No road is too tough or too rough for these near-luxury SUVs
Graeme Fletcher combines manufacturers’ incentives from Unhaggle.com with resale value, dependability and overall ratings to find the best deals in new cars. This week, he looks at near-luxury SUVs with on-road civility and some off-road ability. The hot deals are on the Hyundai Santa Fe XL LTD 4WD, Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD and the Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 HSE 4WD. 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe XL Limited 4WD MSRP: $44,399 Hyundai Canada I ncentive*: $2,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,250 Total Savings: $3,250 Mandatory Fees ( Freight, Govt. Fees): $2,035 Total Before Tax: $43,184 Where the Santa Fe XL Limited differs from the regular model is more interior space and the addition of an optional third row. The front two- thirds of the cabin is well conceived, roomy and very comfortable. The third row is best reserved for the young and agile. The Limited featured as the Unhaggle deal comes with a ton of equipment — everything from a 12-way heated/cooled driver’s seat with memory and a power panoramic moonroof to a 12- speaker Infinity audio system with eight- inch touch screen and navigation, along with blindspot monitoring and crosstraffic alert. That is rich by segment standards.
The Santa Fe XL Limited comes with a 3.3- litre V6, six- speed automatic and allwheel drive. The engine delivers 290 horsepower and 252 pound- feet of torque, which is enough to get the XL from rest to 100 km/ h in 8.4 seconds and deliver a 2,268- kilogram maximum tow capacity (with trailer brakes).
In terms of ride and handling, the XL feels a lot smaller than its size suggests; the body is well damped with minimal body roll and the adjustable steering delivers decent feel and feedback. 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4WD MSRP: $43,395 Jeep Canada Incentive*: $3,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,250 Total Savings: $4,250 Mandatory Fees ( Freight, Govt. Fees): $1,935 Total Before Tax: $41,080 For years, if one needed to get to an inaccessible fishing hole there was but one choice: a Jeep. With more manufacturers entering the SUV fray, the Grand Cherokee has more competition than ever before, but it still manages to ride high, even as the trail deteriorates.
The Unhaggle Laredo featured is powered by the company’s Pentastar 3.6-L V6 engine. It twists out 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, enough to motivate it from rest to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and giving it the heft to tow a 2,812kg trailer. The inclusion of idle/stop improves fuel efficiency. It is teamed with an eight- speed automatic t ransmission and Jeep’s Quadra- Trac I all- wheeldrive system. To improve offroad capability, it includes Brake Lock Differential and 4-Wheel-Brake Traction Control systems. The suspension is also well sorted, bringing a good balance between the need for long travel and onroad driving manners.
However, if off- roading is important, the Off- road Adventure group I ($ 975) is a must. Along with skid plates, tow hooks and a full- size spare comes Quadra-Trac II, which includes a low- range gear set and Jeep’s SelecTerrain Traction Management System. With settings for Sport, Snow, Sand/ Mud and Rock, as well as Auto for everyday driving, it is a grand (pun intended) well spent!
Up front, the Laredo is well equipped and includes a 12- way power driver’s seat and Jeep’s Uconnect 5.0. At the back there is a comfortable seat that will accommodate three adults, and 1,027 litres of cargo space. Folding the rear seat sees it expand to 1,934 litres. Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 HSE 4WD MSRP: $46,790 Land Rover Canada Incentive*: $3,000 Unhaggle Savings: $1,500 Total Savings: $4,500 Mandatory Fees ( Freight, Govt. Fees): $1,715 Total Before Tax: $44,005 The Land Rover Discovery Sport augments two versions of the larger Range Rover. While it resembles its more luxurious sibling, it arrives with a tighter, leaner driving feel. It is an attractive goanywhere package. The ride is cushioned without feeling soft and the steering is quick to respond, regardless of terrain.
The Discovery Sport is powered by a 2.0- L turbo- charged four- cylinder that’s good for 240 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The performance it delivers is pretty good, bringing a run to 100 km/ h in 8.2 seconds. The engine is teamed with a nine-speed transmission and a proficient all- wheel- drive system that engages in just 350 milliseconds whenever it detects wheel slippage. The transmission itself is one of the more accomplished nine- speed boxes, as there’s much less hunting for the right gear.
There are several reasons the Discovery Sport is more than capable of going where most fear to tread. It not only gets hill-descent control and a brake- based torque vectoring system, it also benefits greatly from LR’s Terrain Response system. It features a normal on- road driving mode along with mud/ruts, grass/gravel/snow and sand modes. The system tweaks everything from the throttle r esponse and t ransmission shift strategy to how the traction control and allwheel drive work, ensuring optimum traction.
The Discovery’s cabin is nicely attired and features most of the desirable amenities, including 10- way driver/passenger seats with memory and a fixed panoramic moonroof. Sadly, blind- spot monitoring is part of a $1,350 package. The back end is roomy, given its outside dimensions; with the seats upright, there are 981 L of space or 1,887 L with them folded down. The floor is not completely flat, but as the seats lock in the down position this is less of a shortcoming. There’s also a third row option, which gives the Sport 5+2 seating.
In terms of safety, the IIHS rates t he Hyundai Santa Fe and Jeep Grand Cherokee as Good in all categories except the small- offset frontal test, where both scored a marginal rating. There are no crash test results for the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Three very capable deals, each of which is a winner, depending upon usage. If it’s a soft-roader that’s wanted, the winner is the Santa Fe XL. It has room and flexibility along with a lengthy equipment list and some off- road potential. However, if you want to get to that elusive fishing hole, the Jeep Grand Cherokee still rules the roost.