For anyone who grew up watching the A-Team, offroading is part of an adventurous and superhero attitude that grants you immediately with unlimited powers. Powerful is by far the best word to describe the features of offroad vehicles. And that’s the main reasons why more and more drivers choose to own an offroad car. While there’s an element of style and elegance – as you still want a car that meets your aesthetic ideal – the sense of fun that you gain through the powerful performance of these action cars is determinant in the purchase. However, the concept of stylish offroading has suffered a dramatic hit.
Offroad cars have enjoyed an increase in popularity. So much that it’s almost impossible to get anywhere in town or the suburbs without finding 4×4 vehicles parked neatly onto the drive of a family home. And this, however cool offroad cars might be, is an insult to the capacities of a 4×4. Jeeps and other offroaders were not designed to drive casually around your neighbourhood. They were built for off the road driving, which has nothing to do with parking your car on the curb in front of the hairdresser’s salon. As a result of being misused, offroad vehicles can appear disappointing. For a start, there are better cars to drive on the road. But more importantly, the ill-fitted purchase has given these adventurous vehicles a bad reputation. When you see a Jeep now, it’s hard not to think that it’s probably driven by a middle-aged individual making a desperate statement about their long-gone youth. So let’s give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: Offroaders are meant to go offroads. And thankfully, you’ve got plenty of choices here!
The practical and versatile family car for near-urban areas
For anybody who lives in town and doesn’t need much offroad action in their life, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is the perfect mix of an urban SUV for small families with the versatility of light offroading. For a start, families of two children or more, will be pleased to know that the Tiguan has a lot of cargo space, as it even includes a third row. Admittedly as it’s now 10 inches longer than previous models, it may not be the perfect car to drive in the centre of London. Yet, if you avoid rush hours in big towns and tiny indoors car parks, you shouldn’t have many issues to handle this fun SUV. More importantly, it can handle a certain level of offroad driving, which is the perfect compromise for urban families with countryside holidays.
The ideal offroad car for countryside living
If you live in a rural area with more gravel than roads, you know that you need to pick a quality SUV, like the Jeep, to make the most of your surroundings. As a general rule of the thumb, you’re by far the only driver who needs a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. If you find yourself close to a river or worried about flooding, you might want to choose a 2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport as the car can easily ford into up to 33.5 inches of water. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer such impressive underwater features, but its sport, snow, sand/mud and rock settings can get you to most destinations easily.
The rock crawler for taking over that cowboy country
If you’re after something a little more adventurous, and especially if you’re looking for an offroad vehicle as a hobby car – which implies that you’ve got an urban vehicle for the rest of the week – you might want to take a look at rock climbers. Admittedly, this isn’t for the light-hearted drivers, and you shouldn’t try without proper training.
The unbelievable ripsaw vehicle that takes up to 6 months to make
In extreme offroad sports, you’ve probably heard of the ripsawtank, a tank that can happily drive its way through the highest dunes of the desert or through a wall. If you want to see them in action, tune in to Amazon Prime and watch the latest Grand Tour series. Richard Hammond takes a ripsaw for a drive through Dubai, including a shopping mall. Ultimately the ripsaws can take up to 6 months to build, but they offer the ultimate adrenaline-fueled ride.
The bottom line is simple: It’s about picking the most appropriate offroad vehicle for your need. Don’t be another Jeep owner in Suburbia
