CAR CRAZY

It’s quite common these days that many people confuse themselves with figuring out the difference between a SUV and a 4WD vehicle. I’ve had many encounters of people distinguishing a Honda CR-V as a 4WD (4X4) vehicle or a Pajero as a SUV. Actually there are some logical differences between these two.

But over in America, It’s a norm to distinguish a four-wheel drive as a SUV. Over here in Malaysia, we rather tag the SUV (in short for Sports Utility Vehicle) as a vehicle being used for normal (bitumen) roads with a bit of off-road capabilities. 4WD’s (Four Wheel Drive) are used mainly by the off-road enthusiasts (dirt roads) where certain requirements are most needed, like a higher ground clearance level, comes with dual purpose tyres and a engine that sends equal amounts of drive to all the four wheels.

The 4WD as we term it here, is generally used for its genuine off-road abilities. How the 4WD’s perform at a higher level is due to the fact that is has a dual range transfer case that somehow allows the mid-range torque to fully maximise the drive up-hill or down very steep slopes. Adding benefits to it’s already rugged image is its manoeuvrability in all sorts of surfaces such as mud and sand, having heavier duty suspension kits and greater wheel articulation and in some instances these are built on a separate chassis.

As for the general SUV’s, they normally tend to behave like the ordinary sedans on the road if compared to to it’s larger brother, the 4WD. You can safely categorize the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, SsangYong Kyron and Subaru Forester as a SUV. And take the examples of, Toyota Hilux, Mistsubishi Triton, TATA Telcoline and bigger wagons such as the ever popular Mitsubishi Pajero, Jeep Cherokee and Toyota LandCruiser Prado as full-time 4WD’s.

Given the fact that these vehicles have the tendency to be bigger in size compared to the conventional cars but this sadly depreciates the ‘drive feel’ due to its high centre of gravity as steering and handling becomes not so agile especially in tight corners.

This is evident as you would sense more body roll on them, a very much less stable feeling when changing directions quickly and also running wide when taking bends. Can’t remember where I heard this “With great size, comes great sacrifice” (sounds like a line from the Spiderman movie???) Why great size?, because some of these SUV’s and 4WD’s can sometimes weigh up to two tonnes! So consider this, it may take take a longer time to stop, additional running costs incurred (tyres & servicing are more expensive), uses a lot of fuel and the list goes on.

But let’s not forget that these two vehicles also have a lot other benefits that normal conventional vehicles are not able to handle.

SUV’s and 4WD’s are quite commonly fitted with a full-time four-wheel drive-train, this is something that engages all your four wheels permanently in motion. This is generally stated to be a better option if you need both the on and off-road driving capabilities.

There are also vehicles that are part-time 4X4, meaning to say that you would need to manually engage the 4X4 functions on them. While some other vehicles are solely meant for the rugged jungle terrains and not so highly recommended to be used on the normal roads as it could damage the transmission on the long run.

So, know your usage first before you make a decision on a purchase. Getting a SUV will be more practical if you work in the city, have a small sized family, fancy travelling outdoors a little and need that extra little space. 4WD’s go well with the rugged characters who love outdoor adventures, off-road work sites and in some cases suitable for carrying goods.