The Mud Life 4x4 Magazine - #46 - March 2023

THE MUD LIFE

ISSUE 46 March 2023

Jimny & Lexus

Jeep reneGade

maxus t90ev citroën aircross

To find out about advertising in the magazine,

email :

damian@themudlife.co.uk

Important information

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the contents of The Mud Life magazine are accurate, we accept no responsibility for errors or omissions, nor the consequence of actions made as a result of these. When responding to any advertisements in The Mud Life magazine, you should make appropriate enquiries before sending money or entering into a contract. The publishers and owners take reasonable care to ensure advertiser’s probity, but will not be liable for any losses incurred as a result of responding to adverts.

Copyright

All images and material on these pages are protected by copyright © Damian Turner. All rights reserved. None of the images or material within this magazine may be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold or otherwise exploited for any commercial purpose that is not expressly authorised by Damian Turner or Karen Lee Turner.

THE TEAM

DAMIAN TURNER

Editor-in-ChiEf, WritEr, PhotograPhEr, rEviEWEr

KAREN LEE TURNER

(A.K.A. The Muddy Madam)

CrEativE dirECtor, Editor, rEviEWEr

LILLY - THE MUD LIFE DOG

CuddlE MonstEr, ModEl, rEviEWEr

'Spring'ing into action turner's torque

I love Spring - warmer weather, more daylight hours and of course the start of all the car shows and meets.

By the time you’re reading this, 4x4 Expo will have been and gone, and I will have attended the UK launch of the new Ford Raptor (both reviewed in next month’s issue). The launch involved a ten hour round trip to Arundel on the south coast. Reading the itinerary, it includes a long on-road route to Slindon Safari where I’m hoping I can get my Raptor absolutely filthy, whilst giving it a thorough test, obviously.

If you want to discover other events that are coming up click on the box below. If you have any events that you would like adding to the list just pop us an email to - events@themudlife.co.uk

In this issue you will find a collection of green laning adventures in the Jeep Renegade, Suzuki Jimny and Lexus RX450h, and our good friend and colleague Andy Harris got his hands on, and takes a closer look at the UK’s first electric pickup - the Maxus T90EV. The official UK launch for the T90EV isn’t until midMarch, which, fingers crossed, I’m hoping to attend.

As well as long-time supporters Storm Jeeps, Britpart and Robens, you will hopefully notice that we have three new advertisers this month - OSRAM, Petromax and Peli, so please show your support by clicking on their adverts and having a look around their websites, and if you spend some of your hard earned pennies along the way, all the better.

Until next month, happy ‘laning…

Munro MK_1 debuts all-electric 4x4 at Low Carbon Agriculture News

Munro Vehicles, a manufacturer of all-electric 4x4s, and Scotland’s only volume production car company, gave its first vehicle, the Munro MK_1, its public debut at the LCA show in February.

The Munro MK_1 combines a state-of-the-art 280kW electric powertrain with a proven, robust, simple-to-maintain mechanical driveline. The Munro is engineered to provide a unique solution for those wishing to minimise their environmental footprint without compromising off-road ability, performance and practicality.

Munro CEO Russell Peterson, who co-founded the company with Head of Powertrain Ross Anderson in 2019, said:

“Meeting the demanding needs of the agriculture sector was foremost in our minds when we were developing the Munro MK_1. Spending much of my formative years on a farm and then running my own agricultural contracting company, I know only too well how important it is to have proper, proven kit that you can rely on whatever the weather and the conditions, and that won’t let you down no matter how much abuse you throw at it. And every Munro is engineered around those enduring values.”

Priced from £49,995 with deliveries due to commence later this year, the appeal of the Munro MK_1 extends far beyond field and farmyard.

Offering an optimum range of up 190 miles and the flexibility to operate off-road for up to 16 hours on a single battery charge, the Munro’s unique attributes are equally suitable for those working in challenging sectors such as construction, mining, environmental, emergency rescue, remote infrastructure maintenance, in addition to recreation.

Munro takes an equally innovative and disruptive approach to the marketing and maintenance of its products. The company will select a global series of agents and will recognise the customers’ right to repair and maintain their vehicle without invalidating its full 5 year / 100,000-mile warranty.

The company has already established a partnership with Marc Monsarrat, director of Oxfordshire-based Off-Road Electric, which specialises in supplying fully electric utility vehicles to working farmers, landowners, and institutions in the UK.

Enjoy outdoor adventures with Dacia News

Dacia’s sense of adventure and outdoor spirit is now even greater thanks to the introduction of a new range-topping Extreme trim level, and the release of an innovative Sleep Pack that turns the Jogger’s spacious interior into a mobile bedroom in minutes.

The new Extreme trim - which marks the pinnacle of the Sandero Stepway range and replaces the previous Extreme SE on Jogger and Duster - stands out with its own distinctive look that evokes a sense of the great outdoors.

Exclusive Cedar Green paintwork contrasts perfectly with the Copper Brown mirror caps, wheel centres, Dacia tailgate logo and roof bar emblems. Sandero Stepway and Jogger also feature Copper Brown detailing for the front fog lights, plus a striking topographical pattern on the front doors and side guards.

Duster carries a similar design on the door pillars, protective wheelarch flares and snorkel. All models come with Brilliant Black alloy wheels (16" on Sandero Stepway & Jogger, 17" on Duster,) as well as a Brilliant Black shark fin antenna.

That same topographical pattern makes its way into the interior where it appears on the door sills and hard-wearing rubber floor mats, while Copper Brown highlights can be found on the front door panels, air vent surrounds, and Duster’s gear lever surround and stitching. Making its debut within the trio of Extreme models is a new hard-wearing, easy-to-clean upholstery material named MicroCloud with a velvetlike appearance and feel.

Complementing Duster’s availability as a rugged and robust four-wheel-drive model, both Sandero Stepway Extreme and Jogger Extreme are now equipped with Extended Grip as standard. This clever feature, activated via a button on the centre console, adjusts the electronic stability control (ESC) settings to maximise the available traction on loose surfaces, helping drivers venture further off the beaten track.

Meanwhile, Dacia Jogger owners who love an adventure can benefit from Dacia’s first new accessory launched as part of the InNature range. The clever new Sleep Pack turns the Jogger’s spacious interior into a bedroom for two in a matter of minutes. Going camping has never been so easy!

Sleep Pack is simple, removable and affordable. It is compatible with all Dacia Jogger trim levels and features a 220 litre storage box that can be accessed with the double bed unfolded or folded. Dacia’s ingenious thinking has once again been applied with Sleep Pack being able to be set up unassisted in less than two minutes, requiring only the removal of the third-row seats.

To keep things simple and easy, the whole pack weighs less than 50kg - making it effortless to remove – and when set-up with its generous 190cm x 130cm mattress, it still offers a surprising 60cm of headroom, limiting the chances of anything going bump in the night. In the morning, the pack can be quickly folded away before setting off on another adventure.

If even more sleeping space is needed, a smart tent is also available that can be connected to the Jogger’s open tailgate, while blackout blinds for all windows offer privacy and light control.

The Sleep Pack and other InNature accessories will be available to order at the same time as a new Dacia Jogger or can be easily added at any time separately.

Priced from £16,745 on-the-road for Sandero

Stepway Extreme, from £19,695 on-the-road for Duster Extreme and from £19,445 on-the-road for Jogger Extreme, the new adventurous new trim line is available to order from 1st March with the Sleep Pack following in the second quarter of the year.

BMW iX5 Hydrogen launches pilot fleet News

After four years of development, the BMW Group is presenting international media representatives with the first BMW iX5 Hydrogen vehicles in a pilot fleet that will go into service this year.

The fleet vehicles will be used for demonstration and trial purposes, giving people not involved in the development process the first chance to get a taste of what the BMW iX5 Hydrogen has to offer.

The BMW iX5 Hydrogen, developed on the basis of the current BMW X5, was first unveiled as a concept at the IAA show in 2019, then prototypes were made available at the show in 2021 as shuttle vehicles.

The BMW Group is systematically pushing forward with development of hydrogen fuel cell technology as an additional option for locally emission-free individual mobility. The highly efficient fuel cell systems are made at its in-house centre for hydrogen in Munich, and they source the individual fuel cells from Toyota. The two companies have been collaborating on fuel cell drive systems since 2013.

The fuel cell system is one of the core elements in the BMW iX5 Hydrogen and generates a high continuous output of 125 kW/170 hp. In combination with a highly integrated drive unit at the rear axle, and a power battery with lithium-ion technology developed specially for this vehicle, the powertrain channels maximum output of 295kW / 401 hp onto the road. In coasting overrun and braking phases, the motor also serves as a generator, feeding energy back into a power battery.

