All posts by budwells

About budwells

Born at Wray, Colo., graduate of Sterling High School, attended Northeastern Junior College, began work at Sterling Journal-Advocate in 1956, began work at The Denver Post in 1968, resides at Greeley, Colo. Bud and wife Janice are parents of three sons and two daughters.

Ford Ranger in 4X4 bid with Tremor

The 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor in offroad testing. (Bud Wells photos)

Fortified with a new offroad package called Tremor, the Ford Ranger ventures into the wilds of the west against roughest of terrain and toughest of weather.

With Tremor, the Ranger is a competitor of the Chevy Colorado ZR2, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, Jeep Gladiator and GMC Canyon.

The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is competitor for the new Ranger Tremor.

The 2021 Ford Ranger SuperCrew 4X4 Tremor, a compact/midsize pickup delivered to me, in 422 miles averaged 21.8 in overall fuel mileage; its EPA estimate is 19 mpg. Fuel tank is 18 gallons.

It performs with a turbocharged, 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine generating 270 horsepower, 310 lb.-ft. of torque and tied to a 10-speed automatic transmission with the stop/start feature.

When properly equipped, the Ranger’s tow rating is 7,500 pounds. Maximum payload is 1,860 pounds, highest among the compact pickups.

Preparing the Ranger on the road for off-the-road adventure is as simple as twisting a dial for four-wheel-high range or four-wheel-low, then pushing a TM button (terrain management) in the middle of the dial and moving from Normal into Grass/Gravel/Snow or Mud/Ruts or Sand.

It was tested among sagebrush, sand and mud, into dips and draws and ascents, as well as two drives to Denver and back home.

But, basically, purpose of the review is to detail the new Tremor package, which emphasizes a lifted suspension, achieved through offroad Fox 2.0 monotube dampers, tuned front coilover and redesigned rear multileaf springs.

A wider stance, benefitting from Continental General Grabber all-terrain LT 265/70R/17 tires, has improved the Ranger’s handling. The Ranger Tremor’s 9.7 inches of ground clearance is almost an inch more than the standard SuperCrew 4X4.

The turbo boost provides excellent acceleration and highway passing capability. Some occasional jerkiness is felt during upshifting or downshifting in lower gears

A convenient hoop-style step rail is positioned at each of the four doors. The 5-foot-long box with spray-in bedliner has a remote lock for the tailgate.

Inside, fairly firm front bucket seats are finished in a suede/leather combo. The rear seating is all leather; it is a little short on legroom. The navigation/audio infotainment screen is easy to use.

With a near-$5,000 tab added for the Tremor additions, this Ranger’s sticker price soared to $48,100. Base price for the Lariat SuperCrew 4X4 is $38,785.

Besides the Tremor buildup, other options included Bang & Olufsen audio, rain-sensing wipers, rapid red exterior finish, the bedliner. Among safety items are adaptive cruise, forward-sensing system, cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping, precollision assist and reverse sensing.

The Ranger nameplate on the Ford compact pickup dates back to early 1982, when it was introduced as an ’83 model to replace the imported Ford Courier. From 1987 to 2004, the Ranger was the best-selling compact pickup in the U.S. It was discontinued after 2012, then introduced as 4th-generation Ranger for the 2019 model year. The fourth-gen Ranger is built in Wayne, Mich.

Ford Bronco Sport lead-in for bruiser

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport at Lake Estes. (Bud Wells photo)

The recently arrived 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, somewhat surprisingly, felt comfortably refined in its week in my possession. On sale for three or four months, it does battle with the Jeep Cherokee and Compass and others, leaving the bigger Bronco, due out this summer, to contend with the larger and tougher Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Speaking of Jeep; heading my way was a new Wrangler Rubicon 392 with a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 engine. The spread of a crack in the glass after a rock hit the windshield turned the driver around back toward Denver. “Oh, no,” was my response to the call informing me the Jeep wouldn’t be delivered; “Oh, wow,” I responded to the next bit of info which was that in its place, the driver would bring me the new Ford Bronco Sport.

The return of the Ford Bronco is one of the most anticipated new-car arrivals in many months. The Bronco Sport will compete with, in addition to the Jeeps, the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester. It shares underpinnings with the Ford Escape; the Sport’s wheelbase is 105.7 inches and overall length 172.7 inches.

