 5.7-litre V-8 engine pumps out 284kW of power, 84kW more than Toyota's older 4.7-litre V-8.Torque has also increased, from 444Nm to 602Nm.It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shifting and a Torsen limited slip differential for the full-time four-wheel drive.Towing capacity increases from 2948kg to 3855kg.Off-road features include adaptable suspension with quicker responses and finer adjustment, Crawl Control and active height control that lowers the chassis about 5cm for easier entry and exit, and raises it at lower speeds, lowering it again at higher speeds to help out in tarmac aerodynamics and fuel-efficiency.

Liz and Brad Soden's lives changed the day a tyre blew out on their car, causing a tragic accident that left Liz unable to walk.

Land Rover Discovery 3 diesel for the serious four-wheel-driver, BMW X5 diesel for the luxury 4WD buyer and Nissan X-Trail for the recreational 4WD motorist.They are the winners of the three 4WD categories in Australia's Best Cars awards, decided by state motoring organisations, including the RAA.The judges consider safety, price, running costs, comfort, performance, security and retained value. Design, function and on-road ability - and in the case of 4WDs, offroad ability - also are scored.The awards have 12 categories, with three finalists short-listed for each category. Three of the categories are for 4WD vehicles.The Recreational 4WD category was won by the newly-updated Nissan X-Trail 2.5-litre four-cylinder. The ST version with CVT automatic transmission, priced at $33,990, came in ahead of Honda CR-V and Toyota Kluger.“Off-road, the new X-Trail shows why it is rated at the front of the recreational 4WD pack,” says the judging panel. “Nissan's intelligent All Mode 4x4 system is controlled by the twist of a centre console knob, which allows the driver to choose between front-wheel drive and fully automatic four-wheel drive.“A centre differential lock is also provided for improved off-road performance. Two new worthwhile standard features are a hill-descent control and a hill-start assist.”The Luxury 4WD award was won by BMW X5 three-litre diesel with a six-speed automatic. Priced at $86,800, it beat the Lexus RX350 (which won in 2006) and the Lexus RX400h hybrid version.Judges noted the Lexus beat the BMW in standard features, and that BMW charges heavily for options. Yet the BMW scored consistently high in all areas, coming tops in braking, handling, security and trebling the Lexus score in 4WD ability. “It's a moot point as to how much off-road work the X5 will do. But when called upon, it can deliver in spades,” say the judges. “Like many diesel engines, the three-litre oil-burner is powerful (160kW), flexible and frugal (potentially under 9 litres/100km) and puts out a tree-stump-pulling 500Nm of torque at 1750rpm.”The All-terrain is the category for more serious 4WDs, this time won by the Land Rover Discovery 3SE with the 2.7-litre V6 diesel and six-speed automatic. Priced at $74,990 it beat Mitsubishi Pajero VRX diesel and Toyota Prado GXL diesel, which each cost less.Judges say “prospective buyers can rest assured that once comfortable with the dollars, they will have one of the best-engineered 4WD vehicles on the market. At full suspension height, the approach and departure angles, as well as the overall ground clearance, will handle the worst bush tracks, while the degree of selectable suspension control means it does not dance around at higher speeds on corrugated roads.”Australia's Best Cars judges say buyers do not have to compromise between off-road capability and on-road comfort and performance.  

The constant all-wheel-drive is a wider and taller vehicle with more cabin space.It makes its Australian debut at the Melbourne Motor Show in February and goes on sale in March.Australia is the biggest market for the Forester after Japan, which helped secure a quick on-sale date, according to Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior.Australian specifications and pricing details have yet to be announced.The 2008 Forester, right, will debut in Europe with the world's first diesel boxer engine, a 2-litre with about 110kW and 320Nm of torque.Subaru Australia corporate affairs manager David Rowley said they had not ruled out the diesel engine for the Forester or other vehicles.“We still don't have any firm time frame for diesel, but we'd definitely be interested in evaluating the engine in various models for our market,” he said.Currently, the Forester comes with a 2.5-litre petrol engine, with a five-speed manual or four-speed sequential automatic in X, XS and XT trim levels.The new Forester's 85mm taller roof line makes the vehicle look a little gawky, but its 45mm wider stance helps balance that impression.The vehicle is also 75mm longer and, together with the 90mm longer wheelbase, should improve legroom.Inside, it appears to get the same stylish dashboard and centre stack treatment as the new Impreza.Subaru Australia also launches the Impreza STi hatch in February.It loses the big wing, gold rims and over-sized bonnet scoop but gains a menacing body shell with pumped-out front and rear guards.The six-speed-manual Subaru has gone from 206kW to 221kW from the 2.5-litre turbo boxer with 407Nm of torque and goes 0-100km/h in 5.2sec.