Oliver Zipse, CEO of BMW AG said :

“Hydrogen is a versatile energy source that has a key role to play in the energy transition process and therefore in climate protection. After all, it is one of the most efficient ways of storing and transporting renewable energies. We should use this potential to also accelerate the transformation of the mobility sector. Hydrogen is the missing piece in the jigsaw when it comes to emissionfree mobility. One technology on its own will not be enough to enable climate-neutral mobility worldwide.”

Isuzu UK partners with Football Shirt Friday News

Isuzu UK has partnered with Football Shirt Friday to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund in the battle against bowel cancer. As a result of this new partnership, Isuzu UK will be encouraging all employees and the publuc to donate, with a dedicated Cancer Research UK giving page. Additionally, each of Isuzu UK’s dealer network have a dedicated giving page, allowing dealers to assist with the fundraising effort. The grand total will sit on Isuzu FC (Football Community).

Football Shirt Friday is a national fundraising campaign by the Bobby Moore Fund, in support of Cancer Research UK, that aims to raise funds for research into bowel cancer and increase public awareness of the disease.

Within the company, Isuzu UK will be urging employees to swap their usual work attire for the campaign’s namesake football shirts, to further promote the cause.

The 2023 campaign will take place on April 21st and seeks to encourage as many people as possible to wear their favourite football shirts, and then share a photo on social media to spread the word and donate to tackle bowel cancer.

The Bobby Moore Fund was established in memory of Bobby Moore, who died of bowel cancer in 1993 at the age of 51. Over the past 30 years, the Fund has raised almost £30 million towards bowel cancer research.

George Wallis, Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, said:

“By promoting this charitable campaign, we are trying to get as many people as possible to join forces against bowel cancer and make a meaningful impact through not just community spirit, but also a shared love of football. Getting the entire dealer network involved is proof that people can come together for the greater good.”

Maxus T90EV The UK’s First Electric Pickup

by Andy Harris

It was only a matter of time before an electric pickup went on sale in the UK. Offerings from Rivian and Mr Musk’s Tesla are still some way off. It has instead been left to Chinese brand SAIC Maxus to bring us the T90EV.

Ahead of the UK Media Launch in a couple of weeks’ time, I was able to spend an afternoon behind the wheel of what I believe is the very first production ready vehicle to land in the UK. Delivery mileage and the remnants of window stickers still apparent.

An initial walkaround brought no surprises, though the front end with the massive chrome grille with the Maxus logo is quite imposing.

A sturdy tailgate to the rear gives access to a conventional load bed and there’s a handy step in the bumper for easier access.

Battery vehicles are by their very nature heavier and a gross vehicle weight of 3,300kg shows the T90 to be no lightweight. The battery is fitted under the cab and load floor but be reassured that a 1 tonne payload is still the order of the day. Rather more disappointing is the maximum towing weight for a braked trailer is just 1,000kg which will limit the truck’s usability for some.

The manufacturer claims a range of 205 miles in ideal conditions, which should prove to be more than adequate for most pickup truck users.

The 88.5kWh battery puts out a heady 201 bhp and power is fed to the rear wheels only. I am told an all-wheel drive version will follow. For the time being then, probably best to stick to terra firma. Ground clearance is a little lower than ICE competitors too.

The driving experience will be familiar to all pickup truck owners. An empty load bed saw a little bounce from the unladen rear end, though the weight of the battery does help in this regard. Step away from rest is suitably brisk, with just a noticeable but not unpleasant electric whine. Once above 40mph or thereabouts rustle from around the wing mirrors takes over as the predominant sound. It is all rather peaceful and a world away from some of the rather noisy diesel engines fitted elsewhere.

There are three driving modes and for the most part I left the T90 in its default ‘normal’ setting. Eco might work when pottering around town, though more interesting was the ‘Power’ button which gave a meaningful boost in performance. It will be useful when towing or carrying a full load and it was helpful on some of the steeper hills on my test route. I did notice the range dropped noticeably, so perhaps best saved for when absolutely necessary.

A few challenging country lanes formed part of my afternoon foray and for the most part the T90 coped quite well. Grip seemed fine, body roll acceptable, and the only unpleasant moment was a large pothole hit a speed which rather dramatically threw the truck off my chosen course. The roads were a tad greasy and I would have preferred the reassurance of power to all wheels, especially with the empty load bed.

Interior quality is fine, but don’t expect lots of soft-touch plastics. Durable and robust is the order of the day here, but others do it better. It feels more workaday than perhaps we are now used to.

The front seats are electrically adjustable and quite comfortable. They can be heated if you tick the right box and pay extra. The steering wheel adjusts for rake, but not reach which for some may be less than ideal. I was quite comfortable. Seat covering is some sort of faux leather, practical yes, but cold and slippery.

Gears are selected by a rotary dial with simple drive, neutral and reverse settings. Alongside are buttons for selecting the Eco or Power modes and there is a hill descent button too.

There’s a 10.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. No DAB radio is fitted, just AM/FM, the expectation being that you will connect your Smartphone via one of the two front USB ports which sit close by. Heater controls sit underneath and there’s manual air conditioning for those hotter days.

A reversing camera if fitted along with rear parking sensors and these are much needed in what is definitely a large truck, as I found when stopping to charge. The parking bay was a tad small and passers-by were certainly bemused by the sight of a pickup on charge

The large battery will take some 13 hours to fill on a home 7kW charger, though on a DC fast charger, a 20-80% top up should take around 45 minutes. Charge at home or in the workplace on cheap overnight electricity is undoubtedly the way forward with this and any other EV.

The many tax advantages are likely to count in the T90’s favour, which will doubtless see a flurry of sales. Price may deter some at a smidgen under £50,000 before VAT.

There is no word yet of an electric pickup from the likes of Toyota, Isuzu, or Volkswagen, so for the time being at least Maxus has undoubtedly won the race to be first to market. Being first does not necessarily mean being best, but the T90 acquits itself very well and will doubtless be offered to fleet users on attractive leasing schemes.

Fast Facts Maxus T90EV Pickup

• Price £49,950 + VAT

• 88.5kWh battery

• 201bhp

• Range 205 miles

• DC fast charge 20-80% in 45 minutes

• Towing capacity 1,000kg (braked)

• Payload 1,000kg

• Wading depth 550mm

• Ground clearance 187mm

On the road again

Part 2

Welcome back to part two of my series about getting ready to live in a 4x4 for a considerable amount of time. I’m not going to pretend that, after several hours of Yeti product training, and the rest of the day spent looking through the new stuff the company I work for will be stocking soon, that a) I need to add a LOT of new gear to my recommended kit list after being far too easily tempted into some shopping! And b) I’d love to tell you more, but I’d promised to talk about long-term trip safety and social connection even in the most remote locations.

Gear is important and something we all love to talk about, not to mention buy. I’ve been living and working in gear heaven recently, but having all the gear in the world isn’t the only thing you need to consider. You’ll also need to keep expensive items and yourself safe, or any trip could end in disaster.

As many of you will know, I prefer to travel to remote locations, and I usually do this solo. I’m often asked if I’m not afraid to be

in the middle of nowhere alone, and my answer to that is always the same - if there are no people about, what is there to be afraid of?

The answer to that question does depend where you are. I have spent a lot of time in places that have animal predators, wolves mostly, but also snakes, scorpions, biting insects, wild cats, and bears. I’ve never actually been lucky enough, or unlucky depending on how you look at it, to see any of the larger furry beasts in the wild. They will have been there, but they tend to keep their distance from human beings unless very hungry, or unless you take one by surprise, which is unlikely.

Snakes, scorpions, and jellyfish are more common, as are ticks, and having found out I am allergic to jellyfish stings the hard way, and contracting Lyme Disease on a solo trip, I will always take precautions:

These are:

- Don’t leave boots outside your rig

- Keep doors closed and use window nets

- Shake out and check sleeping bags, clothes, and footwear before use

- Wear a wetsuit if there are jellyfish about

- Use an insect repellent on your person, and a kit spray

- Check yourself over for ticks daily and carry a tick removal tool (NEVER cover them in Vaseline or anything else, this is a very unhelpful old wives’ tale)

- Wear long trousers and keep them tucked into socks

- Don’t creep about quietly, noise will deter snakes and other things that bite

- Check before you sit on the ground, or on rocks or tree stumps

- Try not to park in long grass or under trees

In the UK, the most problematic beastie in the animal kingdom is likely to be the Scottish midge! On that note, if you’re buying nets, mozzie nets do not stop midges because they’re much smaller, make sure you source midge proof products.

We do have adders and jellyfish, therefore I carry an epi pen just in case, as well as anti-histamine tablets and recommended afterbite/sting treatments suitable for the country I am travelling to/ through.

