It would be more honest to divide all four-wheel drive vehicles into three classes:

SUVs(real). On this one, you can really fervently slide off the asphalt road right into the slurry stirred by tractors and, moreover, drive back safe and sound, most often.

Universal four-wheel drive vehicles , comfortable on the highway and in city traffic and at the same time suitable for moving on bumpy dirt roads and light off-road.

Pure city cars, unsuitable for off-road, even though often impressive size, four-wheel drive and great ground clearance. The so-called "SUVs".

Let's go into details.

SUVs

Let us reason logically, because one follows from the other. Off-road is an uneven dirt (in the most optimistic scenario) road, all kinds of stones, bumps, ruts, ravines, swamps, plowed fields and various rough terrain. Therefore, the right off-road vehicle is, first of all, a strong, better frame structure, good geometric cross-country ability: large entry-exit angles (to climb a steep embankment) and ramps - longitudinal cross-country ability (to move over a hillock, a log), ground clearance, as as a rule, not less than 21 cm on standard car(it is clear why), necessarily a downshift and at least one interwheel lock or traction control. About all-wheel drive somehow even embarrassing to mention ...

Dependent or independent suspension?

The off-road classic, dearly loved and ardently revered by true jeepers, is a fully dependent pavement, as a rule, entirely spring or springs (torsion bars) in front, and springs in the back. Occasionally, cars still come across completely spring suspension, but this is almost an atavism.

When choosing a car for off-road, be attentive to the information you receive and filter out all sorts of heroic stories that exist among incompetent journalists or dishonest sellers. For example, one of these tales says that independent suspension more suitable for off-road driving due to its better articulation and better wheel-to-ground contact. But this is just a theory. Yes, each wheel has a life of its own, runs independently, grips the ground perfectly, maintaining a good contact patch and reducing the risk of hanging and slipping.

However, the reality is far from being so rosy. In practice, the front independent suspension in modern cars due to its factory layout, it turns out to be quite short-stroke and, despite its independence, the wheel hangs out quickly enough. There is a certain width and dimensions of the car, where it is necessary to accommodate the engine and gearbox - the lever travel is a priori small due to its length.

That is, oddly enough, on SUVs of this class, the bridge has greater stroke. Dependent provides better articulation than independent.

The exception is those cars with independent front suspension, which are built specifically for heavy off-road - that's where the excellent long-stroke levers are a meter long! But all this romance has little to do with us. On our machines in effect design features the lever travel is small, and it hangs out quickly. There is another unpleasant nuance - when braking or pecking in the pits with a front independent suspension, both wheels on the levers rise up, the gearbox and crankcase located in the center fall down, reducing the already small ground clearance and risking getting a bad hit on the stone.

The most significant disadvantage of an independent suspension is the high cost of repairs and the complexity of the design: a lot of levers, silent blocks, ball joints, drives, CV joint anthers, which can be easily damaged by a literally sharp branch, and then dirt gets inside the CV joint and it fails, turning the car into real estate. For many modern cars, the ball or silent block only changes when assembled with a lever, which radically changes the size of the hole in the budget. You want to make a wheel alignment after a ride, because the factory wheel angles in the mud have gone astray, and you will be offered to change the entire lever, because the bolts in the silent blocks have soured tightly, and it will not work to adjust the wheel angles.

Also, the complex multi-link design remarkably scoops up all the dirt, stones and branches that it meets on the way.

Universal four-wheel drive vehicles

Fully bridge SUVs, sadly, are gradually becoming a thing of the past as too highly specialized. And of those that are still being produced, a very small percentage is officially supplied to Russia. Therefore, a fairly large segment of the market goes to some intermediate option that will please the lion's share of motorists - these are large, comfortable and maneuverable cars, absolutely easy to drive, and they now make up the majority of SUVs. The front suspension is always independent, and the rear is either axle or also multi-link independent.

Ground clearance is usually about the same 20 cm, but on some machines it can become more. These are SUVs with air suspension, which allows you to increase ground clearance. For example, land Rover Discovery 3–4, Range Rover.

"Automatic" or "mechanics"?

The classic stumbling block at the stage of choosing an SUV is the gearbox. Which do you prefer, "automatic" or "mechanics"?

