Top 10 SUVs off-road comparison: Which medium SUV is the best?
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So, you bought a medium-sized SUV with all-wheel drive. Can it go off-road? We take the top 10 medium-sized SUVs off-road through three very basic tests to see if any of them can make it through unscathed.
SKIP TO YOUR SUV USING THE TIME CODES:
00:00 Introduction
02:03 - 2019 Toyota Rav4 Cruiser Hybrid
03:34 - 2019 Holden Equinox
05:17 - 2019 Mazda CX-5
06:47 - 2019 Renault Koleos
08:38 - 2019 Subaru Forester
10:17 - 2019 Hyundai Tucson
12:06 - 2019 Kia Sportage
13:37 - 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
15:48 - 2019 Honda CR-V
17:22 - 2019 Nissan X-Trail
We test:
- 2019 Toyota Rav4 Cruiser Hybrid
- 2019 Subaru Forester
- 2019 Honda CR-V
- 2019 Kia Sportage
- 2019 Hyundai Tucson
- 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2019 Renault Koleos
- 2019 Nissan X-Trail
- 2019 Mazda CX-5
- 2019 Holden Equinox
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Want to see how they fair on-road? watch this: kzhead.info/sun/fa17lpWtoGapZZs/bejne.html
Nissan x trail tunning
Berwette m Davy pp
@@berwettemdavy5954 p⁰l
You should use same momentum with all the cars, you are not constant in your momentum between the different cars!!
It doesn't look like it, but they all went up at the same speed. Some of them lost traction before they got to the logs, which made it look like they went up slower. We did this several times in each vehicle.
Cornraad. If you move at higher speed the car would probably break. Those logs are hard on the wheels and suspension
@@Xyb3rTeCh The Koleos was the perfect example of poor accelerator pressure, it has nothing to do with their momentum as you hear it come off the power. Disappointing.
@@Drivecomau Fair enough
@@Drivecomau You should do the same exact test for full size SUV's Jeep Grand Cherokee (equipped with quadra drive), Hyundai Santa-Fe, Kia Sorento, Toyota Kluger, etc
Log climb ability is very much determined by the tyres. Rigidity test should be opening the back gate. With comfortable, low noise, fuel economy tyres, even a jeep wrangler will struggle in the log climb.
Taller suspension does help keep more momentum over big bumps (instead of translating the momentum into up/down body motion), and allows you to hit them faster.
KZhead Account, But momentum can only carry you that far. If you have no grip, you will slide backward back to the starting point once the momentum is depleted.
KZhead Account, Personally, I think this can be sum up as a half hearted attempt at best, a lazy review in reality. 1) No attempt to change to a common off-road tyre for a fair comparison. I can understand, it cost a lot, thus half hearted. 2) Not wanting to get their shoe wet and dirty, so instead of opening the back gate to test the rigidity, they open the door instead. Thus lazy.
@@esphilee Yes if you are climbing something uniformly slippery like an ice slope. But climbing over slippery logs/roots/rocks is a matter of smoothly keeping momentum over the slippery bits by picking up momentum in between where there is a little traction. It is a very tough obstacle and if anything the most successful vehicle might be the one whose wheelbase is not matched by the log spacing, just by chance; hitting a lot front and back at the same time is killer, at minimum you'd need enough suspension to suck it up which none of these vehicles has.
Well, I agree with you, Longer suspension is good. But traction is everything. In the test, lowering the tyre pressure helps too. All the vehicles tested have sufficient clearance and likely so with suspension travel since they are SUV. But none has AT tyre at the least. They did not even attempt to lower the tyre pressure. It is like driving the Mercedes F1 car in slick vs William F1 car in Wet tyre on a rainy day. Does not matter how good the Mercedes and Hamilton is, what kind of suspension travel they have, they will not catch up to the William. In fact they would likely crash if they attempt to catch up. If you attempt to compare the capability of the SUV, at least give them the proper tyre. Don’t test your F1 car in slick on a rainy day, and assume the car failed.
I'd love to see this test done again, but with off-road tyres used instead of the stock road tyres.
I totally agree with you
This “test” is not consistent.