None of the creatures mentioned are going to nick your kit or, God forbid, your rig. They’re not likely to mug you either.

Other than food, the only animal you’re usually at risk of stealing anything else is the human being, and it is sad to say they’re the most likely animal to attack without provocation too.

I have witnessed some concerning human behaviour on trips:

• A chainsaw wielding local in the Carpathians.

• I’d just left Skye when there were shootings and stabbings in one of the most unlikely of remote idyllic locations that I’ve slept outdoors under the stars many times.

• I’ve been approached by opportunists looking to fool and then rinse me in Europe and Africa.

• I’ve even had my rig and myself considerably damaged at the hands of human beings.

In nearly all cases, except for the very blatant opportunists who’s act didn’t wash with me, I am very sad to report that the victims knew the perpetrators. This isn’t uncommon, it is true that most crimes are committed by people you know.

The guy with the chainsaw had beef with another local, but others were present when he started the thing up. The incident on Skye was a family feud. My Landy damage was the result of an unstable travelling partner triggered by being out of their comfort zone 39 hours from home at significant altitude, and the personal injuries were caused by someone a little too obsessed with joining a trip he was declined for.

Getting out of your comfort zone and/or spending long periods of time in remote locations can have funny effects on people.

It’s not just physical health and injuries you need to watch out for, but the mental health of yourself and those travelling with you. Of course always know the local emergency number and carry travel insurance when outside the UK.

I can honestly say that I have never once had reason to fear a complete stranger, but I always carry an emergency satellite communication device. This is important whether around people or completely removed from them. At the push of a button, the service will locate me and send in the troops. I take this everywhere, even down the road in North Wales where I can’t get a signal on tarmac let alone the lanes. You don’t have to be terribly remote to be in a lot of bother if you breakdown, get an injury, or the weather turns bad fast.

This sat. device is also really handy for keeping in touch. I absolutely love solitude and will actively seek it out, but it isn’t sensible to be without a means of communication at all times, and sometimes even the most introverted among us like to phone or text home, especially after a long period away. You can even post to social media!

I have a total of 9 radios, two phones, a tablet, and a laptop on a typical trip. A wired in CB and a handheld version, my sat. device, and 6 PMRs (professional mobile radio) in case I’m leading a group who don’t all have CBs. I have a smartphone and a spare indestructible Nokia 3310, a tablet for navigation apps, and a laptop to work from while on the road.

This is a lot of kit and it doesn’t come cheap, so theft is a concern. This is another reason I choose to sleep in my vehicles, that way anything valuable is inside at all times and I am rarely far away from it, but I do take a ground tent for locations where I can’t get my vehicle to a spot with the optimum view.

If I do this I tend not to take anything of value with me, except for cash and things like passports, those are kept on my person. Any gadgets above my phone stay in the alarmed and immobilised truck, hidden from view in not-so-obvious places.

I can’t hide the £600 fridge freezer or other bulky gear, but it can’t be seen from outside and motion sensor lights are a deterrent. Unfortunately, above that there is little more you can do against a determined thief, except to not park in areas known for risk, for example, where there are a lot of people.

There are products such as truck safes, GPS locators, and ingenious stealth storage that you could consider.

The latter I won’t get into, publishing to the world where to keep your valuables so no one would think to look there is probably not a good idea, but GPS chipping your truck may well be a very good idea, and a safe may give you a feeling of security.

Of course I also have another deterrent, a dog. The problem with Celyn, she is a complete soppy tart. Saying that, she is an excellent judge of character and does guard both me and our camp. She’s never been aggressive, but she has her signals. If people are not what they appear, she will pee on them! If anyone approaches our camp she will growl and bark (while also wagging her tail), so I know there is someone there before they get close. Anyone planning anything untoward is far less likely to approach a truck with a dog than without.

You cannot 'go equipped' in the UK, that is to take items that could be considered weapons with you. This can and does include common items that may have a genuine use on an overlanding trip, including dogs that are or could become physically aggressive.

We need knives and tools (and dogs) of course, but remember that using them in self-defence, more often than not, constitutes a crime. Laws in other countries differ, always check what is legal to carry before leaving, you don't want to chance having gear confiscated at borders, or worse, being arrested!

I am aware that I may be starting to make overlanding sound rather dangerous, but in 40 years of Landy based travel I can assure you that I have had, or heard of, very few problems, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared.

Obviously, being a column about safety, all the worst case scenarios are going to crop up, but as they say, prevention is better than cure, so here are my top tips to stay safe when on the road:

• Give someone your travel plans before you leave - if you don’t have firm plans (I often don’t), check in regularly before heading to the next destination and then confirm your arrival.

• Add someone, two people are better, as your emergency contact. Give the names and numbers to the sat. device service, add them on your phone - see how here, and stick their details to the dash, in your wallet, or somewhere obvious (check out ICE Tags).

• Posting/checking in on socials can be a good idea when you get the opportunity. It will save your location and exact time, but also be aware that you are also publishing your whereabouts to the rest of the world (depending on your settings). Having been stalked by a few weirdos in my time, I tend to check in on public accounts after I’ve left, and only let my current whereabouts be known to a select audience on personal accounts.

• Consider a personal tracking app on your phone. For lone female travellers I can recommend Hollie Guard.

The app came about after the death of Hollie Gazzard at the hands of her partner. A trust was set up in her name to keep women safe but men are also welcome to use it. The trust funds the free version, but there is a paid for premium version too.

As someone who has both been a victim and a supporter of victims, I highly recommend it, as do the police. I also recommend checking out new partners and long term travelling buddies you will be living with under Clare’s Law - don’t take a problem with you!

• Always have travel insurance when leaving the UK, and check if you need any vaccinations before you travel.

• Carry a first aid kit, and include things like anti-histamines, wound cleaning, and after-bite/sting products. Don’t forget the sunscreen too!

• Avoid known risk areas, or overnighting in cities except at reputable sites.

• Know your location. This may sound simple, but do you really know where you have stopped well enough to direct someone to you? Use What3words, drop a pin on Google maps or get a map out and note your grid references - whatever method you prefer, send it to someone.

• Don’t flash your cash or your expensive gear - you are not impressing anyone, you’re making yourself a target.

• Travel light - the more you carry, the more you risk.

• Don’t try something risky when you are not in a position to get help fast.

• Keep in touch with someone. Even if like me, you are trying to get away from it all, don’t risk your safety for the sake of a text.

• Do your research before you go - knowledge is power. This includes local culture, particularly as a woman or member of the LGBTQ+ community. This can have VERY important implications to your travel plans in some countries.

• Always have local emergency numbers handy.

• Carry out maintenance and checks on your vehicle before you go.

• Always have an emergency fund in case you need to get home fast or you run into an expensive problem.

It’s been a long one this month folks, so I’ll leave it there.

Join me next month for the final part of the trilogy: esteem and selfactualisation - learning and using new skills for self-improvement so that you can live your best life on the road.

Drive safe, Lauren and Celyn x

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Citroën C5 Aircross

What is it?

With rounded corners and signature ‘Airbumps’, the C5 Aircross takes a step away from the typical SUV norm and focusses more on comfort than sportiness - imagine the difference between a pair of football boots and your favourite slippers, that’s the C5 Aircross.

On the road

As I’ve already eluded to, the C5 Aircross wafts you along in typical Citroën fashion.

Years ago Citroën was famed for using hydropneumatic suspension that simply ironed out the worst potholes, the C5 Aircross now has a new Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension system fitted that works really quite well, though it can still succumb to low speed thumps, but I’m fine with that.

This model was the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol and after 7 days of mixed driving averaged 48mpg. The 8-speed automatic gearbox is as smooth as they come and added to the overall comfort and relaxed feel. It can be a bit vocal when you plant your right foot, but again I’m fine with that.

The majority of my week with the C5 was spent driving to and from easy green lanes, which meant quite a lot of country lanes. Now some would argue that a drawback of the relaxed suspension is that it leans around corners, which is fair enough, but I would counter that argument by saying that not everyone wants a sporty SUV. Some of us are quite happy to compromise a little wallowing for overall comfort, and I’m confident your passengers would be appreciative, too.

The only negative thing I have to say about it is that like a lot of vehicles these days, the stop/start system doesn’t work properly - when you stop at a junction and engage the handbrake (releasing the foot brake so not to blind the poor driver behind you), the engine fires up again.

This isn’t just a C5 Aircross thing, it’s pretty much across the board.

Off road

Yes, it’s 2WD, but when has that ever stopped me from venturing off the beaten path?

With half decent approach, departure and ground clearance I figured I’d take it along a few flat, yet scenic lanes near Southport.

