I have seen enough...I need answers....the auto industry is obviously trying to cater to the fourwheeling community with ruggedly styled, SUV's....but really...are they any good? I have heard the hype and seen these very popular trucks on the road, but do they perform? I saw a Freelander at an autoshow and asked a Landrover rep. about it and he sat there for half an hour talking to me about how that thing with what seems like four inches of ground clearance and plastic parts could beat a Rubicon Wrangler at a skills course! Also...has anyone seen an Xterra in action? if so tell me that plastic skid plate didn't break! Does anyone support these things? I just want opinions here it seems like they're for the groceries rather than the dirt.  

The Freelander is a "cute ute," no two ways about it. It's for the same crowd that likes the Ford Escape and CR-V. Nothing against those vehicles, but they're definitely not built for off-roading. They don't have a low-range transfer case, and they're car-based unibody chassis. For hittin' the trails, the Xterra would be a decent choice. It's body-on-frame, and has a low range. Check out the "Project Vehicles" link on fourwheeler.com on the buildup coverage of Project Xterra.

If you don't mind a little more back-to-basics setup, a Wrangler is probably the best off-road, bang-for-the buck. The Unlimited gives you a little more cargo space and a bigger back seat, but unfortunately, is only available with an automatic for now.