The big Bronco, expected to show up this summer as a 2022 model, will be almost a foot-and-a-half longer than the Bronco Sport.

The 1996 Ford Bronco was the last built until the 2021 Bronco Sport arrived. (Ford)

I drove the Bronco Sport to Longmont, then followed Colo. 66 and U.S. 36 with numerous curves and a long climb to Estes Park. It was rainy with heavy fog most of the way. The all-wheel-drive Bronco maintained good grip from its all-terrain tires; adding interest was dialing in Sport mode, which increased throttle response, quickened shifts and steering, while the 11-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system programmed V-8 engine exhaust sound.

The descent back to Greeley came via Big Thompson Canyon and its twists, most of which were nonbraking maneuvers after dropping into 4th and even 3rd gears while using the Sport’s paddleshifters.

The Sport performs with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of 250 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. It is tied to an 8-speed automatic transmission, shifted from a rotary dial on the center console. Near it is a second dial, smaller, labeled G.O.A.T., which stands for “Goes Over Any Type of Terrain.” It will move between Normal, Comfort, Eco and Sport modes, with terrain settings for slippery, sand, mud/ruts and snow.

Base engine for the Sport is a 1.5-liter, turbocharged 3-cylinder of 181 horsepower and 190 lb.-ft. of torque. The Bronco’s doors and top are removable.

Base price for the Ford Bronco Sport 1st Edition 4X4 is $32,500. A list of optional items pushed the sticker price to $37,545. The Bronco Sport is built at Hermosillo, Mexico.

The 120-mile run through Estes averaged 26.4 miles per gallon; overall for the week was 22.8. The Sport’s EPA estimate is 21/26.

VW’s ID.4 Electric worthy challenger

Contrasting the VW ID.4’s glacier white exterior is black top. (Bud Wells photo)

The small, smooth ID.4, the one that temporarily put the “t” in Volkswagen, is no joke.

It is a well-designed, fully electric SUV crossover that VW expects will emphasize the brand’s focus on electrification.

The ID.4, along with another recently introduced EV, the Ford Mustang Mach-e, are worthy challengers for established electrics Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona, all of which produce range expectations of 220 to 260 miles.

VW officials expect the ID attraction to spill over even against sales stalwarts of the internal-combustion crowds, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. That’s a best-case scenario.

Volkswagen estimates a range of 250 miles for the ID.4. That range will vary, depending on weather and terrain, and certainly on highway speeds.

Jan and I drove from our home in Greeley to Panera Bread at I-25 and 144th Avenue for coffee with Kurt and Tammy Wells. Speeds, first on U.S. 34, then south on I-25, varied from around 65 to 78 miles per hour for a distance of 44 miles, yet the range reduction was 55 miles. On the return drive, we drove east on 144th to Colo. Blvd. road, then north to Greeley on 55-mph roads, a distance of 41 miles, which reduced the range by only 31 miles.

Large infotainment screen is interior highlight in the ID.4 Electric. (Volkswagen)

Monday morning, with 90 miles of range remaining in the ID.4 and needing a quick-charge for a drive into Denver, I pulled into Greeley Volkswagen. Not much was stirring inside the dealership, except for the friendly face of Carlos Jimenez, sales manager.

“Sure, we can give it a charge,” said Jimenez, who was surprised to see it pulled in and parked. There are few yet on the road. Jimenez asked for the ID’s key, got in and drove it 50 feet to the next-door building, Greeley Nissan, and with the help of a representative of that business, began the recharge. In 40 minutes, the VW’s range was boosted from 90 to 190 miles, plenty for my need that morning. Range capacity for the ID.4 is 250 miles.

I discussed with Jimenez the effect of highway speeds upon the little electric model. Jimenez explained how regenerative braking can expand the range in town driving. The Greeley Volkswagen sales team, with the dealership’s first ID.4, for several days in town shifted from the D (drive) gear to B (battery) which meant using the regenerative braking gear on deceleration; they attained 311 miles of range, a big gain over the estimated 250.

Jimenez, who worked in Boulder prior to coming here, said that city was much quicker to embrace the hybrid/plug-in/electric movement, but that there is growing interest now in the Greeley area and that he expects the VW entry to be very competitive.