An “automatic” off-road is more vulnerable - it is easy to overheat or even burn when slipping, it has a very large load when towing, and most modern “automatic machines” have complex electronic “brains”. You can't start it with a pusher. Engine braking is worse. Towing long distances is more difficult.

On the “mechanics”, the connection with the car is more real and understandable - you press the pedal and you vividly feel how much effort goes to the wheels. On the “machine”, the interaction is carried out through a fluid coupling, and the sensations are not at all the same. At the same time, the “automatic” rides great, and many ride with it, but the reliability of the “mechanics” is certainly higher. If a car is purchased at an age and with mileage, then the future of the box is completely vague, no one knows how long it will take. And if she decides to sail off to another world somewhere in a bearish corner - you yourself understand that.

Worthy representatives of the second class are, for example, Land Cruiser Prado. It moves confidently off-road, is comfortable on the highway and rides well in the city.

Possesses frame structure and very good off-road potential: the overhangs are small, there is a blockage, the razdatka is the famous Super Select, diesel and petrol engines.

The Pajero III-IV has a less durable multi-link independent suspension at the back, which is easy to damage and break the wheel alignment on off-road. Geometric cross-country ability is not very good due to a decent rear overhang, but in general the car is wonderful, especially if the task is not to climb very far into the wilderness.

This can also be attributed Nissan Pathfinder - frame car mobile with good ground clearance and downshift. Anti-slip system available in the arsenal, although not very adequate.

100 - high, frame, strong car with a decent geometric passability. High-torque motor, good lowering and blocking rear axle. Shipped in different trim levels(diesel and gasoline, "automatic" and "mechanics") and has good off-road potential.

Toyota Land cruiser 200, Land Rover Discovery III-IV series, and, Lada 4x4 and Chevrolet Niva are all typical representatives of the class of modern universal off-road vehicles.

Framed or not framed?

The frame issue for many beginner jeepers is still a burning issue. How many copies have already been broken in verbal battles, but the truth has not yet been found.

Modern load-bearing bodies have a sufficient margin of safety, and there are no such incidents with them as with early models - they practically do not “play” on rough terrain, amusing passengers with arbitrary opening or non-closing of doors, and pieces of the car when pulled out of the mud captivity by a cable no longer come off (although this is how to try, of course). Technology has gone far ahead and, despite the lack of a frame, modern designs are very durable and strong.

But frame SUVs, whatever one may say, have a greater margin of safety than cars with load-bearing bodies. Also, the indisputable advantage of the frame is that it distributes various loads well, for example, from cable jerks or from small bumps against obstacles, which happens off-road. The most important thing is that a frame car is easier to serious tuning. To prepare for heavy off-road, you need a car on a frame.

Pickup trucks are quite good off-road and are popular with outdoor enthusiasts. Light roomy car with a frame, lowering and blocking, without a low plastic body kit, skirts and sills, which are so easily damaged by pebbles and branches. The body slightly increases the rear overhang, but despite this, the machine is quite suitable even for heavy use.

When choosing a car, you must always clearly understand what tasks it will face. Almost every automaker now has four-wheel drive vehicles that are more or less suitable for off-road driving. If you want to often and regularly crawl along ruts and weak muddy soils, this is one thing, but you can simply drive up to the lake along a broken but solid path on a SUV, bridges and a frame are completely useless. Although there is a rather large category of people who buy SUVs solely for beauty. And this also deserves respect.

SUVs

Where can you ride a "parquet jeep"? That's right, on the "parquet". That is, on normal roads. If you dare to ride it in azimuth to Ulaanbaatar, you may not reach your destination. Most of these pseudo-SUVs are made on the basis of conventional passenger platforms, where an off-road margin of safety is a priori an unnecessary excess. All blows on stones and dents in potholes will backfire in the very near future, and even if the car does not break down, such bullying will greatly affect its resource.

These cars do not have a downshift. Despite the available all-wheel drive, almost all modern machines of this class it is formed by an electronically controlled clutch, which replaced the classic differential. She does not like high loads, especially slipping. The SUV suspension is also tailored for city driving. The levers and tie rods are much thinner and weaker than a normal SUV, the ground clearance is less, and the "landing over the road" lower is a beautiful fashionable plastic body kit usually hangs low over the road, and smart alloy wheels in one short trip through the forest they can work out their entire resource.

