The Top Ten Auto Show: Season 3, EP. 9 - Off-Roaders (2002) - video Dailymotion

Men and Motors

Today on The Top Ten Auto Show the team take a look at the top ten best Off Roaders of 2002, basing their final descision on pure sales figures and features.  Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you never miss a video!  ------------------ Enjoyed this video? Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE the video and get involved with our community by leaving a COMMENT below the video!   Check out what else our channel has to offer and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to Men & Motors for more classic car and motorbike content! Why not? It is free after all!  Our website: http://menandmotors.com/  ---- Social Media ----  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/menandmotors/ Instagram: @menandmotorstv Twitter: @menandmotorstv  If you have any questions, e-mail us at talk@menandmotors.com  © Men and Motors - One Media iP 2023

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:27 Hello, this is Dave Lee Travis welcoming you to another edition of the Top Ten Auto Show.

00:32 This week getting rather muddy as we get down to review the rough and tough off-roaders on offer in the UK.

00:38 The judging as usual has been carried out by our expert panel which includes editors of the big motoring magazines.

00:44 So let's see in what order they voted the top ten off-roaders.

00:49 [Music]

00:52 Down at number ten this year is the Hyundai Santa Fe which has had a pretty good run for its money.

00:57 The car's styling is rugged and quite appealing. Interior space is excellent and the driver's ergonomics cannot be faulted.

01:04 The list of kit you get with the Santa Fe is astonishing for the money and having scored four stars in the Euro NCAP test,

01:11 it's very solid for safety. So why do we have a problem with this car?

01:16 It's just that the ownership experience is a pretty grim affair. Taking the potential heavy depreciation on the chin is bad enough.

01:24 But once you turn the key and roll on down the road you'll discover that the Santa Fe is frankly nasty to drive.

01:31 We suppose that there must be some drivers out there who actually want to swap a solid and enjoyable drive for a host of extras and a low initial price tag.

01:40 Actually this car isn't bad value for money when you look at it from that point of view.

01:44 But as long as you're not going to use the Santa Fe for too violent off-road antics, this isn't a bad buy.

01:50 Let's now take a look at the manufacturer's facts and figures for the Santa Fe.

01:54 [Music]

01:57 [Music]

02:20 So how did our expert panel vote each category? Let us reveal all.

02:24 [Music]

02:34 In tenth place then with an average percentage of 62, the Hyundai Santa Fe.

02:39 [Music]

02:42 Now here's a question for you. When is an off-roader not an off-roader?

02:46 When it doesn't look like one could be the answer.

02:49 If you're after a 4x4 which doesn't scream this fact at passers-by, the Audi Allroad Quattro could be for you.

02:57 To the uninitiated, the Audi Allroad looks like an A6 Avant with a slightly higher suspension level and a bit of extra trim.

03:04 But there's plenty more beneath the surface that makes this a serious contender for our off-roading top ten.

03:10 To a driver that's used to driving the normal A6, they won't feel that much difference when motoring along on a tarmac.

03:16 There may be a little bit more body roll on the corners, but thanks to a very clever variable four-level suspension system,

03:22 when driving on normal roads, you're actually lower down.

03:26 As soon as this car goes off-road down a forest track or across a muddy field, the car can raise its height.

03:32 You also have a low-ratio gearbox which helps the Audi grip the surface and make progress reliably.

03:38 Sure, it may be expensive to buy and expensive to maintain, but you only get what you pay for in this world,

03:43 and depreciation levels will be well contained.

03:46 So let's check out vital stats on this Ingolstadt-created beauty.

03:51 [Music]

04:13 So what did our expert panel vote for each category? Let's have a look.

04:17 [Music]

04:25 In ninth place then, with an average percentage of 64, the Audi Allroad Quattro.

04:31 [Music]

04:35 At number eight in our chart of the top ten off-roaders is a Nissan, the X-Trail.

04:40 This machine certainly won't win any beauty competitions with its huge, bug-eyed headlamps and slab-sided styling,

04:46 and the interior dashboard looks like a dog's dinner of lines and curves, but this is one hell of a practical car.

04:53 Deep beneath, there's a very high-tech four-wheel drive system,

04:56 which makes the X-Trail a very able performer on and off the tarmac, with a choice of both petrol and diesel.