We drove, rather quickly, for 74 miles to our destination in Denver, using 83 miles of range. After lunch at the New York Deli, we chose a much slower return route on U.S. 85. In 63 miles, the ID.4 gave up only 54 from its battery pack range. The car’s regenerative braking pressure is increased by moving the shifter from D to B.

That 82-kWh battery pack, beneath the floor of the passenger area, weighs a bit more than 1,000 pounds. That swells the curb weight of the ID.4 to a hefty 4,659 pounds. In size, it is almost 5 inches shorter than Volkswagen’s compact crossover, the Tiguan. It is built in Mosel, Germany.

The ID.4 is rear-wheel drive; its 201-horsepower electric motor sits over the rear axle. An all-wheel-drive version of the model will be introduced later in the year. The VW is a good handler, very quiet and offers a comfortable ride. Its infotainment center is somewhat difficult to command, even with its voice connection.

The ID.4 can be recharged fully in 7 ½ hours with 240-volt power. An overnight charge with 120-volt will add 40-50 miles or so of range.

The ID.4 1st Edition is the upper trim level for the model, and carries sticker price of $45,190. Lesser-priced versions are Pro and Pro S.

Early last week, about the time I received the ID.4 for reviewing, a Volkswagen press release said the company planned to change its brand name in the North American market to “Voltswagen” (thus, the reference to the ‘t’ in Volkswagen at the start of this column). “It was an April Fool’s joke,” VW said later.

Big AMG Mercedes tests twists of Rist

The Mercedes-Benz GLS is one of smoothest seven-passenger SUVs. (Bud Wells photo)

The twists of Rist provided a delightful start to Christmas week 2020 for Jan and me aboard the 2021 Mercedes AMG GLS63 sport ute.

This big full-sized beauty belies its size in  driving the narrow, curvy roads of Rist Canyon from Masonville to Bellvue in Larimer County on Sunday morning.

Following a brief stop at the Stove Prairie School, we continued several miles down the road before a photo stop and opportunity for a short visit with Jeff and Michele Yarberry.

From Masonville to Stove Prairie to Bellvue, I drove in Sport mode, using 3rd and 4th gears manually for best control of the big Benz on the narrow curves, up and down the hills. Fuel mileage average was 17.1 miles per gallon.

AMG’s hand-built 4.0-liter biturbo V-8 engine with EQ boost produces 603 horsepower, 627 torque with a 9-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive. The mild-hybrid EQ boost improves efficiency and performance at the same time.

Considering that power, along with AMG Active Ride Control suspension, AMG Dynamic Select drive mode, AMG multi-spoke forged wheels at $4,450 extra and AMG silver brake calipers, surely the sticker price won’t be a shocker. How about $149,740?

AMG is the high-performance division of Mercedes and independently engineers, manufactures and customizes M-B products.

The Burmester 3D Surround Sound system is a $4,550 optional add, and there are a carbon-fiber engine compartment cover, three rows of seats (sunshades for the middle row), and panorama roof. All three rows of seats are heated, as are the armrests and door panels, but you know what? The steering wheel is not heated.

The GLS is one of the finest seven-passenger sport utes in the country, with an exceptionally smooth ride and one of the most effective, least obtrusive stability control/curve control/lane-keeping assists of any on the market. Large, thick headrests can block driver vision to the rear side.

The Mercedes rides on a wheelbase of 123.4 inches, is 205 inches in overall length, with curb weight of 5,800 pounds. It is assembled in Vance, Ala. Engine and transmission are built in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz tests airbag 40 years ago. (Mercedes-Benz)

Forty years ago, Mercedes-Benz previewed the first driver’s airbag and seat belt tensioner, cutting-edge safety innovation. A limited number of S-Class sedans were delivered with the new technology, a joint development between Daimler-Benz AG and Bosch.

This ushered in the triumph of a restraint system which was quickly adopted by many automotive manufacturers across the world.

The airbag and seat-belt tensioner were available in 1982 as optional extras for all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. By 1992, the driver’s airbag was standard equipment in all of the brand’s models, followed by a front passenger airbag as standard in 1994.

Honda toughens Ridgeline look

The 2021 Honda Ridgeline Sport has been given a more aggressive stance. (Bud Wells photo)

Honda for the 2021 model year has toughened the look of its Ridgeline compact pickup, long noted for excellent ride quality.

