Off Road SUV: Best Off-Road Sport Utility Vehicles

SUVs make great recreational vehicles, and whether you are just looking to cruise down a dirt road, or do some serious off road SUV mudding, you will need one of these machines.

The reason they are so useful in off-road situations, is because they were made for them. Most sport utility vehicles have higher clearence (so you don’t scrape the underbody), stiffer suspension and larger tires.

All of those aspects are critical if you do not want to damage your vehicle or get stuck. Almost every car manufacturer makes a model of SUV, if not multiple ones with many trim options.

Jeep is the original off road SUV maker. The history of this company dates back to the early 20th century, when we were at war and needed reliable transportation. Other companies such as Land Rover, soon entered the market as well, and now there are just about one hundred different models available.

Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi and many other companies have popular models of SUVs on the road today. They come in all different styles and body types, and some are more capable than others.

Depending upon the intensity of off-roading you plan on doing, there are different types of SUVs you should consider. While larger makes such as the Chevy Tahoe, and Ford Expedition can hold their own off of pavement, they are better equiped for highway driving, and their value makes them less ideal for off-road situations.

Less expensive makes, like jeep wranglers are more ideal for mudding and constant off-roading. If you have a lot of money to spend and still want to do a lot of off-roading you may consider a Hummer H2 or Humvee. These vehicles were made originally for military use and are still the number one troop transport of the U.S. army (because they go anywhere).

2010 Hummer H2

Many people only need an off road SUV for minimal amounts of off-roading. For these folks, it may be more ideal to purchase a vehicle with either all-wheel drive or 4 wheel, that is smaller in size and gets better gas mileage.

This type of SUV is meant mostly for highway driving, but can do relatively well on dirt, snow and mud as well. Many that fit into this category are considered “cross-over” models, since they aren’t full size SUVs, but are considerably larger than cars.

Examples of these models include; the Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, Subaru Forester, Dodge Magnum, Volvo XC60 and many others. Great handling in poor conditions, and higher fuel mileage make these models ideal, light off road SUVs.

While the traditional models from Jeep and Land Rover still hold a large portion of the off road SUV market, almost every major manufacturer has some of the market as well. If you’re a serious off roading enthusiast, there has never been a better selection of vehicles.

Style and functionality are now combined to satisfy almost all consumer preferences. Even base models of off road SUVs contain the luxury of smaller cars and sedans at affordable prices. No matter what vehicle you choose, you can always utilize after market parts to personalize it even further.

One Response to “Off Road SUV: Best Off-Road Sport Utility Vehicles”

1. SUV Rankings: Top Ranked Sport Utility Vehicles | SUV Today says:

   March 5, 2010 at 4:55 pm

   […] built on a light truck chassis. Depending on perspective, it is often termed as four wheel drive, 4 x 4 or off-road vehicle. It is a popular mode of transportation in countries such as USA, Canada and […]