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Now almost all car buyers are also interested in how high the bottom of the car hangs above the road. In car dealerships, some things imitating a high curb are rolled up to the wheels of exhibition cars to show that the bumper will be higher and will not shatter from impact during careless parking.
Below the plinth
In Europe, as it was: the more cars were sold, the better the roads became. And the novelties were already calculated under good asphalt. They made them lower, hung plastic from below for beauty, painted it in body color. Candy in such a wrapper was easier to sell. Engineers find it easier to set up a low car so that it steers better, rather than scouring back and forth along the road.
And our men were perplexed: why all this beauty where sand and rubble are flying from under the wheels, where there is dirt and curb stones? What do some Japanese or Koreans boast about, showing another SUV, if in the mud it gets up where the grandfather’s Moskvich easily crawls? And the Japanese boast that they are selling the illusion of a passable car to people who lack external coolness. Big wheels are made so mainly for beauty, and the all-wheel drive system with all its electronics is for stabilizing traffic on a slippery road, nothing more. Although the sellers of cars will convince that this is made for the Tver swamps and Siberian snows.
Five signs of patency
The passability of the car is easily seen by eye, and it’s not about shiny iron arches, lights on the roof or stupid stickers about the ability to drive everywhere. There are very specific signs.
1. The car is tall
In order not to crawl belly, the car should stand high above the ground. 17 – 18 cm – baby talk, you need at least 20 cm. Just do not trust the data of automakers, they can be cunning. For example, do not take into account the difference from the engine protection hanging from below, which will easily steal a couple of centimeters.
2. Narrow
Do not remember the wide “Hummer”: machines for all sorts of storms in the desert in the copses of the middle lane are helpless. The narrower the track (the width between the wheels), the easier it is to maneuver. One and a half meters is quite normal. Look at Japanese pickups or at the same Niva in front – these cars are narrow. The problem becomes stability at speed, but the SUV is not for racing.
3. Short overhangs
A lot of iron or plastic should not stick out forward from the front axle and back from the rear axle. The further the bumper protrudes forward, the worse the ability to climb a steep hill. There are even special definitions – “angle of entry” and “angle of exit” (see diagram).
4. Big wheels
Only not wide, but high. And narrow in addition. A wide tire is needed for asphalt, there is nothing to poke into the mud and snow on it. You need a narrow “toothy” tire with the M&S designation.
5. All-wheel drive
We don’t get into the specifics of 4×4 systems, but four paddle wheels are always better than two off-road.
Motor power, other features may not play a big role. It would be nice if such a car was light, but this is difficult to achieve if the car is huge. Finally, seven examples of cars that unconditionally fit the definition of “SUV”: LADA 4 × 4, Suzuki Jimny, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Jeep Wrangler, UAZ Patriot, Hower H3.