Despite the increasing trend of short-term ownership and leasing cars, more motorists keep their cars for longer. They can afford to do so, seeing today’s cars are built with more outstanding durability. But some SUVs can last longer and be the most reliable SUV.1
What makes a vehicle last longer?1
When choosing to buy a durable SUV, bear in mind the body’s strength, its overall quality, and advanced technology inside the vehicle and as part of its drivetrain. The latter’s quality is the most crucial, though, seeing what powers the vehicle.
The more complex, the less durable1
As a rule, most complex vehicles, such as those with highly tuned turbocharged engines and dual-clutch gearboxes, don’t last as long as their simpler counterparts. This is because there is just more that can go wrong. So, if you want to have a long-lasting SUV, choose a petrol one with a manual gearbox and without a turbocharger.
What are most modern crossovers and SUVs? 1
These are ‘normal’ hatchback or sedan cars with considerably modified raised bodies. On average, SUVs are seldom taken off-road and spend most of their time on tarred public roads. The downside is that because their basic construction is like a normal car, they can’t adequately address harsh road conditions. So even though the vehicle has that off-road look, it can only drive on roads as other regular cars do. And many motorists are OK with that because they don’t need competent 4×4 off-road vehicles but enjoy the practicalities of a high-riding vehicle.
But what about an all-round SUV? 1
Some motorists demand that an SUV need to have excellent off-road abilities. This type of SUV consists of placing a passenger-friendly body on top of a frame of a heavy-duty pickup. It is then easy to add a 4-wheel drive or AWD, whilst the underbody is strong enough to take all the beating. There are, therefore, two groups, namely, frame-based SUVs and car-based SUVs.
What are the general trends? 1
When studying all the surveys done overseas on durability and quality, the most prominent feature is that the body-on-frame SUVs far outlast the normal car-based SUVs. Of course, there are exceptions, and some car-based SUVs satisfy motorists with their durability. It is just that your chances of a frame-based SUV lasting a longer time are that much greater.
Some examples of car-based SUVs1
The Kia Sorento from the mid-size category and the Hyundai Tucson from the compact category are high-quality and durable.
Some examples of frame-based SUVs1
In an iSeeCars survey, two of the top 3 SUVs were manufactured by Toyota – namely, the Land Cruiser (now the 300 Series), and the Toyota Sequoia (not available in South Africa).
Disclaimer
Because car insurance is complicated, this article can only provide information. If you want to buy a car insurance product, first consult a certified, financial adviser for professional advice.
If you intend to purchase one of the two types of SUV, remember that South African law requires you to buy comprehensive car insurance if a bank is to finance the new SUV. So why consider getting comprehensive car insurance Prime South Africa who can offer you their affordable, comprehensive car insurance with fixed premiums* and reduce-to-zero excess*?
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