Suv guides

With the pandemic still looming over our heads, 2021 was a pretty action-packed year for the auto industry. Sure, you had challenges, with automakers having to contend with issues like chip shortages, causing delays to consumers. But regardless, the show had to go on and we got some pretty cool cars making their debut, predominantly towards the latter half of 2021.

Let’s get one thing out of the way, 2021 really was also the year, when the market as a whole began to embrace EV’s and you could see several automakers both the legacy as well as EV startups bring several new models to market. Having said that, we did see some pretty cool ICE cars, also make their debut. Now there were several cars that made headlines this year, it was very difficult to pick out the best ones, but the cars on this list definitely stood out. Here’s our list of some of the most highly anticipated and important cars that were unveiled in 2021.

There is no dearth of electric cars in the market now. We aren’t just talking about the urban commuters, but also fast electric cars. There are many new automakers that start their electric car journey with fast cars or electric supercars. Companies like Estrema, Aspark, and even Tesla, for that matter, came up with fast electric sports cars or electric supercars. While some have faded into oblivion after showing us promising concepts, some have weathered the storm and are either into production or will enter production.

Here’s a list of the eight fastest electric cars in the world today that are in the production stage or about to enter production. Some of these fast cars are from mainstream automakers, some from established EVmakers, and some from new start-ups.

The world of SUVs has changed quite a bit since the days when they were only made for off-roading duties. No longer are they lumbering and slow, but SUVs have adopted platforms closer to those used by sedans and hatchbacks. Automakers also included better aerodynamics, making them more like track cars. They were being made for the city and the suburbs and featured high-performing engines. These allow them to defy the laws of physics and accelerate faster than some current saloon cars. It has also made them increasingly popular in the market and a segment opportunity that every brand has capitalized on with offerings. To that end, the following are some of the fastest accelerating SUVs available on the market.

Following a continuous production run for 67 years, the Defender was discontinued in 2016 due to rising irrelevance and the costly EU emission standards. However, in 2020, Jaguar Land Rover released a new generation that differs significantly from the previous model. The main highlights include the platform it is based on, the overall design, and hybrid powertrain alternatives. The previous generations were also reputed for their spartan cabins and lack of technology. The new Defender adequately embraces technology and gets a new range of modern petrol and diesel engines from across the available range. Both the past and present Defenders were made to be off-roading SUVs, but there is no harm in comparing attributes to see where each excels better than the other.

The SUV craze led to many manufacturers turning away from tradition in order to capitalize on the demand for luxury and performance SUVs. As a result, vehicles like the Bentley Bentayga spawned. The model is largely believed to be the brand’s first SUV. What most people don’t know, however, is that there was another SUV wearing the Bentley badge back as early as 1996. That said, because the model was specially commissioned and wasn’t part of the brand’s official lineup, very few people actually know about its existence. Luckily for you, we are here to tell you all about it.

Nissan unveiled the all-new fifth-generation (R53) Pathfinder back in February. It was scheduled to go on sale in the summer. Well, the wait is finally over. The Pathfinder went on sale earlier this month.

This model has been overhauled from the ground up. It receives a far more rugged exterior and a modern yet functional interior. There are four trims to choose from. S, SL, SV, and top-spec Platinum.

Ferrari will build an SUV. I am not joking, the company made an announcement. It will be called the Ferrari Purosangue. That’s the official name of the Ferrari SUV. Ok, Ferrari CEO Louis Camilleri implicitly said that he does not want to hear “that word” in the same sentence with the word Ferrari. “That word” being SUV. Ok, Camilleri, I will not do it. Ever. The new Ferrari... truck… will be the most amazing piece of technology ever attempted with the “that word” layout. Luckily, we do know a thing or two about the new Purosangue.

Digression: Is the word crossover any better? Maybe, but I feel it sounds too soft for the status of a Ferrari. The Honda CR-V is a crossover for crying out loud.

The new Purosangue may take a layout similar to what we have been accustomed to with the onslaught of performance SUVs, yet the Italians promised to make it a proper thoroughbred. Incidentally (not really), Purosangue translated from Italian actually means thoroughbred. Is it just me, or the name Ferrari Thoroughbred (in English) wouldn’t sound bad at all? We have a Superfast and we like it, don’t we? Enough with the strange ideas. Purosangue it is.

Christopher Smith of Motor1 explained how to pronounce it:

“PUR-o-SAN-gue. There are four syllables, with emphasis on PUR and SAN. Phonetically speaking, start with PUR, as in a cat purring. From there just say a soft O as in oh, then SAN with a long A sound like saahn, and finish with GUE, which sounds like way but starting with a g – gway. PURR - oh - SAAHN - gway. See? It’s totally easy.”

OK? OK!

Everybody knows that Range Rovers are unreliable, right? Well, I’m here to tell you a story that might just change your perspective a little bit. And it involves two, first-generation Range Rovers, 12-hours a day mud trekking, snakes, bats, a lot of sweat, about 80,000 cigarettes, and a long-lost Chevrolet Corvair.

Keep reading to find out the story of the British Trans-Americas Expedition, the first-ever successful vehicle-based traverse of the Pan-American Highway through the Darien Gap. It’s a story of grit, determination and ultimately, a lesson in PR that would be impossible to replicate today.