Exploring TW2 ref; SD4416-07, or ATUK; LA-4528, traction is never usually an issue. Having said that, at the northern end just before the forest, a large muddy hole has formed, enough to swallow, lets say, a Citroën C5 Aircross. Fortunately I just managed to skirt around it with minimal loss of traction.

A little further south and you have to contend with a high centre point that is both grass and cobbled, so if you’re not careful you can find yourself badly scraping your nether regions, and no one wants that.

On these sections I found it prudent to drive slightly off centre, but doing this you need to be careful as there are deep ditches on either side of the track. Thankfully finding traction in the C5 Aircross was never a problem, even at the end of the lane when I reached the large puddles. After quite a bit of rain they were deeper than normal, just over a foot I’d guess, but with a steady throttle we emerged at the other side without drama.

Interior

As soon as you step inside you are greeted with comfortable cabin that’s light and airy. The front seats are very comfortable, though they don’t offer much lateral grip, but if you’re not taking corners like a hooligan it doesn’t matter. There are lots of decent cubby areas - you can even fit a small child in the centre cubby box, though that’s not recommended, apparently.

Yes there are some scratchy plastics around, but they’re not something you immediately notice, unless you enjoy caressing your dashboard in secret.

Tall rear seat passengers may find legroom a little cramped, but the three individual rear seats can be reclined, and slide backwards and forwards to aid this. With the rear seats in situ the boot has up to 720 litres of usable space. If you require more space the rear seats fold almost flat.

After a week of driving to work, shopping and finding myself on a muddy and flooded green lanes, the only aspect to the C5 Aircross I didn’t like was that the heater controls are on the centre screen. If you’re a regular reader you’ll know it’s a pet hate of mine. I know it’s cost effective for the manufacturers to do this, but you will never convince me it’s safe.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should - please revert to simple dials! On the subject of the 8" touchscreen, it isn’t the most intuitive to use, but I guess if you live with it long enough you’ll get used to it.

Engine ’n’ transmission

The C5 Aircross is available with this, the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine with either an 8-speed auto or 6-speed manual. A 2.0 litre diesel, again with the option of an 8-speed auto or 6-speed manual and a plug-in hybrid for both petrol and diesel models.

Conclusion

Apart from the silly heating controls I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about the C5 Aircross, it’s comfortable, spacious and fairly frugal, and a car I would certainly recommend to friends and family. price including options: £31,985 more at » citroën.co.uk

LIFE STICKERS!

We now we have these 2 fun new designs to pick from, and they are bigger than the last ones.

Stick 'em on your 4x4, caravan, toolbox, laptop or wherever else you just want to stick things.

• Size - approx. 10cm

• Printed on high quality vinyl

• Suitable for exterior use.

These glossy vinyl stickers are £1.75 each plus P&P (it's just a one-off P&P of 66p no matter how many stickers you buy).

Jimny Adventures Mooch

The latest Jimny requires no introduction, released back in 2019 it’s become one of the most sought after 4x4s on the market today, and there’s a reason for that. Upon reintroduction, Suzuki baffled literally everybody by pushing aside their wonderful 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine and slick 6-speed gearbox in favour of a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine and 5-speed box. With 100bhp, 36.7mpg and 173g/km on the WLTP eco cycle it wasn’t clean enough and sales were suspended in 2020.

But it was too late, it was such a joyous machine it had gotten everyone worked up in a frenzy and prices went crazy. At launch its official price was between £15k - £19k, but due to demand prices at my local Suzuki dealer rose to £35k!

Don’t panic, the Jimny returned in 2021, and to sneak around regulations it arrived without rear seats and therefore reclassified as a Light Commercial Vehicle, but again they were few and far between. If memory serves me correctly the UK got 480 Jimnys in its first year on sale, that’s around three per dealer.

Regular readers may perhaps recognise this particular Jimny as I drove it both on the launch down at Walter’s Arena back in our August 2021 issue and May 2022. So why feature it again?

Why the heck not! With Deux Smurf out of commission for a short time I wanted to decent 4x4 in which to drive some green lanes.

Lane 1

Gardener's Lane

TW2 - SD5243-02

ATUK - LA 4594

Around 5 minutes from the A6, Gardener's Lane is an easy lane to start with, a single track that takes you down to a small brook and up again. The surface can be a bit challenging after a downpour due to the soft surface, and whatever you do, don’t be tempted to stray to the left hand side, assuming you’re driving south to north as you will sink, just keep to the centre and you’ll be fine.

Engaging 4WD as a matter of course, the little Jimny took it all in its stride, down the slippery water filled ruts, across the rocks

that act as stepping stones across the small brook and up again. Just as I was heading up from the brook there were a set of tyre tracks veering off the track to the left that had caused a bit of a mess. As I mentioned, it can ne quite boggy, but it looked as though they managed to escape.

According Trailwise, last year the lane was blocked by a fallen tree, but as it is used by the local farmer it was soon dealt with and now you simply edge your way through the two halves.

Lane 2 Snape Rake Lane

TW2 - SD5544-02

ATUK - not registered

Snape Rake Lane has had its controversies over the years, especially after the Forestry Commission removed a load of trees and left it completely unrecognisable, and quite frankly, dangerous.

A local equestrian school were on average doing three trips a day along the lane and were now travelling off piste as even their horses had been getting stuck in the mud.

So with the land owners consent, the council provided the stone to fill the holes and created a run off drainage system whilst local 4x4 groups along with GLASS members spent a day repairing the mess and erecting natural fencing to discourage any further off piste activity by users. You can read about the repair in our 6th issue here

Driving from north to south the first section is nice and easy and suitable for cars.

Go through the second gate and head down to the brook and the terrain changes dramatically, you need low-box and decent clearance. Even in the Jimny there were some nasty clunks from underneath.

Once at the bottom I moved a few hefty rocks from the entrance of the brook to help access, but just be aware of other hidden rocks that are submerged and be aware that it can be very deep and fast flowing.

Today wasn’t too bad, and as I stopped half way through to take a few photos I noticed the water was only up the centre of the Jimny’s hubs.

Once through the brook, the track on the southern side is quite narrow in places with the odd large unavoidable stone to negotiate, other people have called them boulders, whatever, they’re big and protrude from pretty much everywhere with plenty of scars on them to show where they’ve caught lower slung vehicles.

Again, low-box and clearance are highly recommended, and the Jimny, as light as it is, struggled in a few places, especially when trying to climb over the rocks as the road-biased tyres struggling for grip in the wet conditions. Reversing slightly and finding another way around them worked a treat. Choosing a better line didn’t stop more bangs and scrapes from underneath, but the Jimny is built from hardy stuff.

Upon reaching the top I headed towards a small village called Chipping for my final lane of the day.

Lane 3

TW2 - SD6245-02

ATUK - LA 4635

This is another lane that has seen change recently, especially as I believe the local village residents wanted it closed due to, you guessed it, more off-piste activity.

If you haven’t driven this lane for a while you will notice that, starting from the western end it has been totally flattened to improve drainage, which was needed, and more recently the very deep rut at the plateau of this section has been repaired. This always took folk by surprise as when filled with water it looks normal, but the off-side rut was actually a good two foot deep, and depending what you were driving would ground your vehicle to a halt - you certainly couldn’t open the driver's door.

Up to this point there had been nothing to cause the Jimny any hassle, and that’s a good thing, being able to leave your 4x4 in second gear low-box and amble your way through gorgeous countryside is one of life’s dwindling pleasures.

Within a few hundred yards or so you begin to head downwards towards Seagram brook where I stopped and jumped out of the Jimny to enjoy the serenity for a while, then a couple of women appeared from nowhere and gave me a bit of a fright!

As I was wearing my Mud Life hoodie they asked what it meant, so I explained what I was doing with the Jimny, the magazine and we had a good rant about those amongst us who lack any moral compass and make a mess of the countryside.

As you begin to climb out from the brook there’s another section that had turned into a bit of a mess, and although perfectly drivable, some motorists had been deviating from the lane to avoid it. According to reports on Trailwise it was repaired last year, but unfortunately had began to deteriorate again.

Driving as slow as I could I entered the ruts, and with the odd scrape from underneath the Jimny took it in its stride, even with standard (tiny), road-biased tyres.

As I continued up the hill, the embankments on either side became taller and closer, the left hand side has been eroded by water and in any other 4x4 would create quite a lean, but being as narrow as it is, I was able to keep the Jimny out of the ruts.

As the lane levels out the surface becomes fairly solid, and there are long sections that, after a heavy downpour can become flooded, but as mentioned, the ground is solid and all you have to worry about is keeping a perfect bow wave.

A little further along I began a long descent towards the end, there were a couple of steps to negotiate, but nothing the Jimny couldn't handle, and within 1/2 a mile or so we were done.

