Buyer's Guide - Large SUVs

Which engine to choose? What equipment? Is it worth paying extra for extra horses and gadgets? Gasoline, diesel or maybe a hybrid? You can read about it in the buyer's guide below. In part eleven, we will look at large SUVs and crossovers.

Along with the popularization of off-road vehicles, they began to resemble ordinary passenger cars, and not the off-road ones from which they originated. The fashion for a combat-looking car attracted more and more buyers, who, however, did not want to give up the comfort offered by ordinary cars. That is why cars such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the first Mercedes ML began to appear on the market, which, despite their appearance and good courage on light off-road, were designed primarily for use on asphalt. As the years passed, more and more manufacturers joined the competition, and cars became more luxurious and comfortable on the pavement. The crowning achievement of this trend are SUVs such as the BMW X6 and Infiniti FX, which are oversized just to impress with their design.

Who is a large SUV (or crossover) suitable for?

These cars are now seen as an alternative to the luxury limousines, and there is a lot of truth in this approach. Modern large SUVs can be truly luxurious, and in terms of comfort, equipment and quality finishes they are not inferior to classic business cars. However, we must not forget that, despite the remarkable achievements of engineers and flowery assurances of marketers, they allow a much worse compromise between comfort and handling than comparable wagons of the same brand. Some of them quietly overcome bumps, but lean heavily in corners. Those that drive confidently often do not impress with comfort. The steering system is also not very communicative. Everything naturally depends on the specific model and our preferences, but we must carefully check the car before buying, so that it does not turn out that it rides like a boat or bounces on bumps.

ENGINE

Given the size of these cars, we should have enough power. And more often than not, we can count on it even in the cheapest version. However, it is worth having some “spare tire”, given the dimensions and carrying capacity of such vehicles.

Gas – if you want to buy a version that allows you to drive dynamically, you will have to take into account the fuel consumption of 20 l / 100 km, which will turn off many drivers. On the other hand, taking into account the price range of these cars, it is not so difficult to accept it. There is also something extremely attractive and exciting about driving a large SUV with a powerful V8 under the hood.

Diesel - cars equipped with these engines have a noticeably lower appetite for fuel than gasoline versions (this does not mean that they are small), and often they are not more expensive than them. The large torque developed by diesel engines is also important, which is very useful if you overtake in a car with the dimensions of a Ruch kiosk, weighing 2,5 tons. Moreover, now 3-liter units reach such capacities that allow you to move really quickly. Let's just remember that if we drive mostly in the city, a modern diesel does not handle it well.

Hybrid - an interesting offer for people moving mainly in city traffic. It allows for lower fuel consumption than the petrol version, but does not necessarily provide worse performance. This is because in large SUVs, as in high-end limousines, the electric motor is seen as an additional power boost, and not just a way to reduce fuel consumption. This could be an interesting alternative to diesel.

Equipment

In terms of comfort, equipment and finishes, these cars can be classified as a class above, and some models are even luxurious. Therefore, if you are interested in the details of what should be in such a machine, I refer you to the fifth and sixth parts of my guide. Below I will focus only on the typical and useful elements of large SUVs.

Air suspension is a very useful addition, and not only for reasons that automatically come to mind. Most often, the legitimacy of its purchase is considered in terms of improving the off-road capabilities of the car, which many do not care about anyway. Let's not forget, however, that the possibility of adjusting the ride height provided by such a suspension allows not only to raise the car, but also to lower it. Thanks to this, we improve stability and handling, as well as productivity and reduce fuel consumption (due to less air resistance). Air suspensions usually have different modes of operation, for example, sporty or comfortable, which additionally allows us to improve the driving performance of the car and adapt it to our needs.

camera - there used to be talk about a rear view camera, today there are sets of 4 or more cameras that allow you to accurately observe what is happening around the car. The most useful feature is, of course, the XNUMXD view, which is a bird's eye view of the car's immediate surroundings, which can be invaluable in crowded parking lots. It is also useful to use a camera showing what is happening in front of the car, as well as a view of the right front wheel.

Third row of seats - since some large SUVs are more than 5 meters long, they can be successfully used as family cars. Many of them can also be ordered with a third row of seats, making them a very interesting, albeit expensive, alternative to vans.

Glass roof - if you like to go out into nature from time to time, it is worth investing in a glass hatch. This can make driving a lot more enjoyable, especially among trees, and will also liven up the interior.

Reducer - an accessory that significantly increases efficiency in the field, which, however, is not offered by everyone. It allows you to move at minimum speeds, but using high engine power. As a result, the car can very slowly but uncontrollably race through the desert.

Off-road driving assistance systems “While large SUVs are by definition an alternative to a higher-end station wagon, some manufacturers nonetheless feel that there are customers who buy this type of vehicle and expect it to handle tough conditions when needed. Among the electronics that improve the courage to drive off-road and help the driver, we can find options such as the ability to choose the type of surface on which we drive, uphill and downhill support or differential locks. If we plan to drive our SUV on paved surfaces, they are worth investing in. There are many stories about people who drove into some innocent place and then had to wait for the tractor to arrive. Before buying, let's find out what retrofit options the model we are interested in offers.

Market offer:

Audi Q7,

BMW X5,

BMW X6,

Hyundai ix55,

Infiniti FX,

Jeep Grand Cherokee,

Land Rover Discovery,

Lexus RX,

mercedes g class,

mercedes GL,

mercedes ml,

mitsubishi pajero,

Nissan Murano,

Porsche Cayenne,

range rover,

Toyota Land Cruiser,

Toyota Land Cruiser V8,

Volkswagen Tuareg,

Volvo XC90