Take a look at Ford and Jeep’s compact pickup trucks. Would you guess that their ancestor in the last century was the Volkswagen Golf Pickup? At the time, Volkswagen could afford to experiment, but the initiative later shifted to U.S. manufacturers, resulting in the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet C/K SUVs becoming some of the best-selling vehicles in the category.
American SUVs are distinguished from competitors by their cross-country ability and comfort, and in total there are four categories of off-road vehicles. The first includes two-seater cars with an open roof, the second includes full-size pickups, the third includes cars that are known to us by such representatives as Jeep Cherokee and Chevrolet Blazer, and the fourth includes small off-roaders called Fun-cruisers or Joy-mobils.
We have prepared a review that includes the most popular models of American SUVs on the secondary market. Before buying them, we strongly recommend you to check the cars from America, having studied the history of their operation in detail.
Top SUVs from the USA
- Ford Expedition
- Jeep Renegade
- Jeep Wrangler
- Kia Telluride
- Toyota Land Cruiser
Ford Expedition
At the end of 2017, the company presented its flagship, the basis for which again became the frame of the popular F-150 pickup truck. However, the design was completely changed. The frame became stiffer and lighter, and the body was almost entirely made of aluminum. This allowed to reduce the weight of the car by 136 kg. In addition to the standard version in the lineup there is a vehicle with a longer base, which is called Expedition Max.
Two engines are offered as powertrains. One of them is gasoline – 3.5 liters, the power of which, depending on the settings, can be from 375 to 400 hp. Both all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive models are available.
The cabin has a huge panoramic sunroof, a lot of connectors for charging mobile devices and Wi-Fi. The second row of seats has skids, so it is much easier to get to the third row in this version. The saloon is designed for 8 people – with a standard rear sofa or for 7 people – when captain’s chairs are installed.
Jeep Renegade
The popular first-generation SUV underwent a restyling in 2018. The updated version has a whole line of modernized engines with a volume of 1.3 liters, the maximum power of which is 180 hp. The buyer can choose a car with a manual or automatic transmission.
The cabin is equipped with a modern multimedia system and dashboard, climate control system. The car has a spacious interior, the volume of which is higher than in most representatives of this class. The trunk allows to carry up to 351 liters of cargo.
The car is equipped with an all-wheel drive system with the ability to disconnect the rear axle, which helps to reduce fuel consumption. In the mixed cycle the car consumes from 6 to 9 liters per 100 km and accelerates to 100 km/h in 8-11 seconds. Ground clearance is 210 mm.
The SUV features a high level of safety as it is equipped with an array of systems including side and front airbags, parking assistant, lane keeping system, blind spot monitoring, etc.
Jeep Wrangler
In the category of “best SUVs from the USA” there is always Wrangler – a car with excellent off-road performance, which is available in three- and five-door versions. It is able to cope with any off-road thanks to high ground clearance, split axles, reduction gear and differential lock.
It can be equipped with one of two engines, manual or automatic transmission. All models are all-wheel drive. Such a wide range of technical characteristics makes the car versatile.
In the base version, the jeep is equipped with an in-line turbocharged powerplant with a volume of 1995 cubic centimeters. Thanks to a turbocharger, the engine develops 270 hp, and only automatic transmission is used with it. Top modifications are equipped with a V-shaped motor with a volume of 3604 cubic centimeters. Such volume in combination with a unique fuel supply system allows the car to develop 285 hp.
Kia Telluride
Korean SUV from the USA with three rows of seats, which is one of the largest cars of this manufacturer. The ground clearance is 203 mm. The basis for the car was a modernized Santa Fe platform with a classic crossover architecture. In the front there is a transversely arranged engine and McPherson struts, and in the rear – a multi-lever design.
The model has a seven-seat layout, but as an option it is available to replace the rear seats with captain’s chairs. Luggage space depends on the position of the rear seats and starts from 510 liters.
The main engine is a 3.8-liter 291-liter atmospheric gasoline unit that is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available as an option is the HTRAC system, which transfers traction to the rear axle via an electromagnetic clutch.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Land Cruiser has been produced since 1950, and its main advantage is increased cross-country ability, which is successfully combined with comfort. It is an all-wheel drive crossover for 5 or 7 passengers, which is built on the Lexus LX570 platform.
The SUV is equipped with independent front suspension and rear suspension with four longitudinal and one transverse link. A transverse stabilization system is used to control the axles, which significantly improves the off-road performance of the vehicle. The main powertrains are 4.5 and 4.7-liter gasoline units working together with automatic transmissions. The power of the engines varies from 150 to 241 hp. Fuel consumption is 10.9-18.5 liters per 100 km in the city (depending on the engine), and the top speed is from 195 to 210 km/h.
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