There are a lot of such cars. Starting from passenger station wagons, which just have a little more ground clearance, and ending with cars that, although they look like SUVs, are large and beautiful, but at the same time they are completely unsuitable for off-road. As an example -, Mercedes-Benz ML and Volkswagen Touareg in trim levels without an off-road package, when they have neither low gear, no locks - it's just big all-wheel drive beautiful cars.

There are, of course, happy exceptions here, who are quite able to painlessly endure a certain humane share of light off-road conditions. For example, Land Rover Freelander or . The overhangs are small, the geometry is good, the transmission is high-torque. Of course, you can’t drive them into heavy off-road, but a piece of light off-road, where cars crawl groaning, these two will slip through with a valiant boom. also among such lucky ones - due to decent clearance and short overhangs, a broken path or snow that fell yesterday is not a hindrance for him.

Well, there are no miracles. If you look a little further than the broken primer, the patency begins to depend very much on the rubber in which the car is “shod”. On SUVs they simply don’t let out a toothy mud tires, and driving it around the city is a very dubious pleasure - not only does it howl, it also quickly wears off. And on a smooth highway through the mud you won’t roll far ...

4x4 vehicles

Sports car in the usual sense of the word - fast car for smooth roads and fast turns. But sometimes something breaks in the owners of such cars, and such projects are born - wild, absurd and suddenly cool. We've rounded up some of the brightest.

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Want a story about the deal of the century? A couple of years ago in Philadelphia, this BMW Z3 was on sale. Initially, it was an ordinary roadster with a 1.9-liter engine and an automatic, but at some point the owner freaked out, and a 2.5-liter straight-six was registered under the hood, the automatic gave way to mechanics, the suspension was updated, and most importantly, there were thick good year tires AT dimension 235/75/15. Of course, they did not fit into regular arches. What did the owner do? That's right: I cut the rear fenders, and removed the front ones altogether. Yes, a bit barbaric... But quite recently, all this was sold for a ridiculous $2,800! And after all, the second such Z3 can hardly be found.

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

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Perhaps this is the craziest Volkswagen Karmann Ghia on the planet. And it was made in the seventies! Yes, yes, forty years ago it occurred to someone that an elegant German coupe is perfect for an extreme and ruthless Baja 1000 trophy raid. So Karmann Ghia got a completely different suspension, huge wheels (and the rear ones, like a buggy, are noticeably larger front) and powerful underbody protection. In this form, this coupe performed at the Baja 1000 rally in 1979 and 1981, and even somehow managed to survive to this day.

The name of the author of this project is Marcus, he lives in Texas and works as a mechanic. The fact that a Texas mechanic worked on this Nissan 350Z basically explains why the car ended up like this. The sports car was changed into evil off-road tires, welded a new exhaust, properly protected the bottom, hoisted an LED chandelier on the roof and attached a winch. It turned out unexpectedly cool. But even cooler is the fact that his girlfriend helped Marcus realize the idea. Marcus, we hope you didn't delay the wedding?!

Yes, crossovers, station wagons and even all-wheel drive Subaru sedans feel good off-road, which is eloquently confirmed. But the Subaru BRZ coupe (also known as the Scion FRS and Toyota GT86) was created a little differently: it is nimble, interesting to drive and rides great on asphalt. But can you explain something to the fans? Suspension lift two inches (almost five centimeters plus!), tall tires, a self-made all-terrain body kit - and now a Japanese sports car is happy to iron deep puddles and dirty ruts. Just look!

However, Scion FRS rides look like digging in the sandbox compared to what this Mazda Miata can do. She has long and irrevocably said goodbye to ring tracks. They made her a suspension lift, cut her wings to stuff big wheels with toothy rubber, scalded with tubular power body kit, and to top it off, they screwed a compressor to the motor so that the off-road was driven literally with a whistle. Sit back comfortably - in the video below, the whole process of car modifications and spectacular shots with rides. Happy viewing!

