For the past few years, the sport utility vehicles or SUVs have been at the receiving end of negative feedback and reviews from certain quarters and stakeholders in the industry. These vehicles are known to be expensive, with the high end Mercedes G-Class fetching more than $130,000 and the ultra-high luxury Land Rover Range Rover with an asking price of nearly $190,000. Add concerns about poor fuel efficiency and reports about unsafe road performance and you have the perfect list of reasons why many car shoppers and first-time drivers will stay away from SUVs. Sure, there are some SUVs available in the market with questionable safety record and bad fuel efficiency but if you simply take a good look at the latest SUVs rolled out in the industry, you’ll discover a different way to look at these kinds of vehicles. Still want proof that SUVs are great investments too? Here are our five reasons why you should consider an SUV today!
1. Better off-road performance and dependability
Not all vehicles are designed for off-roads and tricky road conditions. And for the most part, the popular car models today are primarily constructed for city driving and not recommended for use in remote areas. This is not the case with some of the best SUVs in the market right now. Today, you can easily find a good selection of SUVs that are used in remote areas in America, in the Australian outback and the icy road conditions of Alaska and Canada. Vehicles like the iconic Jeep Wrangler have positioned itself as one of the leading SUVs in the market that can work for off-road enthusiasts and adventurers who prioritize extreme capabilities. There may be some limitations with the basic Wrangler models but the Rubicon offer premium equipment for safe and powerful command off the road. Other capable (and ultra-luxurious) SUVs that can work on these kinds of roads include the Land Rover Range Rover, Nissan Xterra and Toyota 4Runner.
Most of these capable SUVs share the same characteristics including improved ground clearance, presence or use of all-terrain tires and high-mounted air intake. Higher ground clearance is needed to ensure complete protection for the vehicle so that it will not be damaged by rocks. Appropriate tires should be used, specifically mud terrain tires. The idea here is to look for tires with tough sidewalls and deep threads to ensure reliable performance off road. Finally, the position of the air intake can also define the performance of the SUV. It should be elevated to ensure that no water can get into the vehicle’s cylinder.