Ask The Best And Brightest: Who Gives A Damn About Off-Road Ability?

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

I just returned from the Jeep Grand Cherokee event, which included a section of off-roading in the Hollister Recreation Area. (See photo above). I’ll provide a full GC review soon but it’s not telling tales out of school to admit that this new Jeep is utterly incandescent off-road, delivering capability and poise my hardcore old five-speed Land Rover Discovery never dreamt of possessing.

With that said… does it matter? Everyone else in the segment is running from the “4WD/off-road” image as fast as their little Accord-or-Camry-based platforms can carry them. Those of you who have purchased SUVs in the past: Does it matter if your trucklet can do the business off-road? Have you been off-road? If so, why’d you do it?

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

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  • Kkt Kkt on Jun 23, 2010

    Signal11, so what 2wd sedans have more clearance than most SUVs? I am fine in my Mazda Protege for 98% of my driving, even in Seattle (with cables on) two winters ago when the city didn't get the 18" of snow plowed for two weeks. But I like to go mountaineering, which involves Forest Service dirt and gravel roads that last saw maintenance in the Clinton administration. Two tracks, but big potholes and rocks that have damaged my suspension. I want good gas mileage, a compact vehicle, 2wd, manual transmission, reasonably fun to drive, and 7" of clearance. What is available like that in the U.S.?

  • Rpn453 Rpn453 on Jun 23, 2010

    I once owned a '98 Pathfinder with 31" tires and a manual transmission and transfer case. I needed something that could handle a rough dirt/mud temporary road to get to the drilling rigs I was working on. An off-road capable vehicle was essentially a job requirement. The stereotypical vehicle for the people on-site was a lifted 3/4-ton diesel with 35" or larger tires. Aside from that phase of my life, I have no need for off-road capability. 4WD/AWD is nice to have in winter though.

  • Rocketrodeo Rocketrodeo on Jun 24, 2010

    Off-road ability is usually much more important to an SUV's second or third owner than its first. Similarly, positraction and dedicated snow tires would fix 99-1/2 percent of people's perceived problems with snow traction. Only when it becomes a clearance problem does it really become a traction problem. I am one of those people who think that most 4WD SUVs are overbought by the vast majority of owners, but this is because I've had some training in getting the most out of your 2wd truck. And I've spent quite a bit of time on some really out-of-the-way trails all through the central and southern Appalachians--no real rock-crawling, but lots of uniquely steep and slimy terrain, some of it on my own family's property--and can appreciate that some jobs really do call for 4wd. Just not as many as most people think. Do most people need it, though? No way. The technology eventually trickles down to the real beneficiaries of the SUV craze: poor rural folks who have NEVER been able to drive up to their own houses.

  • Ronman Ronman on Jun 24, 2010

    being a motoring Journo, i usually do venture off the beaten path when i'm testing an SUV or even a CUV. i have a few trails i usually use, and i rate them depending how far up the trail they go and how easily the do it. nothing extreme, but with a Wrangler Unlimited, i did go over my usual comfort zone and found that it does it quite easily... i don't think i will ever buy and SUV or CUV for that matter, unless i fall in love with goign on trails to camp with my family or something like that. but my wife hates camping, so no SUV in the future. but i will probably buy a (sport) station wagon as my next car, i just love the way they drive and the uber awesome extra space you get. thinking 5 series touring, or a merc C or e class. not a fan of German cars, but they are the nicest looking ones out there... perhaps the Mazda 6 qualifies as well, i just hope it's available in the next country i live in.

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