Because the driver a human not precision like robot or computer
forester is life, the rest is excited. Forester candır , gerisi heyecandır😂
@@niconemba8065 He could have tried to do all the tests at the same speed or RPM... he went super slow and cowed with the Rav4 and quite fast and brazen with the subaru that is why Forester performed the best...
What about the tyre's? Totally unfair, Especially for the log test. And which cars have you tested that's passed the log test anyway ? Atleast that would have been a point of comparison.
mate I wouldn't let you test a light switch.
😂 this is a good one
hahaha
HAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHa
LOL
Hahahahahha...
Can you please do the same test in luxury suv (Audi q5, BMW X5 ect) or even better Volvo v60 cross country and Audi A4 allroad.
The lack of credibility in this video is rife! You did the door test at a different point of the offset track in every car and hit the hill at a different speed in every car, sometimes even backing off in some cars and not others.
and he is using STREET TIERS ON MUD
Better use a horse or carabao.. in climbing sleepery Hills.
Indeed.
same there would be no difference, the "suv" have nothing 4x4 are large sedans. Only a fool would buy an "SUV"
@@ikbalkhan7535 even tyres mate :)
when Seth McFarlane isn't making Family Guy episodes, he tests out different SUV's
Baaaahahahahahaha
Would be interesting to do this test then show us a “real” 4x4 such as a LandCruiser with diff locks etc doing the same tests to show how much difference it really makes.
Thanks for this video - I found it interesting and informative. Thanks also for putting in the easy-find links.
Love these wide range of SUV or any particular type of vehicle for a test. Keep it up, mate! It's freaking awesome!
Love that if you wanna go do serious four wheel driving gotta step up to a dual cab ute or a suv based on a dual cab ute but yet forgets to mention the Jeep Trailhawk range or the land rovers??
Did a proper 4x4 go up the logs?
Hi , Would like to know which SUV has passed Log hill test ?
Great tests! Please keep it up and add some more torture test for us for SUVs ☺️☺️ thanks! More power
I have the Mazda CX5 AWD 2014 2.5 l and in the snow if i have a little trouble to get out I take off the traction control and it is like 4X4 lock system mode . I recommend the CX5 AWD it is the only one that drives like a car instead of a 4X4 truck
can you please do more light off roading tests in these vehicles without log test.
1:57 - LIKE! make the same table with the test results at the end of the video, it will be cool! good job, bro!
I am looking to replace my SUV, however I cannot find out any details regarding towing a trailer / camp trailer. Can you advise if there is anything out there? Had an Xtrail st-s manual that was awesome towing and my current honda is not as good regarding towing. Thanks
It would be nice to see which vehicle outside of this set could do the slippery log climb with the same type of tyres as a comparison. otherwise that test doesn't have much value
With same tires and same speed no 4x4 will do it. You will need a 6x6.
you should have use a true 4*4 to benchmark the slippery log test...
I would doubt if true 4x4 can actually make it. It’s just way too slippery.
@@rexsong4835 So what is the point of this video if no car can actually make it?
@@rajTrondhjem10 they want to test crossover capabilities for challenging roads, it's not about real 4x4. Obviously real 4x4 would crush that test
@@edwardvalivonis23 since when will any SUV face a hill with logs in it? Even those who do "greenlaning" would have a problem getting up a bank consisting of logs.. They'd have to use winches even then they'd slide all over.. as the grooves ofthe tyres fill with mud.. making it equal to a slick tyre on a wet road.
@@LFC-Star not really, they can use Lada Niva without problem
Also, grateful if you could share your camera gear and behind the camera setup. I am always intrigued with your videos. Is it a one-man shot and show?
Did you use the X-mode for the climbing with the forester? I've made worst climb ups in my forester.
would love to see the same test with some UTEs!
I sure like this test because the vast majority of offroad tests never test the vehicles head to head against an obstacle that some or most of them cannot accomplish. You can't say where the limits are without bumping into them!
Nice test this is what we are looking for
doesn't the tucson have a locking centre diff ? which would have made it further in both tests ??
Yeah use the same speed with all the SUVs when going up the logs!!!