Despite its diminutive stature the Jimny is quite the tough workhorse and fun to take on adventures, and the great thing about driving a smaller 4x4 is that you do have to give some thought on wheel placement, whereas with larger vehicles you can simply plow on, and where’s the fun in that?

In next month’s issue I’ll tell you what happened when I took it up Parkamoor in the Lake District.

GOODS & GEAR P ELI 9050 UTILITY LIGHT

There are a few things in life that I would consider more than enough for my needs - an Aston Martin DBX 707 is lovely vehicle, but I don’t need 700bhp. A Hasselblad H6D-100c at £31K is an exceptional camera, but many images in this mag have been taken just using my iPhone, so it could also be argued that Peli’s 9050 LED flashlight is also a bit over the top for the likes of me, and I’m not just referring to the considerable price tag.

Why?

For starters it has multiple modes to meet all your lighting needs - spot, flood and a combination spot / flood for maximum lighting, or flashing modes. Depending on which mode you choose it can reach up to 489 metres away.

My go-to mode is the combination, not only does it illuminate everything in the distance, but it shines vertically downward meaning I can see exactly where I’m walking. On high spot / flood it has an output of 3369 lumens, which is bonkers! The only problem with this much power is that the light is blindingly bright, thankfully, with a quick press of the on/off button, whichever mode you are in you are able to dim the beam - a really clever touch.

Speaking of the large push button on/off switch, it also doubles as a battery status indicator, so you always know when to charge it or replace the batteries. That’s right, the 9050 also has a flexible battery system that can run on Li-ion battery packs, AA Alkaline or AA NiMH cells.

The rechargeable battery will last anywhere between nearly 3 to 13½ hours, depending on which mode you choose, and the redesigned charger base makes mounting and dismounting the utility light quick and easy.

The 9050 also has two rear taillight LEDs that are changeable (choose from red, blue or green) which make you visible from behind. As well as having a wide base for stability, you can also stand it on its end and utilise its 112.5º articulating head. With all this tech and power you would imagine it to be a huge thing, but the 9050 is only 22cm in length and weights just 1.35kg.

If all that is not enough, it’s IP67 rated, too, and approved to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 1901 standards. Peli also guarantee their torches, headlamps and cases for a lifetime against breakage or defects in workmanship which in itself makes it worthy of the price.

This is an exceptional piece of kit, and although there are cheaper totrches out in the world, if you buy on price alone you may discover that Benjamin Franklin’s quote stands "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten" Don't end up bitter, buy one

price: £395.27 (£474.32 inc VAT) more at » peliproducts.co.uk

GOODS & GEAR

As regular readers you'll know I like my boots. Not in a kinky way you understand, it’s just that they’re more practical than a pair of trainers and more dual purpose than wellies. Putting it simply, I want a pair of boots to be sturdy enough to handle the rough stuff whilst out 'laning, yet smart enough, after a quick rinse, for evening wear.

I have two pairs of boots that I wear constantly, they’re both Australian and competitors, Redback and Blundstone.

I use my pair of Redbacks as a work boot for green laning and walking Lilly, but if I’m on a press launch or wandering around the NEC, then it’s my Blundstones as they’re more of a ‘dress’ boot, meaning they have a more chiselled toe.

BLUNDSTONE BOOTS

Around 4 years ago Blundstone sent me two pairs of Redwood coloured boots, one pair was from the dress range which I have used constantly, and another pair from their Classic range that have a more rounded toe, and chunky tread pattern. They last so well that, I hadn’t yet needed to take the latter out of their box.

In last month’s issue you will have read about my INEOS Grenadier experience, and the day before I was due to fly up to Inverness I received an email that said to prepare for -10º, plenty of snow and mud. So, I decided it was time to take my Classic 1440 Blundstones

I really can’t emphasis how comfortable these boots are; over a 3 day period they were only removed for sleeping. I spent 3 hours sat in an airport in them, flew up to Scotland, spent 2 whole days driving and jumping in and out of Grenadiers to take photos in the snow, ice and mud, and later on they were smart enough for evening wear.

In deep snow and mud, their aggressive tread pattern never let my down, and with black elasticated side panels, after a long day they’re really quite easy to remove.

On the final day I wore them for 16 hours straight without any kind of soreness or squashed toes, and that included a 7 hour delayed train journey home, then a 30 minutes walk home on icy pavements and freezing temperatures.

Obviously Redwood is a very bold colour, and I chose them because I fancied something different, but don’t worry, they have a huge choice of colours and styles to suit everyone. Whichever you choose, I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

price: £190

more at » blundstone.co.uk

Robens Yurt & Klondike

Robens celebrates 50 years with some tasty new treats in their Outback range of retro styled, Hydrotex Polycotton performance base tents.

The Yurt offers lots of head room and ample space for seven people to move around in making it an ideal communal area. Features include adjustable lantern hanging points; large, tinted panorama view windows; huge mesh panel in front door; covered low vents front and rear. There are lots of optional extras, including carpet, footprint, darkened four-berth inner tent and hanging organiser pockets.

The much loved Klondike is taken to a new level with the Klondike Twin. Designed for groups and families, the eyecatching tent has a living/communal space for up to 12 people. Optional dark 4 berth inners create bedrooms around a central area that will take a Robens tent stove. Ventilation includes the unique Robens apex vent and low-level vents.

The main door slightly slopes inwards under eaves for protection from rain, and the ability to fold back the zip-out groundsheet not only allows safe use of the stove but also creates a wet area. Optional extras include Universal Tipi Mosquito Inner, carpet, footprint and organiser pockets.

Both tents use aluminium alloy poles that offer a great strength to weight ratio, ensuring high performance from a stable, light support that makes for easier pitching and transportation.

When the temperature drops, the addition of a stove pipe port and a zip-flap groundsheet in both the Yurt and Klondike Twin allow the use of an optional Robens wood burning tent stove to keep things snug when temperatures fall.

OUTWELL NIGHTLIGHT SYSTEM

Award-winning Scandinavian camping brand, Outwell, has integrated a clever lighting innovation into its Imperial Air Tents and Superior Air Touring vehicle awning collections for 2023.

The patented system (ONS), is a unique system that offers soft cosy illumination, allowing a camper to move around and leave a tent or vehicle awning without a harsh light waking other occupants or bothering other campers. The gentle welcoming porch light also highlights the main door zip for ease of access on their return.

The key to its operation is the optional rechargeable power source located in a pocket at one end of the modified HookTrack beading, which lights up the embedded fibre optic element.

The optional ONS Light Unit Set comprises of 2 light units and a coded remote controller. Each unit has a rechargeable battery that provides 6 hours of light depending on conditions.

more at » outwell.com

New Stuff we've discovered this month

ECO FIRE STARTERS

Eco Fire Starters are perfect for getting your fires started in stoves, campfires and BBQs too.

Made from recycled and non-toxic wood, card and paper, and packaged in fully recyclable materials, you can be assured that the environment will love these fire lighters just as much as you and your camping companions do!

Each pack includes 6 windproof and waterproof moulds, which all feature easy to light side strips and have an approx 15+ minutes burn time.

Use on their own or stack with coal, fire and kindling for larger and longer lasting flames. We have included two 'Bluebell-Woods' scented fire starters which will set the ambiance and exude Spring-evening vibes!

price: £9 more at » boutiquecamping.com

VE

GOTSTRANGE SHAPEDNUT S

As I wrote a while back, some thieving scumbag, currently wasting oxygen somewhere in Bolton, broke into Deux Smurf early one morning, and instead of stealing expensive gear like my dash cam and collection of recovery gear, they made off with my favourite pair of sunglasses, a 25 year old tyre compressor and my locking wheel nut keys.

As you can imagine, it was the latter that has caused me the biggest headache, and has meant that I’ve put off both long journeys and fun green laning trips in case I have an unrepairable puncture en route.The problem was, as well as a locking wheel nut on each wheel, the previous owner had replaced all the standard nuts with these strange star nuts. For the life of me I couldn’t identify them, and neither could the good folk in our own Mega Mud Lifers Facebook group or the Hilux Surf page!

Due to the steady delivery of press cars, I found I wasn’t using Deux Smurf that much, and locating replacements became less of a priority, that was until she acquired a couple of small punctures. The issue was rusty rims as opposed to nails, so a good few months, and plenty of pumping up later, the search resumed.

I was at a loss, so I tootled off to a couple of tyre repair shops, but no one could identify the strange nuts. In a moment of genius the last one suggested I visit a company at the other side of town that specialises in selling alloy wheels...now why on earth didn’t I think of that?

Twenty pounds later, and I was the new owner of two ‘star’ bolts - I could now at least remove all but the locking wheel nuts.

