7 All-wheel Drive Off-road Minivans: In The Mud With The Whole Family

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 02:36

The minivan is a family thing and boring. Until you remember the all-wheel drive options. A large salon plus four leading ones: what is not the most desirable car option? We ran through Automotive News and found seven interesting vans at once, on which you can poke your head into the off-road. For every taste, color and wallet.

Mitsubishi Delica

Indestructible "Delica" - perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when the phrase "four-wheel drive minivan." And it is no coincidence: the chassis here is advanced off-road, and the interior can accommodate the whole family.

What is good about this particular van is its long-wheelbase performance (the body is 50 cm larger), a modified suspension, an off-road set, including a rear lock, a winch and sonar, as well as a cabin with separate rear seats. At the same time, a decently packaged and preserved Mitsubishi is cheaper than front-wheel-drive crossovers.

ToyotHiAce

The angular HiAce is almost an analogue of the Delic in terms of cross-country ability and capacity. And taking into account the 2.8-liter diesel engine - also reliability. In addition, this van was thoroughly modified "for themselves", with an eye to outdoor activities. The body is covered with the popular "Raptor", which is not afraid of scratches, an additional trunk is installed on the roof, and the seats in the eight-seater saloon can be rotated and transformed into a large bed. Rest - so on a grand scale.

Renault scenic

If the current Scenic is a road van by about one hundred percent, then in 2000 the model could be credited to crossovers. All thanks to the RX4 version with a raised suspension, 210 mm ground clearance, brutal plastic design and, of course, all-wheel drive with Steyr Daimler Puch components. The all-terrain Scenic did not gain frenzied popularity, therefore it is rare today, and this is a minus. But it is inexpensive, which is a definite plus. They ask for this copy from Tver as for a moped, despite the fact that there are no accidents or breakdowns in the history of the car. Luck?

Gazelle

The alternative is bigger, cooler and more expensive - originally from Russia. Yes, large-scale improvements have raised the coolness and price of this car: the list includes power bumpers, a winch, an elevated suspension and a pair of Webasto "stoves". But the off-road business class status is worth it. Take a look at the salon and imagine that there is a conventional taiga or snowy virgin land around. How does it feel? Would you risk exchanging your million rubles for It?

MazdMPV

Boring name, interesting crossover looks, four-wheel drive and seating for the whole family. The central - aka the second - row of seats can be removed and the MPV can be turned into a kind of London cab with royal legroom. Bonus: the car from the last century (1998) looks like a well-groomed Range Rover younger, has no dark spots in history and has not been involved in an accident.

Lada "Nadezhda"

The old "Nadezhda" both sounds and does not look so optimistic, but it is worth giving it a chance. Firstly, this minivan of AvtoVAZ is rarely remembered, and secondly, the chassis here is with all-wheel drive from the "Niva", and the ground clearance is 190 millimeters. Moreover, this car has even more ground clearance, because it was prepared for real mud sorties. According to the owner, this "Nadezhda" knows firsthand about the mountainous terrain of Crimea.

VW Californi4Motion

Californi is a great example of off-road tourist real estate. The space for the whole family here is not limited to the body: in parking lots, you can raise the roof and unfold the awning, creating an extension to the “house”. And on the go, the 4Motion drive will support wherever mono-drive vans fail. Yes, in the case of the Californi, targeting serious off-roading is not worth it, but you can't name a mediocre chassis with a mechanical rear differential lock. You can live with such a VW. Right there.