Sweet comparison! In the USA these vehicles are called small crossovers.
Fun test,thks.
Hi Paul, Your videos are awesome , please advise where you shoot these videos and location.
Interesting video! It would have been interesting to see a “true” off-roader complete the log test. My guess is that even a “true” off-roader would struggle or even fail the log test.
Yes, the plan was to have a dual-cab ute run up the hill, but we were one staff member short and couldn't make it happen.
@@Drivecomau My suggestion would be lining up the SUVs from this comparison which did a better job in the log test, against Land Rover Discovery as a benchmark off-roader.
@@Drivecomau use off-road tiers next time plz
@@Drivecomau would've liked you to take proper 4x4's such as Land Rover Discovery / Defender and it's rivals equipped with All Terrain tyres. not soft 4x4's with road tyres.. as soon as I saw the log test I knew no way would any of them get up it.. I doubt even a ATV quad bike could get up those logs..
The log test is a test of the tires. If the tires don't grip nothing else matters.
Nice review Paul. I liked how the CX-5 and the Forester went through the ruts(offset model). Was surprised that the Tiguan exhibited more chassis flex. I have the previous generation from 2012 and the doors do not close well when parked on uneven terrain offroad. I thought that was going to be addressed with the new generation but obviously VW put their attention elsewhere :-). Besides the obvious that the structure on the Tiguan flexes more than the other cars, anyone cares to comment if there are any implications safety wise considering the Euro NCaps rate the cars similarly for safety? Greetings from South Africa..
I've been to an accident where a Tiguan rolled multiple times at high speed. The accident was severe enough to seperate the engine and gearbox from the car, the debris was strewn over several hundred metres. The car retained its body structure and the occupants survived, just.
Very good review.
Will the Toyota RAV4 Trail or TDR make a difference?
That tiguan didn't get a fair assessment on chassis. It was the only one on a really severe angle. As for subaru it had the fastest momentum.
Nope. They were all tested at the same angle.
you should try the 2019 toyota rav4 xle awd or da adventure or the trd not the electric
bati bot don’t think they have that in Australia
At the Slippery Log Climbs don't reduce the speed at the beginning of the climb, starting from 0 km/h is very difficult or almost impossible. 11:36
you should also test the top 10 2019 big SUV including. GWagon
Subaru Symmetrical AWD system works like magic.
I miss the Discovery Sport! '
Can you please do a three row suv offroad review? Thanks
The Mazda CX-5 has a “Trail Mode” but it is labelled “TCS OFF” and is a button by your right knee, Paul. You can query Dave Coleman of Mazda NA about the function (increases braking on a wheel when it’s in the air, allowing more power to the opposite wheel with traction). They are still working on how to convey what it does to the driver with better labelling, etc. Knowing about it could make all the difference when on trails in your compact SUV; so sooner the better!
Interesting! It did pretty well without - we will have to give it another go.
Since Subaru has been at this game for half a century I’d expect the first test to be a walk in the park for the Forester.
Would like to see the how the Jimny tackle these tests
It would do them without any probs :) see CarWow tests by Mat Watson and he compared with the G Wagon & Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and I can say that it compared quite good with them for the price you pay its quite a great little offroader :)!
Wonder if usual 4x4 rav4 would be better. The one that is not hybrid?
thxs i really need something to tow my future scampi.
Where do you rank cx5..because in the video you were surprised with how good that was but didnot mention it at the end
It ranks very highly - check out our written review (in the description) for the full details.
I found that it move fastest through all test
Do the same test,for the premiums,; MB, Volvo, BMW, Audi, Lexus, infinity
as if someone would take their lovely shiny XC90 up a hill covered in logs lol.. The logs would crack the alloys.. as well as do other damage.
Would letting down tyre pressures help make a difference going up that hill?
Patrick MacLean yes
Yes - we just wanted to test them all right out of the box.
Congratulations for the nice and brave test. Yes it was subjective test without being exhaustive. Your subjective impressions have seen. I know there are many other perspectives. I enjoyed your effort. Thank you.
The Forrester got a longer start on the log hill there than the other cars
Why would you not use X mode for Subaru on the logs and try??
kp he does indicate at the beginning of the test he engages it so I assume he doesn’t disengage it for the log test.
