Rating of the most passable SUVs and crossovers in 2014

SUVs, crossovers and SUVs are becoming more and more popular among domestic drivers. Real SUVs and all-wheel drive pickups, such as Toyota Hilux, are designed to conquer off-road, drive along impassable dirt roads, along cobblestones and mountain paths. However, many car owners rarely use them for their intended purpose, buying them solely for the sake of power, size and self-affirmation at their expense. After all, such class K cars are much more expensive than budget sedans and hatchbacks.

According to surveys, only 5-20 percent drivers use SUVs for their intended purpose, while the rest just like everything big and powerful.

But manufacturers are interested in ensuring that their products fully comply with the declared characteristics. For this purpose, various ratings of the most powerful and passable SUVs are compiled.

Consider which of the jeeps are the most suitable for off-road driving. But first of all, it is worth noting that you can find all sorts of ratings for this parameter and they are not always similar to each other. When evaluating jeeps, the following parameters are taken into account:

• the value of clearance - ground clearance, you must admit that for an SUV this is a very important indicator, because you can break a pallet on cobblestones very easily;
• engine power and torque;
• suspension articulation.

In addition, the SUV class is also taken into account:

• crossovers and SUVs with an engine capacity of up to 2,5 liters, compact dimensions and not the most striking characteristics;
• middle class - engine size from 2,5 to 3,5 liters, capacity for up to seven passengers;
• well, and the flagships - the engine capacity exceeds 3,5 liters.

В first weight category leading:

1. Honda CRV;
2. Toyota RAV4.

В middle class recognized as the best:

1. Volkswagen Tuareg;
2. Toyota Highlander;

Well, among flagships in terms of power and dimensions are:

1. Ford Explorer;
2. Ford Expedition.

These models are also recognized as the most reliable in their categories.

The cross-country rating of SUVs was and Forbes magazine based on surveys of American drivers. Only Premium class models were evaluated:

• the updated Hummer H2 is the leader in it;
• Range Rover came in second;
• third are the Germans with their Mercedes GL 450;
• Land Rover Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport finished fourth and fifth;
• Lexus LX470 is located on the honorable sixth place;
• G500th Merce seventh;
• Porsche Cayenne, Lexus GX 470 and Volkswagen Tuareg took the last three places in the Top 10 most passable “rogues” of the Premium class.

It is worth noting that you are more likely to meet these models in elite parking lots near administrative and office buildings in Moscow than in some Siberian wilderness, since their owners hardly have to overcome wetlands and mountain passes at the entrances to their country cottages.

There are other ratings based on independent assessments of various expert agencies and automotive publications. According to one of them, the picture looks a little different:

• The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most off-road capable;
• Mercedes G-Klasse ranks second in terms of its cross-country ability;
• Hummer H1, originally intended for the needs of the army, proudly takes third place;
• Mitsubisi Padgero Sport - 4th place;
• Brabus 800 Widestar - the 790-horsepower twin-turbo engine of this masterpiece allowed the model to take 5th place;
• Toyota 4Runner;
• The Nissan Frontier PRO-4X is an all-wheel drive pickup truck that excels in cross-country racing;
• Land Rover.

As you can see, how many people, or rather publications and agencies, there are so many opinions, the “passability” of an SUV is not a very objective concept, since it largely depends on the skill of the person behind the wheel.

We in Russia know perfectly well that on many impassable roads, where Cherokees and Hummers got stuck up to their ears, our UAZs and Niva did a decent job and, plus, they cost much less to repair.

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