12/04/10

The choice of mid-size mud pluggers is now huge. But which are the must-sees? Here's the motors.co.uk pick

1: Land Rover Freelander 2
Prices £21,875-£35,045
The Freelander looks great, chunky and smart, and drives a treat. Most owners buy one never intending to take theirs even so much as across a muddy field. Just the same, the Freelander can take you for a trot down a bumpy track when you ask it to. But, like most of its direct rivals, it can't undertake full-on mud 'n' muck duties like its big brother, the discovery, can. All this and you’re sitting within a cabin that’s smart and tough. Neat touches abound, such as switches and door pulls chunky enough to work easily with gloved hands It's the most authentic mid-sized off-roader and also the classiest. It's good to drive and easier to pilot than many a similarly-sized hatchback. Reliability reports for newer ones are much improved over those for older cars, while Land Rover has also introduced worked hard to boost fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions, including a system that shuts off the engine when you're waiting in traffic.
Verdict **** 

2: Honda CR-V
Prices £20,820-£29,350
Like any Honda, this 4x4 packs a fantastic range of engines. The 2.2 turbodiesel is the pick because it’s powerful, economical and yet emits 173g/km of CO2, which isn’t bad for an off-roader. It’s not cheap but it is finished to a high standard and, following the example set by other Hondas, promises to be extremely reliable. The CR-V is also spacious, well equipped and good to drive. It’s a fine drive on Tarmac but like many other mid-size 4x4s, it’s not at its best off-road. Take it deep into the mud and it’ll probably get stuck. In fairness, few owners will care, because they’ll never venture further off-road than a mud patch in a car park.
Verdict ****
 

3: Kia Sportage
Prices £15,995-£21,045
This off-roader is cheaper than the competition and comes with a seven-year/100,000-mile full warranty, where rivals offer just three years. In our book, those two facts mean it deserves space on your buyers’ shortlist. True, it may not come that close to the CR-V’s class or the Freelander’s driving ability, but it has a no-fuss toughness about it that we like. It is reasonably smooth and quiet to drive, although the diesel clatters at town speeds. It’s cheap to run for a 4x4, too. Despite low prices, every Sportage is laden with equipment and we’d recommend the mid-level petrol and diesel models as value buys. Note that cheapest Sportages are only two-wheel-drive, which isn't great for off-roading. Verdict ****