Back in the day, if you wanted to have a practical and fun car, you needed to have two cars. Things are different nowadays, as most manufacturers, even those you do not expect, have a fast SUV in their lineup. Obviously, the versatility of an SUV is second to none, but performance has always left something to be desired. That is, until the first performance SUV came out and started a trend that would spiral out of control. Suddenly, you didn’t need to have two cars, but that didn’t came by overnight. This is the history of the performance SUV and how it got to where it is today.

GMC introduced the Hummer EV supertruck last year and has now followed it up with the Hummer EV SUV. At the onset, it seems like a pickup truck that comes with a roof welded on the bed to make it an SUV. However, there is a lot more than meets the eye. Unlike the Rivian truck and SUV twins, the Hummer EV SUV has been placed as an inferior offering. There is a difference in specs, power outputs, and other things that makes it look like the second fiddle to the EV truck. The pricing, however, is on par for the standard models and there is a difference only in the Launch Edition model.

Jeep took the wraps off the Wrangler 4xe and it seems like an environment-friendly off-roader. Although there were some apprehensions about this new hybrid version of the off-roader, the automaker has made big claims. While the company has hyped the Wrangler 4xe in general, there was one claim that said “New Level of Benchmark Jeep Off-road Capability”. From what we knew before the launch, the 4xe was going to be a hybrid version of the standard Wrangler that would be more efficient and a little more torquey. Now that it has been unveiled, does it offer a new level of off-road capability?

Jeep has provided some information on the Wrangler 4xe’s models and specs, but there’s still a lot that’s not known. So, for the sake of comparison, we’ll be pitting the Rubicon trims of the standard Wrangler and the Wrangler 4xe, and here’s how they measure:

Discontinued in 1991, after almost 30 years in production, the iconic Jeep Grand Wagoneer has been rumored to return since the late 1990s. Chrysler first confirmed the nameplate in 2011, stating that it would go into production in 2013, but the Grand Wagoneer was postponed to 2015 and to 2018.

The SUV returned into the spotlight in 2019 when spy shots revealed a full-size Jeep built on a Ram 1500 truck frame and Jeep eventually confirmed the nameplate for a 2020 revival. The SUV is scheduled to debut on September 3 and even though Jeep is still mum on details, we already known a few things about the full-size hauler.

The 2021 Ford Bronco has been the talk of the town since it was unveiled. The off-roader was, arguably, the most anticipated model this year, and it would be fair to say that it didn’t disappoint. But we enthusiasts are a greedy bunch and still want a Raptor version of the Bronco. That’s like asking for an off-road version of an off-roader! The Bronco comes with most of the stuff needed, but a Raptor trim could push things beyond the boundaries. Also, the Bronco has taken part in Baja 1000 before it was reincarnated, so that makes having a Raptor version even more imperative, and it could further cement the new off-roader’s place in the segment.

Ford just unveiled the 2021 Bronco,, which marks the return of the iconic nameplate after a 25-year hiatus. The SUV won’t arrive in showrooms until 2021, but you can already place reservations, and Ford has already released details about each and every trim. The 2021 Bronco is available in seven trim levels, most of them named for off-road enthusiasts. The lineup includes Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Wildtrak, Badlands, and First Edition. The latter is a limited-series launch edition model that won’t be offered beyond 2021. Each trim level features a unique emblem, and it’s equipped for a different purpose. Want to know which Bronco suits you best? Find out below where we look at all seven versions.

The highly anticipated Ford Bronco is finally here. Discontinued after five generations in 1996, the Bronco nameplate returned after almost 25 years. That’s big news for SUV enthusiasts, but it’s equally important that Ford finally offers a competitor for the Jeep Wrangler.

The latter is by far the most popular option when it comes to rugged, off-road-ready SUVs, so the Bronco has a very difficult mission upon its return. Does it have what it takes to compete with the Wrangler? Is it better than Jeep’s tried-and-true off-roader? Well, these are questions that will get solid answers once the Bronco starts rolling off the assembly line and we get our hands on one. But until that happens, here’s a thorough comparison that reveals how they stack against each other on paper.

The Ford Bronco just returned after 25 years and SUV enthusiasts are going crazy over it. The boxy hauler is heavily based on the original Bronco of the 1960s, it features a pair of powerful engines, and off-road tech that enables it to tackle the mighty Jeep Wrangler.

Ford apparently spent a few good years drawing a plan to dethrone the Wrangler and the 2021 Bronco is a project that many automakers could learn from. Here’s six things that will probably make the Bronco a highly successful SUV.

Ford has tried to cater to all kinds of customers with the Bronco. That probably explains why the Bronco Sport came to be – an off-roader that is equally comfortable for weekday duties. If you’ve been following the Bronco carefully, you’ll know how well it is spec’d in terms of off-roading equipment and features. However, they are available in the higher trims which are in the ballpark of $50,000.

But, even if you are looking to buy the base trim and want a Bronco that can handle harsh terrain easily, you should opt for the “Sasquatch Package” that Ford has introduced. The package includes most of the stuff you’d need to convert your bare-bones Bronco into a boulder-carver - even the base model!