Tired of hearing little praise for the Ridgeline’s other characteristics, Honda execs ordered a redesign of the front, from the A pillar forward.

In addition to a larger and more bold grille in the restyling, prominent fender flares were added, HPD alloy wheels were finished in bronze and a new rear bumper shows off dual exhaust ends.

Maximum towing capacity, though, remains at 5,000 pounds, lowest among the seven compact pickup competitors. Several other makes exceed 7,000 pounds.

“Ours is not the most robust in its class, but we feel it’s more than enough for what segment customers might tow,” is a Honda statement, perhaps pretentious.

At a stop at Daltile out on E. 42nd Ave., Denver, a forklift operator loaded 830 pounds of shower wall and floor tile into the bed of the Ridgeline. Payload for the truck is class-leading 1,583 pounds, so even adding the weights for Jan and me, left 400 or more pounds of freight capacity. Bed size in the Honda is 60 inches long and 50 wide; beneath the floor at the rear is a deep-well trunk, with drain.

The performance from the Ridgeline in carrying the load was very good; beneath the hood is a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 with variable cylinder management, 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Paddleshifters are linked to its push-and-pull electronic gear selector.

It maintained 75-miles-per-hour speed on I-25 when called for; its adaptive cruise was right on with distance control in the busy lanes of the highway.

Fuel mileage average for a week of driving, split equally between in-city and on-highway, was 22.1 mpg, with a 19.5-gallon fuel tank; its EPA estimate is 18/24.

The Ridgeline is of unibody construction, with MacPherson strut front shocks and multilink rear suspension. The four-door pickup is 210 inches in length on wheelbase of 125.2 inches. Curb weight is 4,510 pounds.

Beginning price for the Ridgeline AWD Sport is $37,665, with sticker price of $42,035. Base prices for the three higher trim levels are $40,465 for the RTL, $43,595 for the RTL-E and $45,095 for the Black Edition.

Interior is comfortable and quiet in the Honda Ridgeline. (Honda)

Among items included as standard for the Sport trim are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration and Bluetooth hands-free link, LED headlights with auto-high beam, dual action tailgate and remote engine start.

Also standard are lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation, part of the Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technology.

Compact pickup competitors of the Ridgeline are the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, GMC Canyon, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma. First-quarter sales were

  • 66,449 for the Tacoma,
  • 24,166 for the Ranger,
  • 24,083 for the Colorado,
  • 18,882 for the Gladiator,
  • 12,570 for the Ridgeline,
  • 10,780 for the Frontier and
  • 7,144 for the Canyon.

The Ridgeline is built at a Honda assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala.

Audi A6 allroad, Mercedes’ true coupe

The low-riding Audi A6 allroad quattro is alternative to SUVs. (Bud Wells photos)

Out-of-the-ordinary body styles showed up on a couple European luxury imports sent my way.

They’re the 2021 Audi A6 allroad quattro wagon and ’21 Mercedes AMG E53 two-door coupe.

The outstanding products are German-built – the Audi at Neckarsulm near Stuttgart, the Mercedes up north at Bremen near Denmark.

For the A6 allroad, it is a return after an absence of 15 years from U.S. showrooms. It’s not to be confused with the Audi A4 allroad, for the A6 is 7 inches longer, 400 pounds heavier and runs with 6-cylinder power to 4-cylinder for the smaller allroad. (A base version of the A6 can be bought with the 4-cylinder power).

A very smooth, strong, turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine, tied to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with quattro all-wheel drive, develops 335 horsepower. It averaged 25.3 miles per gallon in a combination of city/highway drives. It rides on Continental 245/45R20 tires.

The lengthy allroad sits low and offers an easier step-in than the SUV crossovers so popular today.

Among features are air suspension for added comfort and a lifted ride height (even an inclinometer to measure the vehicle’s tilt/roll/pitch angles), automatic soft-close doors, an upper 10-inch touchscreen for infotainment and navigation and lower 8-inch for climate control, Bang & Olufsen sound, 360-degree camera, automated emergency braking and lane-departure warning.

