Standing start acceleration figures were taken both with two- and four-wheel drive engaged, and on a dry test surface the figures were almost identical. The four-wheel drive, as well as increasing traction when traversing rough colonial sections, is advantageous on slippery roads when, with all wheels pulling, the car can be accelerated quickly and straight; in these conditions it will slide if such tactics are attempted with only the rear wheels driving.
As part of the test, the Station Wagon was driven up Hollinsclough, a motor cycle trials section near Buxton. The track was covered in snow and in places there were rock steps up to 10 inches or a foot in height. But, with four-wheel drive selected, no difficulty was found in ascending the slope and, in fact, several stops and restarts were made.
When traversing rough country, it is necessary to be able to control the vehicle quickly within very fine limits and consequently there are only 2.75 turns of the wheel from lock to lock; nevertheless the effort required is not unduly great.
Like the open Land Rover, the Station Wagon has non-independent front suspension with half-elliptic leaf springs at both front and rear. The suspension is firm and there is very little roll on corners, yet for normal road driving all the passengers have a comfortable ride. No bottoming was noticed.