05:02 You'll find both equally good, but you'll probably find the low-range torque more useful on the diesel.

05:08 However, on both versions, the low gearing may help traction,

05:12 but it means that at motorway speeds, the revs are high, which increases noise and guzzles that gas.

05:17 On a long journey, this is compensated for by the comfy seats, large amounts of space,

05:22 and the thought that's been given to the passengers with the ergonomics and layout within.

05:26 With a reasonable amount of ground clearance and short overhangs, the Nissan is not bad as an off-roader,

05:32 but this is very much a suburban runaround with only limited true off-road potential.

05:37 Let's now take a look at the facts and figures for the X-Trail.

05:41 [Music]

06:06 So, how did our expert panel vote each category? Here are the numbers.

06:11 [Music]

06:19 In eighth place, then, with an average percentage of 65, the Nissan X-Trail.

06:24 [Music]

06:28 We're moving up our chart of the top ten off-roaders, and at the number seven position we present the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

06:35 Still extremely desirable, this great-looking off-roader is very well equipped and is admired in the off-road community.

06:42 Others may be more refined or be better in the real rough situations,

06:46 but the Grand Cherokee has for years been offering a wonderful overall package which appeals to many.

06:52 You'll get heads turning as your rugged Grand Cherokee whisks you through town and on towards the rough stuff in the woods.

06:59 The grip and handling in the mud and in the rutted tracks can be astonishing,

07:03 and the permanent four-wheel drive system with a switchable low-ratio system grips very well.

07:09 On the tarmac, the engine can get a bit vocal at high speeds, but that engine is a hell of a big beast.

07:15 The V8 pumps out 220 brake horsepower. Now that is all-American.

07:20 If you don't mind getting about 20 miles to the gallon, test-drive the Grand Cherokee.

07:25 Otherwise, there are more frugal off-roaders out there.

07:28 But it's all swings and roundabouts. Extras which, say, Land Rover customers would have to get a checkbook out for,

07:35 come free with this Yankee machine.

07:37 Leather-trimmed seats, CD player alloy wheels, and the must-have air conditioning are all standard on the Grand Cherokee.

07:44 So, let's check out vital stats on the car.

07:47 [Music]

08:14 So, what did our expert panel vote for each category? Let's have a look.

08:18 [Music]

08:26 In seventh place, then, with an average percentage of 66, the Grand Cherokee.

08:31 [Music]

08:36 At the number six position, the car that's come a long way from the Mark I version,

08:40 the Toyota RAV4 originally came out very much as a lifestyle machine,

08:45 appealing to hairdressers and young drivers who just wanted something that looked a bit different.

08:49 I bet most people didn't even know it had off-road capabilities.

08:53 Well, the latest version of the RAV4 has been toughened up considerably for the real world.

08:58 Now, the machine has got quite decent ground clearance, and even though it hasn't got a low-ratio gearbox,

09:03 it can haul itself out of some quite difficult situations.

09:07 The styling looks almost like a Mercedes M-Class,

09:10 and maybe that's what they were thinking when they penned this latest design.

09:14 The interior now is a vast improvement on the old version, with decent quality plastics, fabrics, and switchgear.

09:20 You'll have plenty of room, and there are now versatile seating systems,

09:24 which can be moved around or be removed, like in an MPV.

09:27 And, if you're going away on a long trip, the boot is enormous, one of the largest in its class.

09:33 On the negative side, the tailgate opens sideways, which is very awkward in a tight situation,

09:39 and at high speed, the road noise is very intrusive, but overall, a pretty impressive package.

09:45 Let's check out the figures from the manufacturer.

09:48 [Music]

10:14 And now, let's discover what our experts gave in percentages for each category of judging.

10:19 [Music]

10:27 In sixth place, then, with an average percentage of 67, the Toyota RAV4.

10:32 [Music]

10:35 While you guess what could be at number one this year, let me reveal the number five position occupied by the Honda CR-V.

10:42 This car was one of the first of the so-called "soft-roaders", which offered a little bit of off-roadability,

10:47 with a lot of styling, and was designed to appeal to people who didn't want to shell out on a full-blown Land Rover.