There are many interesting things in Russia: nature and sights, cuisine and hospitable people. But there is one age-old problem - the quality of roads. And if this is annoying and terrifying for foreigners, then Russian motorists are simply looking for a solution to this problem in off-road vehicles. If purchased right car, then any off-road is not scary with him.

1Volkswagen Polo

Of course, this is not the most interesting design, but technical specifications exactly one of best cars for Russian roads. The capabilities of this machine are not limited even by a small clearance - only 163 mm. The creators of the car specially adapted it to the harsh climatic conditions. Add to this assembly High Quality, and the price of 580 thousand rubles will no longer seem so high.

2. Niva

The Russian off-road crossover feels great both in the city and off-road. ground clearance this car has 200 mm. This car can really be called universal. The price starts from 570 thousand rubles.

3. Volkswagen Amarok

Volkswagen brought to the market a model that you can’t exactly call a budget one. But this did not prevent her from firmly gaining a foothold on Russian market. Amarok is already well equipped in basic configuration. The creators of the car took care of both safety and comfort while driving in extreme conditions. The clearance of the car will appeal to fans of off-road racing - 203 mm. And although cars in the back of a pickup truck in the post-Soviet space have not gained much popularity, fans of outdoor activities and suburban highlands are happy to buy this car.

4 Land Cruiser

Off-road and precipitation for the Land Cruiser is not a problem. This car is perfect for Russian conditions. There is only one “BUT” in it - a high price. Not everyone can afford to pay 4 million rubles even for such a wonderful car, so that as a result, go fishing along the most impassable routes.

5. Patriot

Fans of domestic brands should pay attention to the Patriot from UAZ. It will cost much less than similar cars from foreign manufacturers. A car from the salon will cost from 810 thousand rubles, but secondary market You can find these cars at more reasonable prices. Both in the case of a diesel and in the case of a gasoline engine, the car behaves perfectly on the road.

6 Grand Vitara

Japanese crossover compact Grand Vitara won well-deserved recognition from Russian motorists. The car is relatively inexpensive - prices for it start at 1.1 million rubles. Among the indisputable advantages are an economical engine, excellent driving performance and high adaptability. Ground clearance is also good - 200 mm.

7. Hyundai Tucson

Korean Hyundai Tucson is a great option for Russian roads. It is simple and budgetary in operation, reliable on the track and off-road. new car can be purchased for 1.2 million rubles in the basic configuration.

Those who decide to change a car should pay attention to those that everyone will appreciate.

Photo: GC "Planet Auto"

According to the analytical agency Avtostat, SUVs and crossovers account for almost half of automotive market. The SUV segment is very popular with buyers, regardless of whether it is compact crossover or a large SUV. GC "Planeta-Avto" is represented on the market 18 automotive brands, each of which invariably features an SUV segment model. Such a choice can satisfy even the most sophisticated buyer! And the group of companies regularly demonstrates in practice that an SUV is a reliable and comfortable car for the whole family.

Drive, adrenaline, intensity of passions! Participation in the off-road test drive, organized by the Planet Auto Group of Companies, has become a good tradition for many Chelyabinsk families - the rally has been held for the third consecutive summer. This year in big test drive on rough terrain "Heroes of off-road - 2019. Sports episode" invited guests tested the strength of 27 all-wheel drive SUVs - off-road challenge was thrown by daredevils driving cars of various brands - from Cadillac XT5 and Jaguar E-Pace to "UAZ-Patriot" and Chevrolet Niva. Anyone could take part in the race - for this it was enough to register for the event and present a driver's license.

The organizers offered motorists two tracks to choose from - an extreme one with steep ascents and descents, deep mud baths and a lighter one for beginners. The Planet-Avto company is one of the few who organize such events for residents of the Chelyabinsk region. Many of the participants become regular guests of the rally, because they know that they will have a great time here. V total last Saturday, July 13, more than 300 test drives took place at the unique training ground near Chelyabinsk.

Year after year, Planet Auto Group strives to turn Heroes of Off-Road into a real family holiday, to make the event rich and interesting not only for the racers themselves, but also for their loved ones, because Chelyabinsk residents come to the rally with their whole families. The company is a supporter of a healthy lifestyle and active recreation - it was decided to give the races "Heroes of Off-Road - 2019" a bright sporting character. Cheerful relay races, strength and endurance tests, archery - the organizers provided the Chelyabinsk residents with the opportunity not only to test the strength of harsh off-road vehicles, but also to try their hand at various sports competitions.