A $4,500 Prestige package raised sticker price of the Audi A6 allroad to $71,990. It included dual-pane acoustic glass, head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert, cooled front seats and heated rear seats, manual rear-side-window sunshades.

A chief competitor for the A6 allroad is the Volvo V90 crosscountry wagon.

AMG E53 Coupe

The low-riding Audi A6 allroad quattro is alternative to SUVs. (Bud Wells photos)

The sleek AMG E53 is a true coupe, with two doors and slope back.

Performance is built around a turbocharged inline-6-cylinder, enhanced by Mercedes’ AMG unit, and producing 429 horsepower and 384 lb.-ft.  of torque. Move the 9-speed automatic shifter into Sport mode, kick it a bit and enjoy breathtaking results.

The electrified inline-6 is supported by an EQ Boost, generating power for the 48-volt system, combining a starter motor and alternator in an electric motor between the engine and tranny/4Matic all-wheel drive. An electric auxiliary compressor builds immediate torque for acceleration until the exhaust-gas turbo takes over.

The Benz’s grand interior offers form-fitting black buckets of perforated leather trimmed in red, with metal-weave embellishment across the dash cover.

Noontime one day we met friends Ted and Shirley King for lunch at Cheddars in Northglenn, heading in on U.S. 85 and back to home base via I-25. Riding on 19-inch Michelins, the Mercedes averaged 22.6 miles per gallon (EPA estimate is 21/28).

Options boosted price of the E53 from base of $76,250 to sticker of $86,460. Among them were a heated performance steering wheel in nappa leather, performance exhaust, heated and ventilated front seats and driver assistance package of assists in steering, lane change, emergency stop, braking and blind-spot alert.

Power, efficiency for Accord Hybrid

The stylish 20212 Honda Accord Hybrid is roomy, comfortable. (Bud Wells photo)

The role of gas/electric hybrids is fast-moving past its traditional major-domo status toward key player for several manufacturers in the intensely competitive automotive field.

The Honda Accord is an example. It is determined to “go the distance” in the face of the incessant decline in midsize-sedan sales.

As several makers either have abandoned or plan to abandon that part of the market, Accord and its principal rival, the Toyota Camry, go “full speed ahead” with expansion and advancements midsizewise.

The Accord Hybrid, in particular, has made great strides in 2021, based on a more brisk throttle response and an impressive rise in fuel efficiency, a combo that can’t fail, at least in today’s market.

The busy Honda Accord Hybrid underhood area. (Honda)

While the traditional Accord is powered by a 1.5-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder, the Accord Hybrid is more powerful with its naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder and electric motors. The hybrid operates with 20 more horsepower, 40 more lb.-ft. of torque and is far more fuel-efficient. It has a fuel-tank range of up to 600 miles.

This advantage even against the fact the curb weight of the hybrid, with its battery pack and assorted equipment, is 3,446, 200 pounds heavier than the standard Accord.

A two-motor hybrid system – one for propulsion and the other a generator/starter motor – is seamlessly switched between EV electric, hybrid and the internal-combustion engine for maximum efficiency and necessary power.

With a switch to sport mode, the driver very quickly feels the increased tempo and responsiveness from the powertrain.

Aided by an easy 100-mile drive into Denver and back, the Accord averaged 44.4 miles per gallon in overall use in my possession. Its EPA estimate is 44 in the city and 41 on highway. The transmission is continuously variable and emits some whine on aggressive acceleration demands. The 6-speed manual transmission has been dropped for the Accord.

The big four-door is comfortable and roomy, and its trunk is a generous-sized 16.7 cubic feet. For 2021, updates were made to the Accord grille, LED headlights, foglights and radar unit integration, along with rear-seat reminder and low-speed braking control.

The Touring is the most upscale of the four trim levels for the hybrid. Lesser equipped are Base, EX and EX-L.

The $37,435 sticker price for the Accord Hybrid Touring includes remote engine start, walk-away auto lock, heated and ventilated front leather seats and heated rear seats, premium audio display with navigation/Buetooth/wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, wireless phone charger, head-up display and power moonroof.

Honda Sensing security includes adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation.

The Accord sedan was introduced to the U.S. market in 1976 as a ’77 model and the Accord Hybrid was added in 2005.

