Introduction
If you are planning to travel on demanding roads such as mountainous areas, you need to have the right vehicle that you need for the awkward roads. If you want to self-drive to the mountains in summer, just go through the list of vehicles covered here that can help you easily navigate the awkward mountainous terrain. This article will help to lead you to choose which vehicle will be the best that you can purchase for mountain driving.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
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The Jeep Grand Cherokee, available for every budget, in different trim levels and offers real off-road capability. The Cherokee climbs and descends hills with Jeep’s Quadra Trac II low drive technology which controls descent and hill ascent. 4WD is standard on all Grand Cherokee models, including the base Laredo.
When you’re not driving over mountains, the Cherokee is just as good for running errands. It’s fitted with a user-friendly infotainment system called Uconnect, comfy seats, and an upscale interior. With a standard V6 engine, the Cherokee is honestly fuel-efficient for an SUV of its size. The Jeep Active Safety Group, optional on some models, includes automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, parallel- and perpendicular-parking assist, and lane-keeping assist.
The Cherokee is available in V6 and V8 engine configuration which produced the maximum power output from 293 to 707-hp with the fairly fuel consumption from 8 Km/L to 11Km/L.
Subaru Outback
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The Subaru Outback was first released in 2009 and is a 5 door crossover SUV version. The interior is comfortable and larger. Inside the Outback you can find the safety features like a sway warning system, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking system, electronic stability control, dual-zone climate control, airbag package, anti-lock braking system, Bluetooth, traction control, and hill descent.
The Outback comes fitted with a Double Overhead Camshaft (DOHC) 2.5L DAVCS FB25 H4 with torque and power of 235 Nm at 4000 rpm, 173 hp at 5800 rpm, and a DOHC 3.6L EZ36 DAVCS H6 producing torque and power of 335 Nm at 4400 rpm, 191 kW at 6000 RPM. All these are linked to Lineartronic CVT transmission.
The standard Outback fuel consumption is from 11Km/L to 14Km/L on the highway according to EPA estimates. The Outback turbocharged model sees a significant dip in inefficiency, with ratings from 9.7Km/L to 12.7Km/L on the highway.
Land Rover Range Rover
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The Range Rover Sport is a performance-focused version of the Range Rover. It’s smaller and nimbler with great emphasis invested on handling and performance without compromising its offroad and on-road capabilities. Inside you will find the storage booths that are valuable for storing items such as goggles, beverages, handbags, and smartphones. In the driver row, you will find 4 cup-holders, the center box, a glovebox, and door panel storage. In the passenger row, you will find 4 cup-holders, front-seat jacket pockets, and door pockets. For the 3rd row, you will find 2 cup-holders.
The Range Rover comes fitted with one of 6 engine options: a 4.2L Supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8, a 4.4L Jaguar AJ-V8, a 5.0L Jaguar-V8, and a 5.0L Supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8 all of these are petrol engines and a 2.7L V6, a 3.0L V6, and a 3.6L V8 diesel engine. They are linked with 6 speed ZF- automatic, 6-speed ZF HP28 automatic, or automatic transmission. The Petrol engine of a V8 4.4L generates 296 hp while the Diesel engine of a V6 3.0L generates 254 hp. For the Range Rover Sports fitted with a 2.7L V6 – 3.6L V8 diesel engine, the fuel consumption is approximately 10 km/L to 16.6 km/L and for the petrol engines, fuel consumption is around from 8 km/L – 11 km/L.
Toyota 4Runner
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The Toyota 4Runner is a 4-door luxury SUV with 5 seats. The 4Runner is available with part-time systems and full-time 4WD.
Inside the 4Runner you will find numerous storage compartments for storing handbags, beverages, smartphones, and bottles. In the first row cabin, there is a center box, 2 cup holders in the control panel, a glove box, and the door panel storage.
Inside is fitted with some features and technology like Bluetooth, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display, 8 speakers, navigation, satellite radio, a rearview camera, HD Radio, and Siri Eyes Free. With 88.8 cubic feet behind the 1st row and 46.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the 2nd row of seating, the 4Runner seems to have larger cargo space.
The Toyota 4Runner is equipped with 2 engine choices: a 2.7L 2TR-FE I4 petrol engine which produces a maximum power output of 117 kW, and a 4.0L V6 1GR-FE which generates a maximum power output of 201 kW. Both engines are mated to a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed automatic transmission. Both are available in 2WD and 4WD.