According to the organizers of the holiday, all participants of the test drive, who conquered the off-road this year, coped with the tests perfectly well. As a reward, the road tamers received a commemorative badge "Hero of Off-Roads", and everyone who took part in the family sports relay race received pleasant gifts.

As past tests have shown, off-road vehicles purchased at Planet-Auto showrooms are well suited for off-road driving. Such a car will become a reliable companion in various extreme conditions and is simply indispensable for those who love sports and outdoor activities.

Safe SUVs and crossovers with mileage

Haven't chosen yet new SUV? Pay attention to the used cars, presented in the assortment on the Planet-Auto Expert site. More than 500 used vehicles are vying for the attention of buyers here, each of which is checked for 165 points in accordance with the requirements of the diagnostic sheet. At Planet-Auto Expert, your chances of becoming the owner of a high-class car in good technical condition and equipment are 100%!

All vehicles are thoroughly pre-sale preparation. When buying a used car, you will receive full information on the diagnostics carried out and the work performed, which may include changing the engine oil and other Supplies. The client is also given recommendations regarding the future operation of the car. No need to waste time and money on additional verification technical condition car - "Planet-Auto Expert" has already done it for you!

All used vehicles undergo a full legal check. "Planet-Auto Expert" pays Special attention transaction security. You are completely protected from fraudulent schemes when buying or selling a used car.

The best all-wheel drive SUVs with mileage are collected for you in the new 4 * 4 club, located at 137 Brothers Kashirinyh.

The best off-road vehicles are, of course, Jeep brand vehicles. On a big test drive on July 13, Planet-Avto Group presented the legend to Chelyabinsk residents automotive world- Jeep Wrangler. Only until the end of July, this model is subject to special prices at program Trade In- stylish SUV can be purchased with a maximum benefit of up to 760,000 rubles.

The interior of the first compact family crossover The Jaguar E‑PACE is designed to provide maximum driver and passenger comfort. Only until July 31, you can purchase this model at a special price, which already includes a service package that covers the cost of labor and spare parts at regular intervals. maintenance.

The Land Rover Discovery is well-proportioned and has a powerful, athletic appearance. Summer benefits under the Trade In program on this model reaches 500,000 rubles.

The spectacular Volkswagen Touareg also copes well with off-road! Planet-Avto Group of Companies invites you to a test drive - so you can personally evaluate all the benefits powerful SUV. Moreover, now you can buy this car under the Trade In program with a benefit of up to 500,000 rubles. VolkswagenTeramont is even more power, drive and innovation! The benefit when buying by Trade In will be up to 300,000 rubles.

On a big test drive “Heroes of off-road. Sports episode” was also presented by the Chevrolet Traverse. Hurry up to take advantage of a special offer for the purchase of a new model - in Planet-Auto car dealerships, a credit from 0.1% is valid.

The Skoda Kodiaq was also presented at the races in 2.0 TSI, 4 Motion all-wheel drive, maximum power of 180 hp. SUV develops top speed up to 207 km / h and has a trunk volume of 635/1980 liters. Only in July, have time to take advantage of the special offer - this car can be purchased at Planet-Avto showrooms with a benefit of up to 200,000 rubles.

In July, in honor of the birthday of the Planet Auto Mitsubishi car dealership at 84 Kopeyskoye Shosse, there are special prices for a number of cars. So, stylish crossover Mitsubishi Outlander can be purchased for 1,100,000 rubles, and a luxurious Pajero Sport- only for 2,029,000 rubles.

Subaru SUVs will not let you down even on the longest journey. Now the Outback model has a special summer offer - a car can be purchased with a benefit of up to 350,000 rubles under the Trade In program. Subaru Forester can inspire new adventures and discoveries! Becoming the owner of a functional SUV has become easier - now you can buy a car with a profit of up to 200,000 rubles. The entire line of Subaru cars is presented at the Planet-Auto showroom at 137 Brothers Kashirinyh.