Nice video and comparision
You haven't tested the forester while activating the Xmode and deep sand mode. It would've been interesting to see if those functions enabled the forester to go through the logs.
I'll take the Subaru Forester out of all these.
i feel dumb after watching this video. wasted my time here.
I think it's a fair test, regardless of stock road tires, you can still see which tires spins when the vehicle is stuck, and when the other tires starts to engages. Thank you for doing it, glad to see these kind of reviews. Some people are probably just upset that their cars are shown and failed.
I would love to see if you get the MG HS to do these types of terrain tests. It looks promising so curious to know how it would fair.
Put some off road tires on the vehicles if you want them to crawl up the logs. Road tires are a joke not the SUVS.
Have any SUV ever passed that slippery log test before? Would love to see some serious off roaders put on that test
Want to see the BMW X3 vs Audi Q5 vs Mercedes GLC on this off road test! Please do it
Would've been nice to see the Jeep Renegade and/or Cherokee in this comparison. I think either in Trailhawk trim probably would've passed all three tests but would also be fun to see a non- Trailhawk edition compete. Excellent simple test setup. No BS straight forward comparison. 👍👍
I swear it looked like you came in a little hotter on the logs in the Forester.
A useful evaluation. Doesn't have to be perfect. Good job. Maybe you could do some driving in sand instead of the logs?
So, in the end, which vehicle passed the slippery log climb?
Really good videos, Good tutorial. Thank's !?
where is the mitsu outlander? you should take that as well
Start of video said Outlander wasn't available for the test
Give that Subaru Forester a grippier offroad tyres like the BFGoodrich AT tyres and you'd be able to conquer that stupid slippery logs.
Really doesn't make sense when they use road tyres for off road applications. It's as though they want to write a review and say something good about the brand but at the same time bring it down on capability. I own a forester and i won't replace it with any other brand.......
@@Iqes007 Subaru is the best and a reliable beast, bro! Subaru is the best! Fuck crappy overrated Toyota and Honda!
@@Xyb3rTeCh Older ones were great. But I am not buying a CVT again!
@@moonsapling Yes CVT sucks overall. But the Subie's version actually ain't that bad
@@Xyb3rTeCh If you dont offroad it yes, otherwise you have a great chance of your CVT failing. And also you can hardly start on a loose gravel hill because the VDC and the CVT will cut power.
Testing the RAV4 Edge variant and/or Jeep Cherokee would have been interesting as they both sit in the medium SUV class but have greater off-road capability but I assume they weren’t available. I’m guessing the message is that if you leave normal road tyres on your vehicle then probably reasonable condition dirt roads are all you should attempt. Seems an obvious message but your demonstration reinforces that very well. Cheers
Good Stuff.
Log trail is hard test specially with wet land, it is better if proper tire is stalled.. shame on the most expensive one but weak chassis.. the best i think is Subaru..
The log test was completely pointless and provided little useful information
Just like this comment.
just proved that all them aren't true offroaders but I doubt any 4x4 adventurer would look to climb up a hill with muddy logs lol. Especially not in a standard SUV setup for road use lol.
@@Drivecomau nice try mate
Wet clay forreal reg tyres lmao
Great job! I wish the diesel version of Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 were used. but oh well. Hopefully we'll see a full-size SUV like Toyota Kluger, Mazda CX-9, Hyundai Santa Fe, and others with similar off-road test. :D Keep it up!
The Santa Fe and CX-9 are Midsized, a Full Sized SUV would be a Chevy Tahoe or a Ford Expedition.
Should have tested the 2019 Rav 4 TRD version or the Adventure trim not the hybrid.
Very interesting, but I felt you should have used all the cars with same tyres type and size. Also I think you should have use Rav4 Edge/Adventure instead of the hybrid. Anyway, Subaru rocks !
Abhinav Pillai the hybrid used the same awd system it’s just as good “bad” as the adventure is lol it sure is one hell of a looker though
I would like to see a proper 4x4 ranger hilux etc climb the logs
Agree, with road tyres for consistency
Adorei, um abraço do Brazil.
