Explosion in the 4x4 marketplace
THERE has been an explosion in the 4X4 marketplace in recent years and the range is now very extensive, with old- style 4x4s, SUVs (sports utility vehicles), Crossovers (those that bridge the difference between a car and an SUV, and 4X4 estates among them. In simple terms, all 4x4s are SUVs – but not all SUVs are 4x4s.
These days, we are all concerned about emissions and fuel efficiency, so check these issues out before you put your hand in your wallet.. it will save you money in the long run, particularly further down the line when you want to trade up and find your old gas guzzling, polluting Chelsea taxi is hard to move.
Fortunately, most of the models on the market today are fuel efficient and have substantially lower emissions.
You would be surprised how many people buy 4X4s, but would never consider taking a proper course to learn how to drive one.
The end result is that when bad weather strikes or you want to do a bit of off-roading, you are not able to exploit the abilities and potential your 4x4 has, so the best advice is that when you buy one, ask your dealer what one-day courses are available.
You also need to consider, how you are going to use the vehicle.
Some 4X4s never leave the tarmac, in which case a two-wheel drive vehicle would probably be the best option, without going to the added expense of four-wheel drive.
You also need to think about fuel consumption (diesel, petrol or these days a hybrid).
This is where the two-wheel-drive models, with ‘shift on the fly’, come into their own because they help cut fuel bills. Some 4x4s tend to pitch and wallow through bends so test any vehicle thoroughly on the road before buying it and given the standard of our roads you won’t have to drive far to encounter a few potholes, which naturally are best avoided.
One clear advantage of driving a 4X4, even a 2WD version, is that you are higher up so you can see further. Try looking ahead on country roads; you can better see over crests and across corners and that makes driving safer.