710-hp Durango Hellcat most powerful

The 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat near Estes Park. (Bud Wells photos)

The 2021 Dodge Durango Hellcat is the most powerful SUV in the country; well, most powerful in the world, I guess. Its supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi Hellcat V-8 generates 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque. It will attain 180-miles-per-hour speeds and tow 8,700 pounds.

So, what was it doing in Estes Park on a Saturday afternoon in December?

It carried Jan and me west out of Greeley, through Loveland and into Big Thompson Canyon past the Dam Store. Oh, my gosh, the roar of the exhausts between the rock walls of the Narrows, even at the relatively tame miles-per-hour pace, was awesome (in my opinion). On up the canyon I drove, paddle-shifting between 4th, 5th and 6th gears to keep pace in the busy line of automobiles.

The silver-colored Durango, with the under-hood valve covers of orange hue, a favorite for Hemis 60 years ago, rolled into a somewhat nostalgic scene along Estes Park’s Main Street, almost defying the facts of the country’s pandemic. Happy shoppers, it seemed, some masked, some not, in and out of the stores and filling the sidewalks; lots of packages and shopping bags.

Our only departure of the Hellcat was a couple miles above the village, long enough for a photo of the Durango, then slowly back through Main Street and eventually, back home.

In a setting far from downtown shoppers on another day, I clocked a 4.2-seconds 0-to-60 time in the Durango. This was a blink-of-an-eye slower than a 3.9-seconds time I recorded with an ’18 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with a 707-hp Hellcat engine.

For the ’21 Durango, this is the year of the Hellcat, and the only year; it won’t be available in the Dodge SUV after the 2021 model year. Hellcat engines were originally offered only in the Dodge Charger and Challenger models, later added to the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and this fall to the Ram TRX and Durango.

The Dodge Durango R/T with 5.7-liter Hemi.

While base price on the Durango Hellcat is $80,995, sticker price soared to $93,150 with optional Laguna leather seats, full-speed forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, rear DVD, suede headliner, Harman Kardon sound and red seat belts.

The week preceding the Hellcat testing, I drove the ’21 Dodge Durango R/T AWD model, sticker priced at $66,650. Since the R/T was equipped with the 360-hp Hemi V-8, this indicates a sizable chunk of the $27,000 difference in price from the Hellcat is the 710-hp engine.

Traditionally tough Defender returns

The Land Rover Defender, among best of offroaders. (Bud Wells photo)

One of the toughest of Land Rovers, after a 23-year absence from the U.S., is back.

The Land Rover Defender 110, for which roots date to the original LR in1950, fits the role of terrain tamer and is pitted against Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes Gelaendewagen and a couple others as super offroaders.

Built on Land Rover’s new all-aluminum D7x platform, the Defender is equipped with a powerful turbocharged, inline-6-cylinder of 395 horsepower and 408 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with selectable driving and offroad modes. In Sport, tap shifter up or down for manual-mode swiftness. A direct-front camera aids its 4X4 prowess.

The Defender is built on a lengthy, 119-inch wheelbase; yet, in overall length it is the shortest of the six Land Rover/Range Rover models. From shortest to lengthiest overall are the Defender at 170.2 inches, the Range Rover Evoque at 172.1, the Land Rover Discovery Sport 181, Range Rover Sport 192.1, Land Rover Discovery 195.1 and the flagship Range Rover 196.9.

This 1997 model ended the Defender in U.S. until recent months. (Land Rover)

The five-passenger Defender sent my way was finished in tasman blue, a color particularly well-suited to the structurally tough-looking sport ute, with white top. The classic blue color was used on Range Rovers from 1982 to ’87. In restyling, the square body of old has given way to a new grille and softening along the sides. The back end is chopped off at the rear corners as though to retain a bit of the traditional squared-off appearance.

With Jan, Bill and Kathy Allen aboard, I headed the Land Rover out northeast on a Saturday afternoon on a smooth drive (air suspension) 75 miles along Colo.  392 and 14. We slowed only on arrival at our destination, Stoneham and Dewey’s Bar and Grill, where we joined Jon and Nancy Weaver and Will and Jody Kulp of Greeley for dinner. On leaving a couple hours later, I visited with two other couples from our area who had driven to the “prime-rib specialty house,” Ron and Madge Randell of Greeley and Darrel and Debbie Dilley of LaSalle.

