Jeep Grand Cherokee: car review | Martin Love | Technology | The ...

Posted: 18 Oct 2014 10:00 PM PDT

Prize fighter: the multi-award winning Cherokee.

Price £37,705
MPG 37.7
Top speed 126mph

White mischief: Jeep's new Grand Cherokee Photograph: PR

An ancient woman, bent over two sticks, shuffles up to me in the pretty market square of St-Fort-sur-Gironde, where we are on holiday. "Monsieur, cette voiture est grosse," she croaks, indicating the giant Jeep Grand Cherokee next to me. She hasn't a tooth in her head and, though she seems to be smiling, I'm not sure she is. Maybe she thinks it is gross? I bluff it out: "Oui," I say in fluent schoolboy-ese. "C'est énorme… comme un éléphant." I'm very pleased with this, but all I get is more gum and a sour look. She shuffles off, leaving me feeling a little self-conscious.

But that's how I've been feeling all week. Compared to the rickety Renaults and crabby Citroëns puttering around these quiet roads, this mighty Jeep has felt rudely, almost defiantly healthy – like a buffed bodybuilder strutting past a bunch of anaemic goths. With its military-grade wheels, glinting seven-bar grille and imperious sneer, it's been a tank parked on France's prettiest lawns.

On the plus side, it made mincemeat of the day-long drive slicing down France from top to bottom. The Jeep may have been designed for giving Mother Nature a good thrashing, but on France's long A-roads, the SUV was a revelation. A host of driver aids meant I could flick on the adaptive cruise control and let the car take the strain. At one point the laser-activated speed system allowed me to cover more than 100 miles without touching either the brake or the throttle. The only problem was that half of Britain also seemed to be on the road. The French radio bleated the traffic news with worrying words like "embouteillage" and "malheureusement" jumping out at us. In the end we drove 650 miles in 12 hours, doing 30.1 miles to the gallon at an average speed of 54mph. Long journeys always turn me into a stats geek.

Inside story: the comfortable interior – perfect for long journeys.

The Grand Cherokee has been in production for 21 years and this is an update of the fourth-generation model. It now boasts an incredibly generous standard kit list and a slightly cleaner and leaner diesel engine. Climb inside and the Jeep has a functional layout that's very easy to live with. There are silvery finishes to buttons and dials, and leather seats that wouldn't be out of place in a gentlemen's club. The dashboard is now digital and you can choose the info you want to display – for instance switching the speedo to kph when in France. Although, worryingly, the satnav still seemed to think we were in the UK and kept telling me to go the wrong way at roundabouts.

Jeeps have a proud offroad heritage and there's a rotary dial to adjust the suspension according to the terrain you encounter: the Selec-Terrain offers a choice of auto, snow, sport, sand/mud and rock. There's an all-new eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox to replace the clunkier five-speed box and changes now are pretty slick and smooth. The posher models also come with air-suspension so the ride matches the velvety gear change.

There are a couple of niggles. There are few storage cubbies up front and the door pockets are so narrow you skin your knuckles trying to retrieve your péage tickets. There is no left foot rest – irritating in an automatic. And the foot-operated parking brake rubs the side of your shin (a small detail, but these little things build up when you're in the car for 12 hours straight).

One sweet touch that caught my eye was the tiny image of an original 1945 Willys Jeep hidden in the lens of the front lights. Jeep really has covered a lot of miles since then…

Put Britain back in the driving seat

Lorries on the A2 in Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Britain desperately needs more lorry drivers. It has been publicised recently that the UK logistics industry is facing a major skills gap, leaving an estimated 30,000 driver vacancies to be filled. Although there are 285,000 HGV drivers in the UK, there are now more Polish registered vehicles going to mainland Europe from the UK, than there are UK registered vehicles. And yet, there are thousands of HGV driver jobs being advertised in the UK. Becoming an HGV driver is a fairly straightforward process and HGV training is available at locations across the UK. So, for those looking for work or fancying a career change, why not fill one of these vacancies and help the industry put the UK back in the driver's seat.

Keeping cyclists safe

The evolution of cycling.

The RAC has just launched a new scheme offering Personal Accident Insurance cover for cyclists. It offers financial protection in the event of a serious injury or disability sustained during a road accident whilst cycling. It can help with hospital or recuperation costs, or loss of earnings whilst out of work. You can insure yourself only, or include your partner and children on your policy. Financial benefits depend on the level of cover; and can cover accidental death, permanent disability, hospitalisation and temporary disability. Personal Accident Insurance will cover you when you are cycling if you get hit by any type of vehicle while on the road whether for leisure or for work, while waiting at traffic signals or if you have to make a bicycle repair or repair a puncture at the side of the road. For more details, go to rac.co.uk

Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166

Apologies, the correct photograph has now been used

Car Review: The affordable, fun hatchback | fox13now.com

Posted: 06 Sep 2014 01:10 PM PDT

Car guy Brian Champagne test drives the hatchbacks Nissan Versa and Mitsubishi Outlander. Brian looks at their affordability and their different features.

Watch the video above for the full review.

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Saturday 25 October 2014