Then MOT time came back around, and she passed of course, but she did have a few advisories. Her off-side track rod end and anti-roll bar ball joints both had slight play in them, and a section of her rear brake pipe was showing signs of corrosion, so I booked her in to my local mechanic, Steve Wilson Autos in Bolton, to have the work done, and whilst I was there I also asked him to find someone who could remove the locking wheel nuts.

With her booked in for the following week my mission was to find some replacement locking wheel nuts.

Now, I’ve genuinely no idea what I actually searched for, but within a few minutes I came across a company on ebay selling exactly what I had been looking for, and it turns out the strange nuts are called ‘tuner’ nuts, and the kit comprised of a complete set of shiny new tuner nuts as well as locking wheel nuts.

I got Muddy Madam to order them as she has banned me from buying car things things on t'internet (she says it would be a slippery slope to bankrupcy - she may be right). Forty-one quid and a few days later, they arrived and were fitted to Deux Smurf.

I’m planning on taking her on a lot more green laning adventures, with the knowledge that I can now safely remove her wheels! As for the wheel nut keys, that mistake will not happen again, they are hidden away in a very safe place.

Next on the list of improvements is to fit the interior LED bulbs that I received from Osram - but for that to happen I need to find them first. I put them in another ‘safe place’, and I've forgotten where that is, let's hope that doesn't happen with the wheel nut keys.

COOLER BAGS

With the Petromax Cooler Bag, you are independent of electricity or batteries, making them the perfect companion for trips away, picnics and outdoor adventures. The waterproof zippers ensure that the ice or cold packs are safely stored, and that all provisions are kept cool for up to 4 days (8L) and 6 days (22L).

Available in 8L and 22L, and three colours, there’s a Cooler Bag for all your adventure needs.

To explore the range, visit www.whitbyandco.co.uk or scan the QR code

On the Trail with the Trailhawk Part Two

In December's magazine I took Jeep’s Renegade Trailhawk 4xe along Rudland Rigg in Yorkshire for a fun day out, and it coped well, so the following day I figured I’d explore a more challenging lane, this time in Cumbria.

Although I don’t want to be repetitive, regular readers may recognise the first lane as it’s a favourite of mine on which to test 4x4s. It isn’t just the lane itself, it’s also route that takes you there - from junction 36 on the M6, follow the A590, A5092 and A595 heading towards Bootle. It's full of twists, turns, ups and downs, and in the right vehicle can be quite fun, and the Renegade didn’t disappoint. It is really quite an accomplished 4x4 to throw around corners, it handles a lot better than you would expect.

It was almost midday when I parked the Renegade Trailhawk next to the beach on the outskirts of Bootle on the Cumbrian coast, so I grabbed a butty and a brew before heading out.

Lane 1 Fell Green Road

TW2 - SD1188-02 & SD1288-02

ATUK - CU U4070)

It’s once you’ve passed the tree line that this lane becomes interesting, as the many storms we had over the years have created some huge channels, deep and well as wide.

With the Trailhawk’s 4WD system set to auto I gently made my way further towards the top of the moor. On my way up there are a few smaller holes to deal with, larger 4x4s wouldn’t notice them, but they’re a bit more of a challenge in a smaller vehicle like the Renegade, which kept lifting a or two!

Although it was only a month since I was last up here with 3 D-Maxs, there is a new, soft section that has appeared, which as you can see below, looks as though, over time and use, it’ll become quite tricky.

At this point I selected low-box, Lock and set the Renegade to Rock mode, as in my experience selecting Rock mode means that the Jeep, whether it’s a Renegade or Compass, will crawl its way up and through pretty much everything without drama, and damage to both the vehicle and lane.

So it came as quite a surprise that when I was driving through the first large channel the front tyres scrambled for grip, as did the rears, and I felt the Renegade ‘crab’ sideways into a rather precarious position.

Jumping out to inspect the situation revealed that two opposing wheels were off the ground, and the remaining two wheels simply couldn’t find any grip. I have to admit that I was surprised as I’ve driven the Renegade through and over worse obstacles. Anyhow, with a few rocks and stones removed and strategically replaced under and in front of the tyres I jumped back in and gingerly pressed the accelerator. The Renegade continued crab into an even worse position and I ended up pretty much a full 180º across the lane, wheels still in the air and this time the rear bumper was almost resting against a rock. Bugger.

green lane that I find myself, and a press car, in such a precarious position, time to test my recovery knowledge and skills.

As a matter of course, when I venture out ‘laning I always bring along a couple of pairs of ActionTrax, a selection ropes and a shovel, and I’ve never been so happy to have the former. Placing the ActionTrax and a few more cleverly placed rocks under the wheels it was with much relief that Renegade climbed out of this potentially very embarrassing situation.

Incidentally, if you are looking for a pair of ActionTrax recovery boards, Roy at 4x4 Obsession currently has an offer with £50 off.

I mentioned earlier that I was surprised the Renegade made such a meal of climbing out of the channel, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, and I feel the need to confess the following; it was down to driver error as I hadn’t actually put the Renegade in rock mode, it was still in Mud / Snow! In my defence the modes are next to each other and easily mistaken.

With that valuable lesson learnt, I had a few more deeper and gnarlier channels to negotiate, only this time, in the correct mode, the Renegade drove up and over them with the minimum of fuss, even after stopping for the usual ‘wheel in the air' photos.

The next tricky section is just after you drive the through the second gate, there are two opposing holes in the track that make for another spectacular ‘wheel in the air’ photo, only this time with a much more incredible view.

From here I turned right onto Corney Fell Road heading back towards the A595, stopping in a wooded layby for a mother brew and a few photos as the mist had descended and it looked a bit spooky!

Lane 2

TW2 - NY3101-04

ATUK - U5004

Back on the A595, I took a left onto the A593 that would take me through Coniston and towards my next lane which is found at the end of Smithy Brow. There are few challenging and technical rocky climbs that I thought might be entertaining in the Renegade, but I’ll never know as first, on the single track lane heading towards the first gate, I met the farmer coming in the opposite direction.

He was neither jovial, nor aggressive, but he certainly challenged my reason for wanting to drive the lane. I resisted the temptation to say "Because I can, now get out of my way!", instead I explained that I was press and was reviewing the Jeep I was in. He drove off.

Then, as I approached the first gate there was a Transit van parked in front of it blocking the entrance. After repeated 'Hellos' no one came forward to admit ownership. Pretty miffed I reversed back, and headed towards my final lane of the day.

Lane 3

TW2 - SD3499-01

ATUK - U5015

Almost opposite to Smithy Brow is the lane heading towards Knipe Fold or Arnside Intake.

The first time I drove this lane it was fun and gnarly with some decent large rocks and drop-offs to negotiate, then it was graded and made easier to traverse for other users, so I reckoned it would be a cracking nondamaging final lane for the trail-hardened Trailhawk.

Usually I start at the east side and work my way west, but as I was at the opposite end this would have to do.

It begins really quite narrow with encroaching vegetation on both sides, so in summer be prepared for a few extra go-faster stripes on the side of your 4x4. The ground is solid with the odd boulder to drive over, but finding grip is never a problem.

It isn’t long before you reach a large sweeping u-turn after which there’s a modest incline with loose stone underfoot, and it was just as I was reaching the top a couple of mountain bikers approached from above and said that a 4x4 had broken down further along the lane, the owner and mates were trying their best to fix it, but it was totally blocked with a few other 4x4s in the convoy.

With this in mind, and not knowing how far along they were, and if I could get past, I decided there was no point in carrying on and figured I’d better reverse back down and find somewhere to perform a 10-point turn and head for home.

So, after a week with the Renegade Trailhawk 4xe what are my thoughts?

I really quite enjoyed it. It handles well on-road, and is even quite fun to throw around corners. Off-road it’s guaranteed to surprise a lot of people, and there were a lot of mixed reactions on social media with comments of appreciation and acknowledgement from existing owners, to the negatives, probably from folk who’ve never actually driven one.

Apart from my own buffoonery the Renegade didn’t let me down and drove wherever I pointed it, and yes, there were some rather unpleasant sounding scrapes from underneath, but I wasn’t being easy on it.

On the inside it’s really quite spacious for those up front, and there’s a decent amount of boot space, too. The Renegade is equipped with more than 60 safety and security features including full-length front and rear curtain-side airbags, a driver's knee airbag, side airbags mounted on the front seats, and advanced multi-stage front airbags. Then there’s traffic sign recognition, speed assist, lane assist, emergency braking and so on.

With the 4xe Trailhawk’s starting price at £38,100, you get a plug-in hybrid with 240bhp that’s able to deliver up to 26 miles of driving on its battery alone, yet still have the 4x4 ability that you come to expect from a Jeep. more at » jeep.co.uk/jeep-renegade/plug-in

Britpart are delighted to now be an approved stockist for the entire ARB range of products in the UK. For nearly 40 years Britpart has been synonymous with parts for Land Rovers and now we are expanding our range of quality aftermarket parts with the introduction of the ARB catalogue for a multitude of 4x4 vehicles.

