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Contenders in this year's crop of off-roaders split neatly Into
Page 36
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tl,vo groups: vans (converted SUVs) and pickups. The former saw the arrival of a new name in the CM archive, that of SsangYorig. The Korean company, now owned by China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), has converted two of its SUVs, the Kyron and Rexton, into five-door vans, and it was tine former that we put through its paces. While some details appeared dated, it was generally well equipped, particularly when its £14k price was considered. Its mechanical qualities also impressed with a refined drveline and plenty of electronic chassis aids to keep it safe.
The SsangYong was tested head-to-head with the latest Land Rover Freelander 2 Commercial. While the original Free[ander didn't exactly make friends with all it encountered, the second-generation model follows the Land Rover ethos more closely. Although it initially costs some 50% more than the Kyron, you still get a decent level of equipment, but you also get the benefit of Solihull's 60 years of experience building nothing but offreaders. Although lacking a 'proper' dual-range transmission, it does get a sophisticated electronic chassis control system to compensate. The torquey engine and six-speed gearbox also helped it get the decision.
The first of a trio of pickups from Japanese companies was a Mitsubishi L200 in fully loaded Diamond guise, which brings new levels of hedonism to the 'humble ute'. We found the added bling didn't meld with the core characteristics inside. Dynamically, though, the L200 set new standards for ease of use with its road-biased suspension setup backed by the latest electronic stability and traction aids. Off-road was no more than average, however.
The Mazda BT-50 TS2, Mazda's version of the jointly developed Ford Ranger, has impressive paper credentials, and didn't disappoint in the metal. We found the Mazda to have a nicely balanced set of abilities that does everything well without amazing or disappointing in any one area. Our worst criticism referred to the antiquated parking brake.
Nissan's newest entrant, the NP300. goes back to basics. It is definitely more workhorse than show pony, but the only area that really suffers from its lowly position is the bench seat, the biggest contributor to the cramped nature of the single-cab version. The 131hp 2.5-litre common rail engine gives good performance, and while the on-road dynamics are good, it's even better on the rough. The NP300's biggest downfall, though, is its pricing which just doesn't reflect its position.
At the end of the day, our choice came down between the Mazda's all-round ability and the Freelander's success in bringing its brand's traditional values to a wider audience, but in the final analysis, the Solihull contender Just took the title.