Distance: 448 km
Date: 20-21 December 2024
Location: Ontario, Quebec
Up front: The cavernous first row feels cozy once the middle seat is folded down. The leather armrests and steering wheel are a nice touch to the otherwise economy interior. An option to get leather-trimmed edges on the seat instead of all-cloth or all-leather would’ve been a nice midway option.
The armrests are the same height on both sides and the 12-inch digital gauge cluster is easy to read. However, the steering wheel blocks the view of the gauge cluster. Apple CarPlay pairs easily via a wired USB-C connection, but I couldn’t figure out the wireless connection method.
In the back: The rear bench seats three across comfortably. There’s space to fit tools and bags and still have sufficient legroom for six-foot tall occupants. The bench seat can be folded up 60/40 and the nearly flat floor can hold eight large checked bags below window height.
Further storage in the bed isn’t a problem. The electric tailgate and standard three-pin socket makes it possible to run a workstation from the rear.
Driving: The body-on-frame chassis makes the ride floaty over rough roads and feels like a vessel in a storm off road. Although it’s been capable in the two hours I spent in gravel trails in the Laurentian Mountains, it induces motion sickness to even the most resistant travellers.
Visibility is poor all around. The hood is more square than it needs to be for style so the first nine metres of pavement ahead of you is invisible. The mirrors, though, have a good range of rear vision and the turning circle is good enough for moderate urban manoeuvres.
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