Top 5 SUVs for desert safari

With mountains of sand more than 800 feet high right in their backyard, the people of UAE have taken a different approach to tackling deserts. This has led to the birth of sports like dune bashing. For the thrill seekers of Dubai, there is no better way of spending the weekend than strapping themselves into their trusty and capable 4X4s, deflating their tires and going on a roller coaster ride of their own design. As the popularity of the sport has grown, so as the popularity of the tools that people use to show nature who’s the boss. Here are 5 of the best SUVs that Dubai’s dune bashers swear by:

1) Toyota Land Cruiser

The prowess and ruggedness of the Toyota Land Cruiser off the road is the stuff of legends. Through its six decades of existence, it has solidified its reputation as a genuine off-roader, capable of tackling anything that is thrown on its way. The current version like always is a behemoth of a car with a 4.6-litre V8 delivering 304 horsepower and 439 Nm of torque driving all four wheels. It does, however, still use an ancient ladder chassis and lacks some of the quality and refinement that you expect from a car at a price range of AED 209,000 to AED 325,000.

2) Nissan Patrol

The excellence of the Land Cruiser has encouraged many manufacturers to bring out their competitors. Nissan patrol continues to be one of the more notable ones. An urban tank in the true sense, this SUV is at home both on the tarmac carrying 7-8 people in comfort and crushing dunes on the weekends. No wonder then that it swarms the roads of Dubai. Providing exceptional value for the asking price, it is well suited for the needs of UAE as petrol consumption figures are not something to worry about here.

3) Ford F-150 (Raptor)

 

The Ford F-150 Raptor is a newcomer when compared to everything else on this list. It is also more of a lifestyle vehicle than an SUV. But for pure dune bashing goodness, very little comes close. It looks mean and angry. Aggressiveness is at the core of its DNA - from the 3.5-litre V6 to the massive travel in the suspension. Some might even call it a little too extreme and unfit for urban environments. However, the Raptor is no slouch in the comfort department and between its numerous specs in the AED 231000 and AED 341000 range, caters to every need. Especially, when even the base model is specced to the gills.

4) FJ Cruiser

There is something extremely endearing about the Toyota FJ Cruiser. Unique is the word that comes to mind. It was retro styled at the cost of practicality, space, and visibility. But, it also had suicide doors. It was truly the kind of car that raised a cult following. That does not mean that it was not capable. It could hold out its own both on and off the road and had the reliability to match. Its left field character harked back to a time when car companies were adventurous and did not shy away from making quirky cars. Sadly with the FJ Cruiser being discontinued, that time is now in the past.

5) Jeep Wrangler

In terms of sheer size, the Jeep Wrangler can be dwarfed by everything else on this list. But thanks to its iconic styling, it will be noticed everywhere. Jeep being the byword of off-road performance, means that it is an extremely capable performer. What’s more, at a price range starting at AED 105000 with the topmost spec at just AED 204000, it provides much better value too. That does mean that it has some quality issues but with a soft top and infinite potential for customization, you can’t really complain.