Jeeps, SUVs and crossovers have become one of the most popular classes of passenger cars since the 90s. The profit from their sale is so high that even those manufacturers who had not produced anything like this before began to produce four-wheel drive cars. The choice of jeeps is huge, but you need to buy one that suits you in all respects.
A jeep, unlike a road car, is designed to drive on bad roads. Therefore, it is better to start the choice with these qualities.
Off-road qualities
Jeeps, depending on their off-road properties, can be both real off-road vehicles and crossovers. A serious SUV necessarily has a frame, a downshift in the transmission, dependent suspension on all wheels and locking differentials (center and interwheel). To varying degrees, this set is available in different models of SUVs. Professional models such as Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, Mercedes Benz G are equipped with all these as standard. Some models may not have, for example, dependent suspension or some kind of blocking, while having a very good cross-country ability.
A serious off-road vehicle is suitable for people who drive a lot and often on difficult terrain. The frame structure and rigid axles allow the machine to carry high loads for many years. But on the road, this turns out to be many disadvantages. The frame makes the car heavier, making it more power hungry. The dependent suspension does not hold the road well at high speeds. A sophisticated drivetrain is more expensive than a conventional front or rear wheel drive.
Therefore, for those who need a jeep for trips to the dacha, for picnics or just for everyday driving around the city, they came up with crossovers. These are cars with the appearance of an SUV. The arsenal of off-road vehicles is usually limited to four-wheel drive and increased ground clearance. But the price, fuel consumption and handling are at the level of conventional road models.
Other qualities
The average consumer starts with the price. Therefore, the choice from thousands of different models produced all over the world narrows down to several tens or even units. There are serious off-road vehicles and asphalt vehicles in every price range.
Given that serious SUVs have a high margin of safety, many are considering buying a used SUV. After 5 years of operation, a car loses up to 50% of its original price, so the purchase can be very profitable.
Further determined with the dimensions of the machine. A large car has good capacity and a solid appearance, but in big cities it is more problematic to park with it. Great importance is attached to the choice of engine and gearbox. Professional jeepers believe that an SUV must be diesel and with a manual gearbox. City dwellers often prefer gasoline or hybrid cars with an automatic transmission or CVT.
The make of the car is also important, and most likely the country of manufacture. Russian and Chinese jeeps are far from the best quality, but affordable. Japanese and German cars are considered the highest quality in the world, but not everyone can afford it. Intermediate options are Korean and European brands. Classic American jeeps, which are distinguished by increased comfort, reliability and large dimensions, deserve separate words. Fans of American SUVs appreciate this in them, and do not pay attention to their gluttony.
