Today's best value new 4WD wagon

I've been spending time with the base-model Grand Cherokee Laredo, which lists for $65,000 when fitted with the V6 Pentastar petrol engine, and five grand more for the diesel. If you've been checking prices of new 4WD wagons recently, that's outstanding value. You can spend almost $100,000 for a top-model Grand Cherokee, and a gorgeous Range Rover-challenging wagon it it, but the Laredo's still really well equipped and tempting for people who might actually want to go off-road sometime, despite not having the variable-height QuadraLift air suspension.

Despite not being able to put more air under its belly at the touch of a button, the Laredo has enough ground clearance for at least medium-duty off-roading and still has the various dial-in modes for different terrain. Either engine would be good for off-roading. Although the diesel's clearly better on paper – 550Nm at 1800rpm compared to 347Nm at 4300rpm – I think I'd go with the Pentastar, given its lower price, the relative thirst of the diesel, and that the torque deficit never posed a problem when I have driven other Pentastar Grand Cherokees. The diesel returned 13.5 litres per 100km overall during the time I had it, not significantly less than the various Pentastar Grand Cherokees and Wrangler Unlimiteds I've driven. A Land Cruiser 200 with its twin-turbo V8 did better, but maybe with more mileage the Jeep engine's consumption will improve, as if by magic.

If you want to spend $70-something on a Pajero, or $80-something for a Prado go ahead, but do look at this Jeep.

Anniversary for Jeepers

Mopar celebrates its 75th anniversary on Jan 31. Originally intended to identify Chrysler group's motor parts, Mopar morphed into a catch-all word for the company's car lines and, particularly, for performance products. Jeep bought-in when it was purchased from the failed AMC-Renault.

With top Defenders, you get free naan bread

Some interesting new info on the next Defender from Autocar UK, including the news that it will be built in India, with some models sent CKD to the UK. Talk about changing times!

It could be in the bag, literally

Seems like quite a few 4WD owners are building mounts for their iPad in front of the dashboard. Not quite sure why, although it might be a good way to display Google or other maps. There's quite a lot of discussion on 4WD forums about the best way to make some kind of support. But potentially there's a big problem on vehicles with a passenger airbag; the mount may interfere with the correct functioning of the airbag, some of which inflate to cover an area from the passenger door to almost the driver's seat. The picture is an example. Other airbag designs inflate to a width no greater than the passenger seat, so you really need to know which one you have. Of course, it's only a problem if you have a decent prang and an airbag is only a supplementary system; having the seatbelt on is the first line of defence. But with all the other hassle that follows a crash, I'm not sure I'd want to add to the list having to explain to the insurance company/cops why I'd purposely obstructed the proper functioning of an airbag. Just a thought.