10:53 The very first CR-V sold over one million, and this is the second generation,

10:58 which is now built in the UK at their Swindon plant.

11:01 Hooray!

11:02 It's certainly got more aggressive looks, and even the powertrain has been revised.

11:06 It still has the intelligent four-wheel drive system,

11:09 and this means that should the permanently driven front wheels start to slide,

11:13 power is automatically sent on demand to the rear axle, which should get you out of trouble in many situations.

11:19 There's a decent amount of clearance, which makes the car useful for off-road work,

11:23 and the 148-brake horsepower 2.0-litre engine has a decent amount of pull.

11:28 On the downside, it's a shame that the interior hasn't been upgraded for the new version,

11:32 as the driver is still surrounded with drab black plastic.

11:36 The layout is quite decent, though, and there's plenty of space for all.

11:40 Let's check out vital statistics on the Honda CR-V.

11:44 [Music]

12:07 Right, let's discover the lowdown on each mode in category.

12:11 [Music]

12:19 In fifth place, then, with an average percentage of 68, the Honda CR-V.

12:24 That's it for part one of Top Ten Off-Roaders.

12:27 Join us after the break when we reveal the top four cars.

12:31 [Music]

12:37 Hello, this is Dave Lee Travis, welcoming you back to the Top Ten Off-Roaders.

12:41 [Music]

12:45 Moving up to the number four position, and it's the stateside-built Mercedes.

12:50 Direct from the Alabama factory, the Mercedes M-Class has proven itself over the years to be a very capable,

12:56 solid off-roader that has a useful second life as a spacious family car.

13:01 Now, here's a machine which oozes desirability.

13:04 It's low depreciation, it's smart, it's got almost retro styling.

13:08 This is a very impressive machine with a range of powerful engines up to a massive 5.4-litre power plant.

13:15 This is a very big car, and you get a wonderful elevated driver's position,

13:19 which makes you feel like you're the king of the road.

13:22 When you're tackling the rough stuff, the Mercedes handles it as well as the most dedicated cars,

13:27 and the low-range transfer box has lots of grunt to get you over the rocks and mud.

13:31 But at the end of the day, the M-Class is more likely to be a status symbol in a city environment,

13:36 with maybe only a limited amount of off-road work at the weekend.

13:39 That's fine, because that's what it's been designed to do.

13:43 The great all-rounder, and the very sensible buy from Mercedes-Benz, the M-Class.

13:48 Let's check out vital stats on the car.

13:51 [MUSIC]

14:01 [MUSIC]

14:22 So, what did our expert panel vote for each category?

14:25 [MUSIC]

14:33 In seventh place, then, with an average percentage of 69, the Mercedes M-Class.

14:38 [MUSIC]

14:43 We're into the top three now, and at the number three position, it's our friends from Sweden.

14:47 Volvo, with the XC90.

14:50 This is a machine with so much going for it, you'll have to double-take at the price tag.

14:55 Is it really only about £30,000 for so much kit, so much technology, and with a Volvo badge on the front?

15:02 It's true that the Volvo company are putting an awful lot on this machine, but it seems they've backed a winner.

15:08 You can tell that they've had BMW's X5 in its sights, but also are desperate to make it more appealing in many ways.

15:16 They've succeeded in some, but not in others. It's certainly stylish, sophisticated, with plenty of gadgets.

15:22 However, it's a very heavy car, which doesn't make it economic to run, or nimble to drive.

15:27 The steering doesn't give very good feedback, and so it's not going to be a car that appeals to an enthusiastic driver.

15:33 For family people, however, they'll be queuing up down the block.

15:37 This is a car which is safe, big, and practical.

15:40 So, what figures can Volvo give us about the XC90?

15:44 [Music]

16:10 Let's see what our expert panel voted for each category.

16:14 [Music]

16:21 In third place, then, with an average percentage of 71, the Volvo XC90.

16:27 [Music]

16:31 Let's reveal the number two car right now, and it's Land Rover's Range Rover.

16:36 What a superb car this is, but there again, it should be for the price.

16:40 For about 60 grand for the top of the range model, you'll enjoy immense presence on the road,

16:45 and a truly luxurious machine. It's better built than ever.

