Building on the excellence of the Grand Cherokee and iconic Wrangler, Jeep has done a brilliant job of climbing upmarket, into the semi-premium space occupied by Acura, Infiniti, etc. Sometimes that can create cognitive dissonance, as when one of its SUVs doesn’t live up to expectations.
There was a time when Land Rover—and Range Rover, its even more prestigious brand—could do no wrong. The company had pretty much defined the premium SUV experience and sales reflected that. It got to the point that models bought here and exported to China were worth two to three times their MSRP Stateside. But things change quickly these days and now the company (and sister brand Jaguar) are struggling mightily.
By Isaac Bouchard Two of the larger crossovers on the market are the Chevrolet Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas. Both have more interior volume than some of the body-on-frame SUVs like the Tahoe, in a package that is more car-like to drive. Both are powered by 3.6-liter V6s and come in either front- or all-wheel drive. … Read more
America’s Big Three proudly keep producing trucks with plenty of size, power and room for gear galore. By Isaac Bouchard FOR DECADES NOW, America’s Big Three have specialized in trucks, SUVs and crossovers. Today, these vehicles comprise three-quarters of all new automobile sales. Into this burgeoning market General Motors and Ford have plunged, and while … Read more
By Isaac Bouchard The Alltrack represents many of the things VW does best. In SEL trim—as tested—it looks good inside and out, has very well rounded dynamics and performs well. The Alltrack, based on the excellent Golf SportWagen, sits 1.4 inches higher, giving it increased ground clearance for light duty offroad work (bolstered by a … Read more
By Isaac Bouchard I had my first exposure to the all-new Mercredes GLE-class SUV in late Winter. It impressed with the torque of its 2-liter, four cylinder base engine and overall competence. About a month later I had the opportunity to get to know the new Benz better while driving one in Dallas. This was … Read more