Really nice to see this. I wish you tried a willys jeep or a Wrangler to do a base line to compare it. Also I would like to have seen the RDX also since it is has torque vetoing. It was around the same 50 k price.
I miss the grand vitara! All its glorius off road capabilities...
lol, I'm still driving my 08 Grand Vitara V6, loving it. It's impeccable.
Should have the RAV4 Adventure go up there...
Toyota's AWD is crappy, reliable qualities, but pretty crappy. The RAV4 adventure wouldn't make it up there even with different tires. Plus, the adventure trim is just a hoax, at least here in Canada, there are no major differences between it and the XLE trim, Toyota just gave it a minor lift and a beefed up radiator to tow more than the XLE. Add a little more $, skip the RAV4, and you can get a SR5 4Runner, that's more of a proper body on frame off-roader.
Superb video sir
I can notice sone changes in the way you drive one and another, am i right?
Good work! But you should had a wrangler as a benchmark, Also You had to start and perform the test at the same constant speed (as much as possible) You should have increased the number of tests for better ranking (as most of them were Pass/ Pass/Fail) Finally I felt that you were biased to the Forester although it was sliding back at the slippery log! For me the surprising good performance was for Mazda CX5
The Subaru is the only one I'd trust to take me off road - it's the only car with a proper permanent AWD. The rest are FWD based. The symmetrical AWD system in the Subaru is awesome!
Yes. Consumer Reports did a test in snow a few years back, and found the Subaru and Audi AWD systems worked far better than any other manufacturers. And the Subaru is far more reliable after the first few years.
Yeah. If you're actually planning to leave the city the Subaru really is the only option. Better AWD system. The most ground clearance and a standard real spare.
We took our fully loaded Forester over to Fraser Island and it did great!
Well you'd be stuffed in most places with a hill because the CVT transmission really kills off-road performance. It's been well documented.
@@Homerlovesbeer2 actually no, not really. The cvt is well matched to the capability of the Forester. It won't get you up some of the tracks in the vic high country bit it will get you most places.
why didn't you use xmode of subaru on slippery log climb???
When testing cars like these you should test them in the worst they’re likely to be used for, and not crazy things like these wood steps. Boggy fields would be better
Would be interesting, by way of an ‘inter-segment’ comparison if you like, to see how “real” 4WD perform under the same conditions
No Outlander? :)) he kicks some cars from here like half :)
Needed more speed on the log test. Your vehicle is going to bounce some but you have to abuse the vehicle sometimes to get to go over something.
Thanks for sharing
You enter the log test at different speeds, not really fair.
You say two wheels off the ground on door test. I think your wrong on that statement.
Can you do the similar test on Mazda CX9 please?
My landcruiser 80 diesel part time manual, ARB lockers front + rear with mud chains on all four 35 Goodrich ATs would have almost made it up those logs. If not, the PTO gearbox 4 ton winch would get it to the top. Tough log challenge that one. Had it for almost 20 years now and it’s looking very banged up on all panels after doing High Country many times and Rocky Track a few times. I’ve had 3 diff failures in that time where the crown wheel teeth just snap off 😬
Seems to me Tires are the main issue with road tires slipping on these logs I bet with proper tires these would climb way up there .....no truck with road tires would go up that log climb
Tyres are a big part of this job. Road ones get clogged easily and just slip. Even a Landcruiser with any of these tyres would have trouble in these tests I think.
Correct. If your tyres are unsuitable and can’t get traction you can have all the diff locks, suspension and other off road aids, you still won’t go anywhere. They are all wheel driven vehicles after all.
@@rsoul7282 as I said in my previous postt.. You'd not go mountaineering in flip flops (beach shoes) so why would you then use road tyres (which SUV car manufacturers supply to most SUV's) , due to them been cheaper than all terrain tyres.To then go offroading?
Excellent explain
I've owned two Subarus since 2005, Tribeca and the Outback. I used both vehicles for work as a news cameraman. I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are a lot of steep hills and never got stuck in the snow. Subaru makes one of the best all-wheel drive vehicles. The full-time all-wheel drive will cost you a little more at the pump, but well worth it.