Looking to move from a 2dr coupe to a 4x4 SUV. The ones on my short list so far are the Nissan Xterra, Ford Escape 4x4 Hybrid or Toyota RAV4.
I’m also looking for resources on comparing vehicles that shows body styles and compares specs/mpg. Any thoughts on what type of vehicle I should get for light/recreational offroading?
http://www.vehix.com is a good place to start.
I guess I’d question what you mean by “light/recreational off roading”. If you mean the occasional dirt road in the rain or a farm trail, I suppose the Escape 4x4 hybrid or the Rav4 would be okay.
However, if you’re talking about more serious stuff…like Uwharrie National Park here in NC, you’ll want something a little more robust like the Xterra.
The thing with the Escape and the Rav4 is that they’re primarily front wheel drive until you select the AWD mode…which is 80% torque (more or less) to the front wheels and 20% to the rear. It’s not exactly a true 4x4 like you’d find in the Xterra, Jeep, Trailblazer, Z71, etc.
I have a 1998 Chevy S10 Blazer 4x4 V6 outfitted with BFGoodrich All Terrains and it does just fine. It’s no Hummer by any means, but I’ve driven it on snow, thick mud, water (2’ deep), and sticky clay and it never missed a beat.
You are going from a coupe to a 4x4, that is going to be some serious system shock.
I guess the Lamborghini LM001 would be pretty cool.
or a Cayenne Turbo S
Perhaps the slightly more pedestrian Outback?
In all seriousness I made a similar switch and got an allroad.
I found most of the “small” SUVs lacked storage space. So I went more “wagon”.
I drove a lot of SUVs and scared myself with the tippy feeling when driving. If I were buying today the Outback would still be my preference over the Xterra (which was too truck like) or the RAV4 (felt like it was going to roll on every highway ramp). The Escape is OK and I think they are getting better.
Hit the search button, we’ve kicked around several.
Most recently:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=44642
I did the same thing a year ago. I got a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.
Carries all my stuff and I get there fast - in all kinds of weather!
I’m sure this is descent on gas…
Toyota 4Runner. Great cars, rugged, but nice.
Vehix is good, but I like the Yahoo Autos page because the layout is a little more friendly to kooks like me who like to build spreadsheets comparing the specs.
You have to start with the first thing, as noted above, do you want a 4x4 or an AWD? Do you want body-on-frame (truck basis/rugged) or do you want unibody (car or crossover/economy) construction? You really can’t have both. Then you need to decide if you want a higher priced vehicle with all carpeting (4Runner) or a cheaper one with a plastic cargo area (Xterra). In terms of bang-for-the-buck, I think the Xterra is tough to beat.
M_P
This is a Russian model, isn’t it? Saw it before on englishrussia.
If you are thinking about a used vehicle, I would suggest a 2003 Landrover Discovery II. V8, 225 or 245hp, can’t remember for sure. All wheel drive with traction control and locking center differential. Great on road and off. Plenty of available accessories. Terrible on gas though, but looks very cool.
light offroading such as the trails around DFW, there are some off beat, out back trails that offroaders can explore around here and everywhere in N. Texas really. I’m looking into the 2004 Xterra model, my commutes are only 25mi round trip, 5 days a week. Plus, I find myself spending alot of time in my car on breaks and lunch at work, usually sleeping. It is really hard to take a nap in a honda prelude.
The web says average MPG for the Xterra 2004 4x4 v6, model is 15-19. I’m pretty sure I’m getting close to 20 to 22mpg in my honda prelude, using premium gas.
I definately want to explore offroad trails alot more and get a little muddy.
I have looked off and on at the Escape Hybrid. I think I could live w/ the smaller space but I’ve been told that A/C won’t work when the gas engine isn’t running. I haven’t verified this for myself yet but that makes it a non starter for me.
I have looked at the Rav4. I have to say that its interior ‘felt’ big for its size. My cousin drove one while working in South Africa and said that it never let him down (he also said that even the SA’s regarded it as a ‘chick car’ 
)
For my money I’m looking at a nice used Jeep Grand Cherokee V6 Turbo Diesel. Good gas mileage, great engine, and full sized. I’ve seen a few used models that were even a pretty good price.
Just my 2 cents. Good luck!
If you truly have a need or use for offroad capability the RAV and Escape are probably not your best bets.
As posted above and elsewhere, the Toyota 4Runner is the benchmark by which other options are weighed. In my research and experience the Xterra is often less expensive in large part because it is less desirable (although you do have some intentional contrarians that choose it BECAUSE it’s not the #1 choice).
Replaced your fuel pump yet?
as the owner of a 2009 Mazda Tribute (Escape Clone) I can tell you not to get one for anything other than surburban street snowy day use. The 4x4 is 70/30 split front biased. No diferential lock. Lots of intervention from electronic stability control, roll over prevention, abs when you take it offroad.
The X-Terra is the only truck of the three. If you want a car platform go with the other two. The X is built off the Titan frame.
I have an '09 Offroad…lockers, 6spd manual, bluetooth, 32s, Bilsteins for $30k sticker.
I get 18-19mpg, barks 3rd, and rides surprisingly well.
Either the X-Terra or 4-Runner for a capable SUV.
Don’t forget to mention that these things have electrical problems.
toyota 4runner hands down…i know several nissan xterras that haven’t made it to the 10 year mark without major maint. issues…my wife’s 4runner had the power antenna go out on it a few years ago:rolleyes: just do the maintenance on them, hopefully the new ones are using a timing chain rather than a timing belt…the 60K maint runs $6-700 or more, but you don’t want to run around on a 90K mile timing belt on a near bullet proof vehicle do you??? i would have bought another but we were looking for a third row seat and the 4runner’s third row is too dangerous for my 10 and 8 yr old boys or their cousins or any other person for that matter…
I see plenty of 1st Gen X-Terras on the road. I had a 2000 X Terra prior to picking this one up and ran it to 240k, with regular maintenance only.
I can say the same about 4 Runners and say I “know” of several that needed major maintenance prior to the 10 year mark :rolleyes:
Just do the maintenance on any modern car, and they’ll last. Regardless of whether it’s a Honda, Chevy, Ford, or Toyota.
That’s a nice Off Road. Mine is the same but a 2005. So I don’t have the lights on the cargo box. And my paint isn’t as nice. And mine is muddy. 
M_P