Overlander 4x4 - July 2023

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We talk a lot about green laning in 4x4. But what about grey laning – could this be the perfect halfway house for people who’d love to go exploring in their family SUVs but can’t risk scratching them up?

That’s what we were musing on while exploring a stunning tract of the Scottish Borders aboard an early Porsche Cayenne. The feature is in this month’s issue… along with some musings on whether the smallest roads can offer the same sense of adventure we’re more used to getting on byways. Some of you will sneer at the idea – but for some people, perhaps it could be the perfect way into our way of life.

If it’s the real thing you want, our North Nottinghamshire Roadbook contains plenty of laning – some of it deceptively gnarly. And we’ve got a report in this issue of an exceptionally muddy and hard-fought motorsport event… using nothing but electric cars. Another idea some of you will sneer at – but the racing was as tough as it gets.

The electric theme continues with the Jeep Cherokee 4xe – a restified classic mating the body of a 1978 Cherokee with the chassis and drivetrain of a plug-in Wrangler. This time, we wouldn’t mind betting nobody’s going to sneer at it… though plenty of you are likely to drool.

The Nissan X-Trail tested this month, by contrast, is a mild-hybrid model rather than the electric e-4ORCE version. And there’s nothing electric about any of the Land Rover 90s showcased in this month’s 4x4 of the Best section – even if one of them isn’t actually a 90 at all. We know how much you love a deliberate mistake…