Total Car Score Names the Top 10 Best Off-Road Vehicles for 2012Jeep Grand Cherokee Tops List of Most Capable Four-Wheel Drive SUVs and Trucks on the Market
LOS ANGELES – July 17, 2012
– As summer reaches its peak, there’s still plenty of time to take to
the hills for serious off-road fun. To celebrate this spirit of
adventure, Total Car Score (http://www.totalcarscore.com), the most
comprehensive automotive ranking and comparison website, has named the
Top 10 Best Off-Road Vehicles for 2012.
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee takes first place, which Total Car
Score’s editorial team attributes to the Jeep’s available V8 engine and
superb off-road capabilities, along with excellent on-road driving
dynamics. The Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers high confidence when leaving
the pavement behind by providing driver-selectable settings based on
surface conditions, whether traveling over snow, rocks or mud. The Land
Rover LR4 and Ranger Rover offer a similar "Terrain Response” system
that allows the driver to tune the four-wheel drive system based on
surface conditions.
"These 10 vehicles represent the most capable off-road SUVs and
trucks available,” said Karl Brauer, editor-in-chief of Total Car Score.
"Every model offers a two-speed transfer case and advanced suspension
design. If you want to go where few four-wheeled vehicles can tread,
these 10 models will get you there.”
Brauer also noted the relatively low Total Car Score for some of
these vehicles, but he pointed out that the low scores are a reflection
of how off-road oriented SUVs rate in relation to pavement-oriented
crossovers – vehicles that could never provide the rock-climbing utility
these models offer.
"The Jeep Wrangler is arguably the most capable off-road vehicle
currently produced, but it gets a low Total Car Score because the
industry rates it against compact crossovers that have a smooth ride and
a quiet cabin at highway speeds -- but very little off-road talent,”
said Brauer. "That’s why the Wrangler is on this list of Best Off-Road
Vehicles despite its low score, and why shoppers seeking off-road
prowess should look past high-level ratings to confirm what influences
them.”
Total Car Score’s website supplements these overall vehicle scores with original car reviews for every vehicle on the list. This ensures potential buyers understand the driving forces behind Total Car Score’s numbers.
The complete ranking of the 10 Best Off-Road Vehicles for 2012 is as follows:
Two other off-road contenders, the Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX,
weren’t produced for the 2012 model year. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz
G-Class is also quite adept at off-road maneuvers, but it had no
industry ratings available. All three vehicles are likely candidates for
next year’s list. http://www.totalcarscore.com/car-reviews/news-stories/total-car-score-names-top-10-best-off-road-vehicles-for-2012?ism=RGAug0712Facebook1
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