ARB’s range of products for the o -road and pickup market includes -

> Air Lockers & Compressors

> Canopies

> Drawers

> Lights

> Upgraded Suspension

> Rear Protection

arb4x4uk.co.uk

> Recovery Points & Equipment

> Roof Racks

> StealthBar Bumper

> Steps & Side Protection

> Tyre Accessories

> Underbody Protection

a wide range

&

sales@britpart.com

ARB accessories & suspension products for

of manufacturers & modelsFord Ranger / Isuzu D-Max / Jeep Cherokee & Grand Cherokee & Jeep Wrangler Land Rover Defender

Land Rover Discovery / Mitsubishi L200 / Nissan Navara & Pathfinder / Toyota Hilux / VW Amarok

Storm Jeeps have a number of modified Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicons for sale. More details on available stock via our website or call 01482 666491

ToyoTa aygo X EdgE

What is it?

Yes, yes, I know some of you will look at this and wonder what the heck I’m thinking allowing a chunked-up city car within the pages of a 4x4 magazine! Being honest it intrigued me, I think it looks cool and I really wanted to experience the fun factor that is the Aygo X.

It may have the Aygo moniker, but the Aygo X (pronounced Aygo Cross), sits on a shortened version of the current Toyota Yaris platform which makes it a bit bigger than the average Aygo. That said, at just over 3.7m long it’s still not what you’d call huge.

Photographs by Roy Duffy - https://www.duffy-photography.co.uk

On the road

Churning out 71bhp from its 1.0-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, the Aygo X reminds me of Suzuki’s Jimny, it’s a compact and fun little car that makes mincemeat of city and local driving. It’s agile, too, the tight turning circle and light steering makes low-speed manoeuvres a doddle. The ride is quite firm, but still surprisingly supple, even on fast Welsh roads it felt settled.

On the subject of open country roads, this is where it felt out of its comfort zone, especially when overtaking. This is all down to the CVT automatic doing what a CVT does best, and that’s sucking all the fun out of driving. Floor the throttle to overtake a slower vehicle and as the revs rise lots of noise happens and nowt much else. 0-62mph takes 15.5 seconds, and don’t think it’ll be better with the slick five-speed manual gearbox as it’s only marginally better, I’m told.

As with most other cars, CVT automatics prefer to be driven more sedately and that’s when they come into their own. When taking things more leisurely the Aygo X ambles along quite nicely with very little road noise, even if you go for the retractable fabric roof option - which you should!

Despite the CVT it’s actually quite a lot of fun to throw around corners, the steering feels sharp and there isn’t much in the way of body lean.

During my week I achieved an average of 52.7mpg, which isn’t too bad considering I wasn’t taking my time.

Off road

Nah, despite having chunky plastic wheel arch cladding and an 11mm suspension lift, the Aygo X won’t thank you for taking it off the beaten track, and unlike some of its rivals, the Suzuki Swift and Fiat Panda Cross as examples, it isn’t available with four-wheel drive. Of course that didn’t stop me from exploring a few of the back roads around Lyn Brenig and a quick jaunt on the beach at Black Rock Sands.

Interior

Despite its size there’s a decent amount of space up front for those of us of generous proportions, and finding a comfortable driving position is easy. The seats in the rear are reserved for small people only, and access to them can be described as limited as the rear doors aren’t exactly large, in fact they have popout windows rather than a wind-down mechanism.

Storage space up front is reasonable, with two cupholders, and a tray for phones ahead of the gearlever. The touchscreen and climate controls are angled towards the driver, making them easy to reach.

To keep the weight down there’s plenty of hard, shiny plastics, but I liked that the indicator and wiper stalks have a reassuringly chunky feel, and the steering wheel is covered in quality leather. It has a nice tactile feel where it matters.

With four models to choose from; Pure, Edge, Exclusive, and Air Edition, the safety and equipment list is far from short - see what I did there?

Goodies include, 18” alloy wheels, LED headlights, automatic air-con, automatic wipers, lane assist, cruise control, reversing camera, Emergency Brake assist, and Toyota’s Smart Connect touchscreen with both Apple Carplay and Android Auto. And the list doesn’t end there.

Boot space is limited, obviously, and with the rear seats folded down there’s quite a lip, something to be aware of if you have to put something heavy in the back.

Conclusion

With prices starting from £15, 975 the Aygo X is great value for money, especially when compared to pure electric vehicles. Apart from the lack of oomph, my overwhelming memory will be that it’s a fun and frugal little car to live with, I just wish it had a bit more power.

Mooch Lexus RX450h Premium

Many moons ago I owned a 1994 Lexus LS400. I bought it off my father-in-law for the princely sum of 'whatever he had just paid to tax it', and despite having lunar mileage it was still one of the nicest cars that I’ve ever owned, and since then I’ve had a soft spot for marque.

The last Lexus I borrowed was the UX250h that featured in our June 2021 issue, another lovely experience, but for an SUV it didn’t have much in the way of ground clearance, so more recently I asked to borrowing their larger RX450h, and Lexus kindly obliged.

As you would expect, the RX450h is a lovely SUV to waft around in, on all road conditions it performed as it should. Words like smooth, comfort and serenity floated around my mind every time I got behind the wheel, not to mention it’s surprising turn of speed when I floored the throttle.

My aim for the week was to take it exploring, and I don’t mean to Barnard Castle to get my eyes tested, more of the ancient rights of way kinda stuff. Obviously the RX450 isn’t an ‘offroader’, but it is an SUV with AWD, so it ought to be able to handle non-challenging lanes, right?

Our furthest foray was over to North Yorkshire to drive a few lanes that I guess many of you fellow northerners will be familiar with.

Throwing my Peli case full of cooking equipment, and a couple of ActionTrax in the back, ‘cos you never know, I headed over to Settle to visit my mate Andy who happened to have the Citroen Ami on test.

After an enjoyable drive in the Ami I bid my farewell and headed over towards Buckden for my first lane.

Lane 1

ATUK - 05.50/22 and 20.81/47

TW2 - SD9480-01 and SD9383-03

Despite being AWD, the RX450h doesn’t have any type of 4x4 modes, not even hill descent, you simply put it in drive and off you go, which is pretty much what I did.

Starting south and heading north, the surface is made up of loose stone that, when driving slowly up the steep incline, can be a little too loose, especially if you keep stopping to take photos, as I did. The RX actually did a fine job of maintaining traction, though as the stones became larger, I was a little concerned about scuffing the alloys.

Upon reaching the top the going becomes quite easy, in fact nothing a 2WD couldn’t handle, and after a good downpour you’ll be wading through some rather large puddles, though nothing too deep.

As I tootled along I noticed evidence of off-piste activity, but like littering, spitting and other anti social behaviours, I guess it’s all part and parcel of life in today's society.

There are a number of gates to open and close, which can be quite laborious when you’re on your own, but sometimes it’s nice just to take your time and immerse yourself in the fresh air and vast openness of the moors. On a clear day the views are stunning, and I was fortunate, despite angry looking clouds, the rain kept itself to a minimum (usually heavier when I stopped to open and close the aforementioned gates), but it was the wind that was unforgiving, well, it was mid November.

A few more gates later and the lane begins to descend, personally it’s this last section that I look forward to the most. Not for any technical driving, though there is a deep diagonal water channel to be wary of, rather to the stunning views that never seem to end, especially as you near the end as Semerwater, like an oasis, can be often seen glimmering in the distance.

Usually, the descent can be easily managed in second, or even third gear in low box, however, I have to admit that it wasn’t until I reached this point that I realised the RX450h doesn’t have a hill descent control button. Leaving it in first gear didn’t help either, so it was a case of constantly feathering the brakes until I reached the end, and parked up on the shore of Semerwater.

Semerwater is the second largest natural lake in North Yorkshire, England, after Malham Tarn. It’s half a mile long, covers 100 acres and somewhere that you simply have to stop for photos, it’s the law! But if you are staying for any amount of time, don’t forget to pay a small charge at the farm opposite.

After enjoying a few minutes of the serenity that Semerwater offers, I opened the boot of the RX450h, grabbed my Lifesaver Jerrycan, carried it to the water's edge and topped it up with lake water to make myself a quick brew using my using my Jetboil Minimo.

I reviewed the Lifesaver Jerrycan in our very first issue, and it’s pretty much always in use when I’m out camping or exploring.

