Go Wandering
Summer's around the corner and nature is calling. If getting your friends and family into the woods for some camping is of critical importance when you're choosing your next car, here are our recommendations for the best camping cars.
Summer's around the corner and nature is calling. If getting your friends and family into the woods for some camping is of critical importance when you're choosing your next car, here are our recommendations for the best camping cars.
The Passport from Honda is the playful little
brother of their long esteemed flagship SUV, the Pilot. The Passport sports a more aggressive look and
has the off road ability to match. All 4
trim levels of the Passport offer AWD, mated to Honda's iTec V6. Honda's Intelligent Traction Management
system helps tame snow, mud or sand with the push of a button. AWD drive
versions of the Passport have 5000lbs of towing capacity, so take that boat up
to Pyramid Lake.
Inside, the Passport's ample interior and cargo space make it easy to take the whole family and their gear out for an adventure in Joshua Tree or Sequoia. Available heated or ventilated seats mean you can take the Passport into whatever climate you like and know you'll arrive in comfort
Lurking inside the rather staid group of luxury SUV's from Lexus is the GX, now one of the most highly prized SUVs on the aftermarket. Used GX's are showing up with roof mounted tents, rock crawling suspensions and full overland kits. Lexus responded to the flurry of interest in 2020 with a concept SUV called the GX Overland. Today's GX is still the most capable off roader in the Lexus line up. The GX has seating for 7 if needed, but with the third row folded it has tons of cargo space for your camping gear. AWD is standard and the only engine option is a 4.6 liter V8. Auto leveling air suspension, multi terrain select, crawl control and a limited slip differential make the GX the most capable SUV in its class. Inside the standard Lexus amenities; luxurious interior, whisper quiet cabin and 3 zone climate control allow you to master the interior environment as much as the exterior.
Porsche's Cayenne create the performance SUV
market with it's launch in 2002. Nearly
every high end sports car brand has an SUV now and has Porsche to thank for
leading the way. Today's Cayenne comes
in two body styles and 9 trim configurations.
The base Cayenne comes with a Turbocharged V6 producing 335 HP.
At the top of the range is the Cayenne Turbo, powered by a twin-turbo V8 creating 541 HP and a 0-60 time under 4 seconds. As expected the rest of the running gear is top of the line with 8 speed Tiptronic transmission, Porsche Traction Management, active all-wheel drive and ground clearance of over 8". Porsche's Techquipment accessories offer many ways to get bikes, kayaks or gear out to the campsite.
Toyota's 4 Runner was initially created by
adapting a pickup in the most basic way possible. It was essentially a truck with a shell over
the bed. But that purpose-built, rough
and ready origin story echoes in the 4-Runner's celebrated reputation today. In a crowded SUV market, the 4 Runner
continues to reign as one of the most capable off road SUV's you can buy. Today the 4 Runner comes in 9 different trim
configurations. All share a 4-Liter V6
engine with a 5 speed automatic transmission and ground clearance of nearly
10".
As you move up the range, the 4-Runner offers more off road tech like, Downhill Assist Control, Active Traction Control and a Torsen limited slip differential. The 4-Runner's body-on-frame construction remains from the early years, and makes in all the tougher on the trail. Toyota's great reliability and resale value make the 4-Runner a great pick for your next camping vehicle.
VW's Tiguan is the perfect blend of style and
substance for an economical mid sized SUV.
Across it's 5 trim levels, the Tiguan offers something for everyone.
With 4 Motion® all wheel drive available for every trim level, the Tiguan is
ready to get you outdoors and away from it all no matter your budget. All models come with a turbo-charged 2-liter
engine and 8 speed automatic transmission.
3rd row seating is available as well for those days when your cargo
needs are more people than gear related.
VW's Virtual Cockpit re-imagines the old instrument cluster as a more intuitive and useful display. VW's driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane assist make that drive out to the campsite as pleasant as Friday afternoon traffic will allow. VW roof rails and crossbars enable you to haul your bikes, paddling gear or whatever else you love to do outdoors with safety and security.
Subaru's Outback has developed a cult like following among
dedicated outdoor enthusiasts. As the name implies the Outback is made to
access hard to reach places. 8.7 inches
of ground clearance means that the Outback can handle rutted fireroads or rocky
desert terrain without problem. The Outback's full-time symmetrical AWD is mated
to either a standard or turbo-charged boxer engine offering 180 or 260hp
respectively. Towing capacity also
increases with the turbo model from 2,700 to 3,500 lbs.
All trim levels of the Outback offer tons of standard passive safety features. With the exception of very the top of line, most active safety features, like traction control and Subaru's eyesight technology are available are also standard equipment. Inside, the Outback's interior can be as utilitarian or as plush as you want. Upper trim levels can be outfitted with Nappa Leather over heated and ventilated seats. If you regularly transport kids, dogs along with surfboards or canoes, Subaru's optional Startex water-repellent upholstery keeps the Outback fresh and dry for the return trip home.
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