Honda CR-V
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The Honda CR-V 2017 models are very well-designed and have a large interior. The first-row cabin is roomy and comfortable providing enough headroom, great support, and legroom. The passenger row has excellent shoulder room on the window seats, headroom, and legroom for adults, and the center seat is a little limited due to the transmission tunnel. The CR-V comes with cloth upholstery as standard with leather upholstery optional and standard on high-end trims.
There are numerous storage booths inside CR-V, like a glove box, door pockets, front-seat jacket pockets, a center console cubby, and cup holders.
The Honda CR-V is fitted with a choice of a turbocharged 1.5L, hybrid engine 2.0L, or 2.4L engine. The L15B7 1.5L engine produced a maximum power output of 141.6 kW with average fuel consumption of 13 KM/L. The K24W 2.4L engine produced a maximum power output of 137.2 kW with average fuel consumption of 12 KM/L. The LFA1 hybrid 2.0L engine produced a maximum power output of 160.3 kW with average fuel consumption of 22 KM/L
Both engines are linked to a 9-speed automatic transmission, e-CVT (Hybrid), and CVT.
Dodge Ram
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Dodge Ram is available in all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive and with a choice of 4 engines, the Ram is a valuable pickup truck set for almost any task. With an open cargo bed behind the passenger cabin, you may love the task-truck feelings of the Ram, with room for your hunting gear and tools and the Ram comes fitted with leather seating, a 12-inch touch screen, air suspension, real wood trim, heated front, and rear seats, wireless device charging and power running boards.
Dodge Ram is the most luxurious and comfortable pickup of its kind. The Dodge Ram standard is fitted with an engine block heater, remote start that activates those heated elements, and a heated steering wheel. The Dodge Ram has more than one engine option starting at 3.6L V6 engine configuration which generates maximum power output from 260-395 horsepower. And the fuel consumption is from 9.35Km/L to 13.6Km/L.
Ford Expedition
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The interior and exterior of Expedition lineup revised styling as well as new options and features. The cabin installed a fresh dashboard design that looks like the one seen inside the recently redesigned Ford F-150 pickup truck. Its infotainment system is totally renovated with a newly standard 12.0-inch touchscreen, and thanks to its interior quality materials.
The Expedition comes fitted with an independent back suspension that provides excellent handling. By its soft ride, the passengers are comfortable; the driver is penalized by imprecise steering feel and ungainly handling.
The Ford Expedition is powered by a V6 twin-turbocharged 3.5L and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The standard engine generates 380 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque but on Limited models that output is boosted to 400 hp and 480 pound-feet of torque.
A V6 twin-turbocharged engine is more efficient than a V8 but the Expedition doesn’t deliver on that promise. The consumption is from 7.22Km/L to 9.77Km/L and the AWD version drops to 9.35Km/L.
Toyota Land Cruiser
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The latest Land Cruiser brand was unveiled on 9 June 2021 and is in a series of J300.
This J300 series improved in its weight distribution lowered center of gravity and suspension structure and built on the TNGA-F platform, the frame reformed to reduce weight and increase rigidity.
The LC J300 series dashboard design has been revised by Toyota and gives a completely new innovative touchscreen infotainment system. The LC J300 series has a full taste of comfort inside and a larger cabin.
You will find 2 bottle holders, door panel storage, a cooler box, dashboard storage, the center box, and a glove box in the 1st row. In the 2nd row, there are 2 cup holders on the center armrest, storage on the front seat jacket pockets, and door side pockets. In the 3rd row, there are 2 cup holders on either side.
The latest LC J300 series come fitted with 2 engine options in V6 configuration: a 3.5L petrol engine and a 3.3L diesel engine both powered by a twin-turbo engine. These engines came after Toyota ceased the production of V8 engines.
Both a 3.5L twin-turbo petrol engine and a 3.3L twin-turbo diesel engine are more powerful than a preceding V8 engine in the LC J200 series, with the gas version generating 304.9 kW of twist and the diesel producing 226.6 kW of twist, according to the Toyota. Both engines are linked to a new 10-speed ‘Direct-Shift 10’ automatic gearbox, made by Aisin a Toyota-owned company, and come with a 4WD as a standard. Also, this new transmission locks up the torque converter more often, increasing efficiency and reducing operating temperatures.
Final Verdict
These vehicles offer all-wheel drive, 4 wheel drives, and good ground clearance to overcome snowdrifts, traction control, and driver-assist safety features to handle inclement weather conditions and winter driving and they can go from off-roading on a rough mountain top to unfriendly cityscape. You can purchase one of these vehicles on BE FORWARD.
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Written by: Josephat Lukaza