Lane 2

ATUK - 20.81/104

Trailwise - SD8685-02

Much like the previous lane, Cam High Road requires half decent ground clearance in places and offers some cracking views. The surface is hard with only a few deepish ruts to concern yourself with. I say that, if I was in Deux Smurf, or a pickup, they wouldn’t concern me one iota, but if you are in a smaller SUV, like a Suzuki S-Cross for instance, just be mindful. It’s only when you reach the top when you have a rocky outcrop to worry about.

For its length, road is fairly straight and one vehicle width wide, and even on a completely sodden day traction will be decent. After a good dump of snow of the other hand the lane can become a bit treacherous, and once it becomes icy tobogganing springs to mind.

Since starting the lane it had been raining quite heavily, and I wondered how the RX450h would cope on the slippery limestone slabs that awaits you when you reach the top.

Although there are a few minor steps to climb, my confidence in the AWD system had grown significantly over the week, and whilst negotiating this rocky outcrop it was only the road biased tyres caused a little concern as they spun momentarily before finding grip.

There was a young couple watching who seemed both a little upset that I was there, driving, yet confused that I was in a Lexus.

They scowled as I trundled past, despite my cheery “Afternoon!”. Ah well, you can’t please everyone.

Upon reaching the end, my route back home was left onto Oughtershaw Road heading back towards Buckden.

The roads around here are narrow and twisty, and despite the CVTs best attempts to suck all the joy out of motoring, the one fitted to the RX450h didn’t seem that bad. With 300bhp on tap, 0-60mph of doesn’t feels that quick, but that’s because you’re cocooned in a cabin of loveliness and luxury.

Interior

Because it’s all black, the dash looks a bit dull and cheap, in my opinion, but quality of the interior is pretty high with everything being screwed together really well, as you would expect for a Lexus.

The heated front seats are the quickest I’ve had the pleasure of using, and the seats themselves are comfortable and supportive, especially when you’re in a spirited mood. There’s plenty of room in up front with big door pockets, multiple cupholders and storage cubbies.

Engine ’n’ transmission

The Lexus RX's 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine is the only option and drives the front wheels via a CVT automatic gearbox and is paired with two electric motors. One motor helps out the engine while the other is fitted to the rear axle to give you four-wheel drive.

Conclusion

As a motoring writer, there are some 4x4s and SUVs that I just can’t wait to get behind the wheel of, and those that I feel I 'should' drive. The RX450h was part of the latter, but a week later, and honestly, I didn’t want it to go back. In fact once returned, I found myself on the internet checking out second hand prices.

On reflection, the RX450h is really meant for on-road use, but when it comes to venturing off the beaten track, it has a surprising amount of approach and departure angles, and despite not having any 4WD modes it manages to figure things out, very, very quickly. Its only real downside is the lack of hill descent control, or low ratio 1st gear to help on steep gradients.

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The Tales of Lilly, The Mud Life Dog

A.K.A.Draculilly

by Karen Lee Turner

Obsession

Nowadays, Lilly loves her food, but it wasn't always the case. When we got her she had been fed on dry dog food, and was an occasional grazer, not really bothered about eating. After heading to PATS, a trade show for all things pet related, and chatting to a vet there, we changed her pretty quickly over to a raw food diet - Top Dog's complete dinners

She eats with gusto, and it could be said she is a tad food obsessed, but her raw meat and veg dinners aren't the only thing she's a bit obsessed about.

Her next obsession is probably pretty normal for a dog, and the reason for her new 'also know as' name above - blood.

I'm not talking about the animal blood that comes along with her raw meat, no I am talking about the kind that no vampire could resist, the red stuff running through human veins.

As I've mentioned in the past, I am clumsy, and because of that I end up with grazes and cuts. Sometimes they are so small that I don't know they are there........but Lilly does!

Oh yes, the moment fresh blood flows her snout heads in its direction. Sometimes the only way I know I've cut myself is that I suddenly get a random lick, and then a few more for good measure. It's not just me either, Damian has had the rather tickly sensation happen to him too.

It doesn't even have to be fresh. Damian cut his finger, washed off the blood and still she zoned in on the cut and it's microscopic residue. I have this image in my brain that if I fall and get knocked out, and have even the tiniest cut on my finger, that I'd wake up with a dog attached to my arm sucking the lifeblood out of me, or I'd end up missing a finger or two. She's so adorable that I don't think I'd probably mind either.

Next up is her obsession with chewing gum. No, she hasn't found an appreciation for a bit of Hubba Bubba bubble blowing, but she does have a really icky habit of routing out any recently spit out chewy, and snaffling it up before either of us can stop her.

This probably wouldn't be an issue if we didn't walk her in a park where there is a 5-a-side football centre. For some unfathomable reason the players there seem unable to walk a couple of feet to deposit their sticky gum in either of the two bins they have just outside the entrance to the fields, and so they just gob it straight onto the ground.

If you are one of those type of people don't do it, just don't, it's disgusting!

Recently, she also has developed another obsession involving munching.

She discovered a mouse hole in the park one day, and using her pointy nose and sharp claws managed to catch one. It's head succumbed incredibly quickly to her strong, half-Staffy jaws before we caught up. Sensibly, the mice have since moved on, but Lilly hasn't caught on to that fact, and every day we have to stop in that exact spot just to see if she can find another free lunch.

Lastly, and this infatuation is saved mainly for Damian. She likes to lick him. Don't get me wrong, I'm tasty too, but I don't let her do it to me that much, but Damian, now he is much more of a pushover.

It all started after they began play fighting together.

When they play she grabs his hand sometimes with her paws, and sometimes in her mouth in the lightest way, and when Damian has had enough he lets her gum his hand, signalling to her that the rough stuff is over.

One time her dew claws scratched him drawing blood, and with the earlier-mentioned red stuff craving, she licked it to clean him (don't worry, he washed it straight after), so over time the gumming moved on to an arm lick.

In the evening, if she sits with us on the couch, and she is facing Damian's arm it will get a tongue-washing for no other reason than she wants to, but a couple of nights ago she upped her game.

First up, she usurped Damian's place on the couch, so he ended up sat on the floor leaning against the couch. She then shuffled around so that her head was resting on his shoulder. It was soooooo cute. The next moment, I looked round and Damian's follicly-challenged head was receiving a bath. She must have thought he tasted really good as she kept on going whilst me'n'him were in fits of laughter.

Scientists have looked into it, and dogs do get gratification out of licking humans. They do it to show affection, and it calms and comforts them because it releases pleasurable endorphins.

So basically Damian is Lilly's version of chocolate! Yum! Toodles 'til next month.

Lilly's

Lilly is always on the lookout for cool, fun and useful new products.

Paws The Planet Eco Friendly Water Resistant Travel Mat

Made with 100% recycled materials this Pet Travel Mat has been designed for comfort and warmth when travelling as it is perfect to roll out across the boot or back seat to stop the interior getting muddy or wet.

Machine Washable at 30˚ (do not Tumble Dry)

price: £35 more at » pawstheplanet.co.uk

Good Dog Pamper Kit

Treat your dog to the Good Dog Pamper Kit, the pooch equivalent of a relaxing spa day.

The dog shampoo uses coconut oil and gentle citrus to clean and soften even the wiriest dog fur.

After the bath, use the soft brush to make your pooch look pampered, and then spritz the pomegranate scented dog-friendly cologne for a pleasant aroma.

price: £20 more at » aurina.co.uk

Dog Bone Eco Braid Rug

Part of Braided Rug's Eco range, thes cute rugs are perfect for your pooch, or his dishes.

These supremely hardwearing rugs can be used indoors or out, and are machine washable at 30 degrees (dry naturally).

Made from recycled plastics, they make the perfect eco choice. Available in 5 colours - Dove, Slate, Tomato, Midnight & Olive Size: 26" x 16"

price: £19.95 more at » braided-rug.co.uk

Charley Chau Leather Whippet Collar

These plain and simple, but very stylish Whippet Collars are handmade to order for a perfect fit. They have a classic Sighthound shape that is wider at the front and narrow at the back to relieve the pressure on their necks, and also to prevent escaping from the collar because of their relatively narrow skulls.

Made in England from a fine Nappa Leather, they are available in 12 fabulous colours, and there are standard sizes, but they can make to specific requirements.

prices: £34 - £38 more at » charleychau.com

LISH Harris Tweed Sustainable Designer Collar

Countless hours go into hand-crafting each dog collar. The difference is in the details - made in the UK from the finest vegetable tanned Italian Leather cut by skilled British saddle makers, and hand-crafted with genuine Harris Tweed home-woven in Scotland along with sturdy solid brass fittings and an extra loop to keep the leather tip flat and neat.

Sizes: S, S/M, M & L

prices: £56 - £65 buy from » lishlondon.com

*Some of these products contain affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through the links, though at no additional cost to you.

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