Overall fuel-mileage average for the Defender was 20.3 mpg; its EPA estimate is 17/22. Premium fuel is recommended. Its 360-mile test included another drive – to Denver – and lots of stop-and-go city maneuvering.

Added to that was some offroading to get a feel for the Defender’s Terrain Response system, which is engaged by touching a button on the center stack, then pushing in the driver-side heater temperature control knob (yes, that is correct) and dialing in the proper terrain setting among normal, rock crawl, mud and ruts, grass/gravel/snow, sand and wade, for traversing low-spot water in roadways or small streams.

The turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 is very responsive, plenty strong; yet, for the 2022 model year, Land Rover will add a 518-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine to both the 110 and the 90 two-door.

From a base price of $63,275, the 2020 Defender 110 SE climbed to sticker of $71,025 by adding adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, heated steering wheel and washer jets, configurable terrain response, electronic active differential, Goodyear Wrangler 255/60R20 tires, satellite radio and premium cabin lighting.

British-based, the Defender is built in Slovakia.

1981 reviews, $5,000 Civic to $35,000 Benz

1981 Reviews – Mercedes 300SD on top, Honda Civic on Bottom

(Forty years ago this winter, in February 1981, I reviewed back-to-back for The Denver Post two contrasting imports – the unusually pricey ’81 Mercedes 300SD and the bargain-tier ’81 Honda Civic 1500 DX hatchback. Only twice had I driven anything more luxurious than the $35,345 Mercedes – the ’81 Maserati Merak SS at $42,637 and the ’80 Porsche 928 at $39,024. And compared to the $5,348 Honda Civic, the Toyota Starlet at $5,110 was the only less-expensive little car I tested in 1981. The cars were provided for testing by two dealer friends, Mark Murray of Murray Imports and Ralph Schomp of Schomp Oldsmobile Honda. Excerpts of both reviews follow:

A 5-cylinder turbodiesel powered the ’81 Mercedes 300SD. (Bud Wells/1981)

’81 MERCEDES 300SD

There is no downsizing of Mercedes-Benz’ big sedan, the turbocharged, diesel-powered 300SD. A more aerodynamic body of lighter-weight materials was shaped in Mercedes’ wind tunnels and a new 4-speed automatic transmission complements the turboed 5-cylinder diesel engine.

The rear-drive Benz’s wheelbase has been lengthened to 115.6 inches, with curb weight reduced to 3,760 pounds. It delivered an average of 26.1 miles per gallon on a straight highway run (the 120-mile trip took 17.5 liters of diesel fuel. Stop-and-go travel in the city averaged 22.7 mpg.

A wait of only 6 seconds is required for preheating the chambers on cold starts, and the engine is quiet; only on starting and occasional idle is the popping of the diesel noticeable. Out on the highway, when the Garret turbocharger boost kicks in, it sounds as though the car would climb straight up a wall.

There is no question but what the ride is as good as ever in the Mercedes, and its handling might be the best of any full-sized sedan.

Mercedes is a strong seller in Colorado. A number of auto mechanics from Germany have relocated to Denver and the nearby mountains, selecting a setting not unlike their home country.

High value retention makes Mercedes a sound investment. A 240D model purchased new in 1977 for $13,500 was still worth about 90 percent of that three years later.

1981 Honda Civic weighed only 1,800 pounds. (Bud Wells/1981)

’81 HONDA CIVIC DX

Honda’s Civic 1500 DX hatchback is quick and economical and has good traction in the snow with front-wheel drive. With wheelbase of only 88.6 inches and 13-inch wheels, its turning circle is a narrow 31.5 feet.

The 5-speed manual transmission is shifted easily, with no push or pull or slap required to get it into reverse. Driving the Civic in Denver resulted in fuel mileage of 34.8 miles per gallon. The 1,800-pounder will do better than 40 out on the highway.

Controls are well-placed except those for the rear wiper and defogger, which are around to the side of the main instrument panel.

Base price of the Civic 1500 DX is $5,099, with 1,488cc, 4-cylinder engine, steel-belted radial tires, remote hatch release, intermittent windshield wipers and rear-window wiper, washer and defroster. High-altitude emission control equipment added $30 to the price, undercoating was $47 and freight of $172 brought the sticker to $5,348.