Creating a top five list of the best overlanding vehicles is never easy. Even if you assess the basic parameters of each vehicle, like wading depth, wheel travel, break-over angles, and cost, it all boils to the environment.
Does the car conserve or pollute our environment? As an overland enthusiast, you already know there are cars built for boulder-strewn slopes with effective brake lines.
Some are designed to bomb down loose surface roads at supersonic speeds bearing incredible traction to enable them to pass slippery terrains. Some overland vehicles are ideal desert survival specialists that can easily cruise high and steep dunes.
All these trucks are off-roaders and come with different strengths.
However, this article looks at eco-friendly overlanding trucks.
Eco-friendly overlanding vehicles are off-road vehicles that let you enjoy exploring the countryside, desert, beach, or woods while conserving the environment. The top 5 are Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid, Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid, and Subaru Crosstrek.
Pick any of these five trucks for your next overlanding itinerary to sustain our environment.
1. 2022 Honda CR-V
Honda CR-V is a perennial favorite and a cute-ute pioneer. These vehicles are all-wheel drive, the first test to an impeccable off-road truck. It offers you the real adventure by giving you around 21 centimeters of ground clearance. The vehicle is strong, offering 190 horses from the small-displacement turbo.
If you are looking for an eco-friendly overlanding truck, then this is the vehicle to go for. This Honda CR-V is one of the top SUVs that are economical for fuel. It is a leader in several other areas, such as cargo and passenger space.
Some of Its Pros Include:
- Good gas mileage
- Outstanding cargo capacity
- Upscale interior
- Comfortable seats with sufficient room
- It is eco-friendly
Is This Car An Incredible SUV?
Honda CR-V is a perfect SUV that can be used for off-roading enthusiasts. The vehicle offers a comfortable ride and an energetic acceleration giving the user good gas mileage. Its interior feels and looks upscale. The vehicle has impeccable and comfortable seats that are pretty spacious. Honda CR-V cargo area carries the day as it is expansive for the compact SUV class.
How Much Will It Cost?
This eco-friendly off-road truck will have a base price of around $25,750. Typically, this is the starting price for any impressive SUV. However, the range could go up depending on the capabilities and features of the vehicle. Check out their prices to find out if this is within your range. You can buy a brand-new truck or trade-in your old overlanding vehicle to secure this truck. You can rely on the Honda CR-V vehicle as it is pretty reliable.
2. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
It is another non-luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicle you can find in the market. The Mitsubishi Outlander is an eco-friendly off-road truck having very few competitors. It is the perfect choice overlanding vehicle with all-wheel drive. The vehicle comes with ample interior space and high-tech safety systems to keep you safe.
What makes it eco-friendly is that it is an electric vehicle and will only use gas in the case of the battery running out. This makes the car have an outstanding fuel economy. This SUV truck will change your life for the better in terms of overlanding.
The off-road and on-road truck combines a dynamic and quiet experience with low emissions to give the user an incredible driving experience. It is also a very comfortable vehicle that will not let you feel all the boulders and rocks as you hit the off-road. Mitsubishi Outlander comes with AWD handling and stability and technical safety technology.
Pros of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Plug-in hybrid technology – the vehicle comes with an electric technology that is eco-friendly. With these electric cars, there are no emissions that pollute our environment.
- Smartphone link – with this off-road, you can link your smartphone and play audio in the truck.
- Rearview sensors and cameras – the Mitsubishi Outlander has impeccable safety features. The rear-view sensors and cameras will ensure you do not hit objects and obstacles behind your vehicle.
- Twin electric motors – the vehicle comes with two electric motors that give it the power to traverse vast deserts and the woods. It also has a MIVEC petrol engine that works as a backup if the batteries are down.
Get the Mitsubishi Outlander and enjoy convenience and luxury as you cruise the off-roads. Many off-roaders love this vehicle because of the innovative technology that seamlessly switches all the drive modes. With this eco-friendly vehicle, you will enjoy a perfect blend of robust performance, ease of use, and luxurious smoothness.
3. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The RAV4 hybrid truck is one of the most powerful and quickest off-road vehicles. This vehicle is also efficient whether you are on the road or hitting the off-road tracks. You cannot believe that Toyota brought hybrid vehicles to the market about 21 years ago, especially in North America.
This second-generation hybrid vehicle could be one of the best eco-friendly off-road trucks made by Toyota. It is a non-luxury hybrid truck with 20.5 centimeters ground clearance. The vehicle also comes with 219 horsepower and all-wheel drive features. Toyota RAV4 hybrid has a towing capacity of about 800 kilograms. In less than eight seconds, you can achieve 100km/h, making it a fast car for off-road adventures.
Toyota hybrids have been doing rounds in the market, starting with the initial Prius model. The growth is commendable to bring froth this RAV4 Hybrid. The electrified vehicles have sufficient room and incredible practicality for handling and usage.
Performance, Engine, and Transmission
This vehicle uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and is assisted by twin electric motors. Both motors produce 219 horsepower. It is also an all-wheel-drive vehicle with one of the motors powering its rear wheels. The gasoline engine and second motor are responsible for the front wheels.
The RAV4 Hybrid car is quicker and more efficient compared to the unelectrified model. That makes it an ideal car for all your off-road itineraries. It can clock 60 mph in just 7.4 seconds. RAV4 Hybrid is also more comfortable and competent in handling.
