Best road handling 4x4

[bosshog]

Possibly a bit of an oxymoron this question, but which offroader do you think is the most fun/handles best on the road. I'm presuming the Cayenne? X5? touareg?

[KevinCamaroSS]

I doubt any of the bigger ones would be the answer, too much mass to move. RR Evoque has good road manners?

[Turkish91]

L494 Range Rover Sport SVR. The ARC system on them is mega.

[popeyewhite]

Surely an off-roader that handles better on the road will handle worse off?

I would advise you to avoid the Discovery 3/4 and the L322 Range Rover though!

[MorganP104]

If we're not talking full-fat SUVs, there's a good case for the Porsche Macan to be the answer to the question.

[SantaBarbara]

bosshog said:

Possibly a bit of an oxymoron this question, but which offroader do you think is the most fun/handles best on the road. I'm presuming the Cayenne? X5? touareg?

What do you principally want it for?

If you can give a little bit of an idea of your intended uses please

[300bhp/ton]

bosshog said:

Possibly a bit of an oxymoron this question, but which offroader do you think is the most fun/handles best on the road. I'm presuming the Cayenne? X5? touareg?

I think there is a question of if Fun, Road Holding and Handling are the same thing?

To my mind they are not.

Defenders for example are huge fun and actual handle in terms of feel, pretty well. But will roll, pitch and be unruly. And road holding likely to be on the lower side.

Big modern SUV's might handle better in some ways and have more grip. But are also arguably more boring and just feel like large heavy cars with too much body roll.

[300bhp/ton]

MorganP104 said:

If we're not talking full-fat SUVs, there's a good case for the Porsche Macan to be the answer to the question.

Or a Subaru Impreza.

[bosshog]

Sorry, perhaps the wrong sub forum for this post, but I thought you guys would be the best to ask.

Specifically it needs no offroad handling capabilies at all. I'm after one of the full fat 4x4s for towing duties (track car) and family car, but I want the most fun to drive and best handling on the road. Why 4x4? because the Mrs likes being higher up than in a car, and we're both sick of MPVs. I have a Lotus for fun, but do spend a lot of time driving the family car around Norfolk country roads and I want something I can 'press on with' when needed.

thanks

[300bhp/ton]

bosshog said:

Sorry, perhaps the wrong sub forum for this post, but I thought you guys would be the best to ask.

Specifically it needs no offroad handling capabilies at all. I'm after one of the full fat 4x4s for towing duties (track car) and family car, but I want the most fun to drive and best handling on the road. Why 4x4? because the Mrs likes being higher up than in a car, and we're both sick of MPVs. I have a Lotus for fun, but do spend a lot of time driving the family car around Norfolk country roads and I want something I can 'press on with' when needed.

thanks

Budet?

But it goes back to what you define as fun and handling.

Being able to press on... Not sure I've ever unstood this concept. Driving like a tt, which might be what you mean, i.e. Stupid overtakes and speeding. Doesn't really result in getting anywhere any quicker. Unless you are full on illegal driving style, a 1.0 litre city car will cover distances in about the same time as "fast" performance cars.

For towing, make sure they meet your tow requirements. Not all SUV's can tow heavy loads and some are down near to 2000kg. Which a trailer + car + spares/tyres could very easily breach.

Personally, I'd have look at things like US quad cab pickups. Most useful as you can use the bed for other track car bits you might need. And usually nice inside. Something like a Dodge Ram SRT-10 has plenty of potential to shift... but then again it does have 500bhp!

Jeep SRT-8 might be worth a look too.

So do you mean entertaining to drive?

[bosshog]

300bhp/ton said:

budet?

Ideally 20K max.

300bhp/ton said:

But it goes back to what you define as fun and handling.

I define handling as: not wallowly ; not excess dive in the suspension when cornering and breaking, good turn-in, good steering feel - i.e. a good understanding whats happeng to the tyre bite in the road surface (not remote, dead), and good feedback

I define fun as: entertaining to drive (too subjective I know), but something that brings a smile/enjoyment factor went driving down some twisty roads.

300bhp/ton said:

Being able to press on... Not sure I've ever unstood this concept. Driving like a tt, which might be what you mean, i.e. Stupid overtakes and speeding. Doesn't really result in getting anywhere any quicker. Unless you are full on illegal driving style, a 1.0 litre city car will cover distances in about the same time as "fast" performance cars.

No I do not mean driving like a tt thanks. I mean:
- being able to overtake people sensibly and safely at the or below legal limits and conditions in a quick manner, reducing my time on the other side of the road.
- I mean driving down a bumby road at the or below legal limits and conditions without excess tramlining or steering pull
- I mean accelerating from 0-60 in something faster than your average 2litre diesel car.

300bhp/ton said:

So do you mean entertaining to drive?

Yes.

[300bhp/ton]

My 1970's Series Land Rover has pretty good turn in and quite a bit of feel through the steering, you certainly know what the wheels are up to. But I doubt this is the sort of thing you are after

All SUV's will dive and wallow more than a similar size/weight car. And for the most part steering will be worse too. Think all you can do is go and drive some and see if you like them. For me the 'fun' of a 4x4 is that they feel and drive like one. I don't want them to be car like. Which is why I'd go for something more pickup or 4x4 than SUV.

Ram SRT-10 would still get y vote. And should be about in budget too. And as a bonus won't depreciate much if at all.

[KevinCamaroSS]

For £20K I would take a good look at a WK Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, 6.1 V8 hemi and road-tuned suspension.

[bosshog]

Sorry forgot to say needs 4/5 seats and MPG >= 25mpg.

[Pica-Pica]

bosshog said:

Sorry, perhaps the wrong sub forum for this post, but I thought you guys would be the best to ask.

Specifically it needs no offroad handling capabilies at all. I'm after one of the full fat 4x4s for towing duties (track car) and family car, but I want the most fun to drive and best handling on the road. Why 4x4? because the Mrs likes being higher up than in a car, and we're both sick of MPVs. I have a Lotus for fun, but do spend a lot of time driving the family car around Norfolk country roads and I want something I can 'press on with' when needed.

thanks

You do realise 4x4s can be low(ish). So you want a 4WD 'SUV', rather than an x-drive or Quattro?

[300bhp/ton]

bosshog said:

Sorry forgot to say needs 4/5 seats and MPG >= 25mpg.

So the holy grail then

But nothing like demanding the impossible

Any 4x4 or SUV with Zoe get up and go, will likely be well short of 25mpg. In fact, plenty that are really slow will still struggle to top 25mpg.

[Timbuktu]

300bhp/ton said:

Being able to press on... Not sure I've ever unstood this concept.

No, it sounds like you don't understand the concept at all.

300bhp/ton said:

Driving like a tt, which might be what you mean, i.e. Stupid overtakes and speeding. Doesn't really result in getting anywhere any quicker. Unless you are full on illegal driving style, a 1.0 litre city car will cover distances in about the same time as "fast" performance cars.

Of course it will...

[popeyewhite]

Basic Cayenne diesel handles, does a reported 35 mpg and 0-60 in 7.5 secs.

[300bhp/ton]

Timbuktu said:

Of course it will...

Maybe you don't know the meaning of illegal. Or just failed at reading my comment. Either way....

[MorganP104]

If you can put up with the looks, Cayenne diesel.

If you can't, Range Rover Sport TDV8.

If you're scared that a Range Rover will steal your kids' college fund, BMW X5.

If you're worried that owning a large BMW off-roader will make you look like a 2017 version of Patrick Bateman, then you'll just have to get an MPV, and be sad again.