16:49 Forget those horror stories of the very first Range Rovers, this is solid and reliable engineering

16:54 that gives the impression that, dare I say it, it's been built in Germany.

16:58 The new model of the Range Rover is a huge leap forward compared to the old model.

17:03 Instead of just a posher version of their main line-up of mud-pluggers,

17:07 it's almost as if they started thinking Rolls-Royce and then built on the off-road capabilities.

17:12 Climbing into this huge machine, you almost start looking for the built-in fridge with the chilled champagne.

17:18 On the road, the car's manners are vastly improved.

17:22 The steering feedback is excellent, and tarmac driving is not compromised by the heavy mechanicals underneath

17:28 that drag this car over some of the worst off-road conditions that countryside can throw at it.

17:33 It has a new differential, independent suspension, and engines with more pulling power than a Hollywood star.

17:40 Here are the vital statistics.

17:42 [Music]

18:07 So, what did our expert panel vote for each category?

18:10 Let's have a look.

18:12 [Music]

18:20 In second place, then, with an average percentage of 77, the mighty Range Rover.

18:26 Now, before we find out what's number one, let's run down the top ten off-roaders.

18:31 [Music]

18:34 At the number ten position, it's Hyundai's chunky Santa Fe.

18:38 Mercedes all-road comes in at number nine.

18:41 At number eight, it's the Nissan X-Trail.

18:45 Number seven sees the Grand Cherokee.

18:49 The latest version of the Toyota RAV4 takes the number six position.

18:54 While at number five, it's Swindon's finest, Honda's CR-V.

18:58 At number four, the American-built Mercedes, the M-Class.

19:03 At three, the astonishing new Volvo, the XC90.

19:07 And at number two, the mighty Range Rover.

19:10 [Music]

19:13 As you've probably guessed, at the top of the tree is the ubiquitous X5.

19:18 Here's a machine which doesn't drive like an off-roader on tarmac at all.

19:22 It's more like an executive machine, and more like the award-winning 5 Series, than it's actually based on.

19:28 There are three petrol engines on offer, with the 4.4i V8 pumping out more than enough power to get you up and down the motorway smoothly and with ease.

19:36 Out in the sticks, the X5 will admit it will never beat anything like, for example, a Land Rover Defender,

19:42 as it has little ground clearance and no low-range transfer box.

19:46 But it does have BMW's excellent Dynamic Stability Control, permanent four-wheel drive,

19:51 and in the hill-descent mode, it should get you out of most trouble off-road, as long as you're sensible about it.

19:57 This is one of the best cars BMW have ever produced,

20:01 and it's no wonder our expert panel have voted it number one in our chart this year.

20:06 Inside, the car can easily accommodate three large adults in the rear.

20:10 The boot is not the biggest in its class, but it has a useful loading area.

20:14 And behind the wheel, the driver used to the typical 5 Series range layout will feel very much at home here.

20:21 The BMW X5. Terrific on-road ability with a classy, comfortable cabin, and more than enough ability off the tarmac.

20:29 Here, then, are the specifications for the X5.

20:55 We know it's the winner, but let's take a look at our expert panel scores.

20:59 A worthy winner of our award.

21:13 Good evening, this is Rob Ovens, Managing Director of Men & Motors,

21:16 and I'm here with Phil Houlton, Marketing Director of BMW.

21:19 And I'm pleased to award you the Top Off-Roader for the BMW X5.

21:25 I have to say, it's a personal favourite of mine, and many congratulations.

21:28 Well, thanks very much, Rob. It's absolutely great.

21:31 Again, it's a very, very tough category, this.

21:34 Particularly beating the likes of the new Range Rover, which is a great product,

21:38 and even more so the new Volvo, which I think will be very strong as well.

21:41 But I guess at the moment, we're still top dog with the X5, and that's a great feeling. Thanks very much.

21:46 So, congratulations to BMW for yet another winner.

21:50 Join us next week when we'll be going down the top 10 coupes on sale now in the UK.

21:56 Goodbye, and we'll see you then.

21:58 [Closing credits]

22:01 [Music]

22:30 (thunder)

The Top Ten Auto Show: Season 3, EP. 9 - Off-Roaders (2002)

Category

Transcript

Recommended