Charging, Range, and Battery Life
The vehicle has a battery pack of 18.1 kWh where its electrons are stored. It has an electric driving range of around 42 miles. RAV4 Hybrid comes with a standard onboard charger of 3.3 kWh and an optional charger of 6.6 kWh. When under a 240-volt outlet, the vehicle will decrease its charge to around 2.5 hours.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
This vehicle’s cabin is nicely outfitted and well built. However, the cabin has put more emphasis on practicalities rather than style. It comes with a plethora of bins and cubbies one can choose from. All the controls and buttons here are pretty straightforward to operate. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid also comes with specific goodies such as a telescoping steering wheel and automatic climate control.
It also has luxury features such as ambient interior lighting and heated seats. This vehicle’s features make it ideal for both off-road and on the road itineraries. It is very eco-friendly and gives you a luxurious feeling.
4. Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid
The first hybrid escape was unveiled in this century, and since then, Ford has never looked back. The company is producing much more effective models in terms of efficiency and power. This model is very eco-friendly for off-roaders that love conserving the environment. It comes in all-wheel or front-wheel drive.
Off-road enthusiasts that love to enjoy the woods or rugged terrain ought to pick the all-wheel drive. This mighty beast will pass every boulder and challenging terrain. Off-roaders can use this vehicle since it comes with a cargo capacity of 878 liters.
Key Features
Machined-face aluminum wheels – the ford escape has 19-inch dark tarnished-painted pockets. These are perfect wheels for the off-roaders that love their vehicles looking luxurious and high-end.
Ford Co-pilot 360 Assist – this feature includes the Adaptive Cruise Control, Evasive Steering, Lane Centering Assist, and Speed Sign Recognition. It also has a Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System. With such assistants and systems, you will easily avoid collisions.
Hands-free foot-activated liftgate – the ford escape also comes with a hands-free, foot-activated liftgate, meaning you do not need to use keys to open. The feature is excellent when you want to pack your stuff, but your hands are full. Use an Intelligent Access key and kick under the bumper for the liftgate to flung open.
Power and Handling
This eco-friendly off-road truck offers users much-needed convenience and comfort. It comes with rear parking sensors and an intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control. The ford escape also comes with electronic traction control and front-wheel drive, ideal for overlanding.
Power
Ford escape titanium hybrid has a curve control, post-collision braking, plug-in hybrid transmission, and an electric parking brake. The vehicle even has electric power-assisted steering.
Exterior Features of the Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid
- LED Fog lamps
- Dual exhaust tips
- Skid plates for the front and rear
- Chrome upper window molding
- Door handles with the body-color
- Black roof rack
- Rain-sensing wipers
Safety Featues For the Ford Escape Titanium Hybrid
- Driver knee airbag
- LED signature lighting
- Tire inflator kit
- Belt-minder
- Safety canopy system
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Height adjustable retractable safety belts
- Head restraints
With all these stunning features, it is clear that this off-road truck will work perfectly for an off-road enthusiast. It is also eco-friendly as its consumption rate is low. The vehicle does not emit any toxic fumes to the surrounding.
5. Subaru Crosstrek
Subarus are endowed by the KEEN-wearing canoeists as they explore different coasts. There are a ton of reasons why off-roaders love Subarus. That is because they offer an impressive ground clearance of about 22 centimeters and a cargo space amounting to 600 liters. The vehicles come with 152 horses making them ideal for all off-road. The Subaru Crosstrek is also very eco-friendly.
The Subaru Crosstrek has a rugged image and comes with a standard all-wheel drive. This car is the ultimate SUV, according to Instagram influencers. Even though this Subaru will not tackle trails like Land Rovers and Jeeps, it is eco-friendly and perfect for off-roaders who wish to explore white sandy beaches.
Its roof rack can accommodate a kayak or even two to have surf by the ocean. Behind the car, you will discover a lot of space where you can place any other stuff you need for the trip. This space is also plain and can be easily cleaned even if it is muddy after a hike.
Engine, Performance, and Transmission
It has a four-cylinder 152 hp engine. The engine takes 9.2 seconds for the car to get a speed of 6 mph. Subaru Crosstrek has stunning suspensions that are not harsh and can easily soak up bumps and boulders. The plug-in-hybrid model takes five hours to charge when connected to a 120-volt outlet.
Real-World MPG and Fuel Economy
This Subaru Crosstrek is among the most effective vehicles in the subcompact crossovers. It comes with a 2.0-liter engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission. These are rated at 33 mpg highway and 28 mpg city. The vehicle is very efficient and eco-friendly, which is why many off-roaders love it.
Comfort, Interior, and Cargo
The Subaru Crosstrek has an exquisite interior that places more emphasis on function over form. It may include orange stitching to spice up things on the interior and faux-carbon-fiber trim. You can fold up the rear seats to increase the cargo area if you have a lot to stack up for the itinerary.
Driver-Assistance and Safety Features
Subaru Crosstrek may have optional driver assistance features that are affordable, unlike competitor brands. Some of its vital safety features include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assist
- Automated emergency braking
Subaru Crosstrek base price may be $27,000, but the Hybrid fetches higher prices. Its base price is $35,000.
Final Thoughts
Almost everything in the world we live in pollutes the environment in one way or the other. However, efforts by individuals and organizations have ensured humans take care of the environment we live in for sustainability. That is why if you love off-roading, you ought to choose these eco-friendly trucks for all your off-road itineraries.
