As I rolled into my usual front-of-house parking spot yesterday, I saw a new car-face across the street: a fresh Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness in green, just like the one a ways below. I can’t say I’ve thought much about the Wilderness spec since it first appeared, though I did think the cladding was a bit redic when it was first revealed. But in front of me, in the metal (and copious plastic), I gotta say, it looked pretty tough. I even liked the yellow-gold accents. It had presence, and I think it looks much cooler juxtaposed against suburbia (which makes it appear extra-capable) than it does as depicted in press photos on rugged terrain (which only seems to conjure thoughts of its flimsy skid plates peeling off).
Anyway, the Crosstrek got me thinking about cars that deserve off-road/ruggedized trims, and that brings us to today’s Ask. I’m thinking about it in the mode of factory-offered models or dealer-installed packages, but if today’s Q is a good opportunity to muse about your dream off-road project car, go nuts!
Spacer
Though I’m sure it wouldn’t have been as gnarly as the predacious Panther depicted below, it’s fun to think about what Ford might have offered as an off-roadable spec for its classic body-on-frame platform. Would there have been a use-case for it to sufficiently satisfy the need for sales – maybe a police cruiser for rural areas? Probably not … but it’s fun to dream.
I put today’s Ask to Mercedes as our resident rally racer/adventurer/OppoXer, and she dropped a list:
Antti chimed in with a choice I that can totally get behind, as I’m sure a bunch of you can as well:
I would love it if the Toyota RAV4 was again available as the sort of short-wheelbase funster it was in the ’90s. Sure, it was a sort of soft-roader even in its initial guise, but those look great with big tires. Imagine if the current RAV4 was as fun!
Yessssss, via Bring a Trailer.
Your turn:
What Cars Would You Most Like To See Get (Or Wish Had Offered) An Off-Roady Trim Level?
Top graphic image: Mount Zion Offroad / YouTube
theres a dominos delivery guy in the neighborhood that drives a lifted murdered out AWD dodge challenger on 31×10.50 mud terrains. i laugh every time i see him. theres also a guy that drives a diesel new beetle thats on 31×10.50 all terrains with a 5sp lol.
I wish we got ON-road versions of cars. Give us the Macan, CX-50 and Rivian R3 at roadgoing ride height without the cladding, offer the top-trim Panamera, M5 and all AMG’s with RWD, and put normal fenders on the WRX.
Yugo is the answer.
Mostly none. SUVs have basically taken over the entire market to the point that off-road versions are pretty boring at this point. I’m much more interested in which SUVs should really just be a hatchback or a wagon (98% of them).
But, I’ll play. Vanderhall Speedster. Let the weird little three wheeler become a weird little three-wheeled dune buggy.
it’s too late now, but a safari Challenger would have been great. Too bad that used examples don’t depreciate as much as their Dodge heritage deserves them to
I’d absolutely go for an off-roady version of the AWD VW Golf R. Add some ground clearance, real skid plates, and chunky tires. Voila! Instant badass.
Successor of the Golf Country
Any older Volvo wagon (200, 700 and 900 series) looks pretty damn nice with a lift kit and beefy offroad tires. In an alternate universe where Volvo came up with the Cross Country station wagon trim four decades earlier, everyone’s much happier right now.
I lifted my 09 Beetle and it’s pretty bitchin. My wife won’t let me put some KCs on it though, said it would look “ridiculous.” She’s so uncool
The all-wheel-drive Dodge Challenger could have been the basis for some interesting off road packages. It would have been a bit much to include any of the Hemi engines, but it would have been a great way to market the V6 AWD car. Lifted just a bit, good off road tires, a cool stripe package, and maybe a redesigned fascia to accommodate a push bar and some driving lights is all it would have taken to bring the Challenger into a completely different buyer base.
Imagine a cool stripe package and a roof-mounted light bar and giving the car a name from the old AMC days like the Challenger Eagle or something like that.
I currently own a lifted SF5 Forester and previously owned a lifted TownCar-L. More cars should be lifted, I dont care what it is. Maybe I’ll lift my MK7 TDI next?
Damn. Not just a lifted Town Car, but a “L” too. Love them.
Signature L too, so it wasnt even a Livery special. I miss that car dearly.
As you should.
I love the original RAV4. It may have been a soft-roader, but it was more capable than most poeple realized. I did stream crossings on a dirt track in The Middle of Nowhere, Malawi in one and it was a breeze.
1950-1979 VW Type 2. It’s kind of OK with the high ground clearance and weight over the driving wheels, and there’s room for some chunky tires, but it can’t do ALL the cool stuff a later Synchro version can.
I don’t care about trim levels, I just want to not get stuck in a VW van 😀