In the US market, what kind of SUV can be bought under 5,000 US dollars.
For the United States, which has a similarly vast land area, owning a hardcore SUV is a good choice. People here tend to have longer commutes and more heavy-duty needs. And when the bad weather comes, the hardcore SUV can become the only choice for the whole family to travel. Therefore, most of the models listed next are hardcore models with good playability.
But before starting the article, I still need to warn in advance that the cars that will appear next may make us uneasy for a moment.
1998 Suzuki Sidekick
Suzuki Sidekick is actually the first-generation Super Vitara, but it was given the name Sidekick for sale in the North American market. At present, in the North American market, the price of the Suzuki Sidekick produced in 1998 is about 2,600 US dollars, or about 17,000 yuan.
The first-generation Suzuki Sidekick was officially launched in 1988, which coincided with the most inflated period of the Japanese bubble economy. So on the first-generation Suzuki Sidekick, you can also see a lot of shadows of the bubble economy back then. The completely RV-like design made the leisure positioning of the first-generation Suzuki Sidekick very obvious, and in the RV car design ideas of the year, the sun and the beach became a design element that must be considered.
So, on the Suzuki Sidekick, there is a detachable rear soft top and a fully usable part-time four-wheel drive system. These designs have never appeared on current models, so its playability index will be very high.
However, the power configuration of the first-generation Suzuki Sidekick is slightly weaker, with a maximum output of only 71 kilowatts. Moreover, Suzuki has officially withdrawn from the North American market a few years ago, which makes its subsequent use cost slightly higher.
2001 Jeep Cherokee
Cherokee’s name is not only resounding in the North American market, but also in the Chinese market. Speaking of which, everyone should know which Cherokee is mentioned here. In 1984, Jeep officially launched the second-generation Cherokee XJ, thus creating a legend in the SUV market. The sedan-like design made the second-generation Cherokee XJ stand out instantly in the SUV market at that time—if the term SUV existed at that time.
Production of the second-generation Cherokee XJ continued from the 1980s to the early 2000s. The Cherokee XJs that are currently available in the North American market in good condition are all models after the 1997 facelift. Compared with the Cherokee we are familiar with, the 97 model has carried out a fashion upgrade for the details of the front face, adopting the design style of the Jeep family at that time to upgrade the front face.
Therefore, the 97 model has a better overall and more rounded front face. And the front face of this 97 Cherokee has also become a direction for domestic Cherokee or Jeep2500 appearance modification for a long time in the past.
In terms of power, the Cherokee XJ introduced to the market later is equipped with a 4.0L inline six-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 144 kilowatts. All models come standard with part-time four-wheel drive. The high-end Select-Trac version also provides a full-time four-wheel drive system that can switch between two-wheel drive modes. This model known as Super Cherokee in China has always been a stunner of the Cherokee family.
At present, the price of the Cherokee XJ that rolled off the assembly line in 2001 in the North American market is about 3,800 US dollars, or about 25,000 yuan. Recently, though, the Cherokee XJ is getting more expensive used cars in the North American market with the revival of the retro trend. You still have to hurry up to get started.
2004 Nissan Xterra
This year, Nissan officially launched a new hardcore SUV Terra in the Chinese market, which is called Tuda in Chinese. The name of this car is derived from this Xterra. The origin of Xterra and the Chinese market can be traced back to the era of Paladin.
In 1999, Nissan launched the first-generation Xterra on the platform of the Frontier pickup, and what is interesting about this model is that it uses a very creative stepped roof design and matches a very functional Perfect luggage rack system. The result is a playful SUV. Therefore, at the beginning of its launch, Nissan Xterra has been awarded continuously, and has repeatedly won the title of SUV of the Year.
Nissan Xterra has developed a total of two generations of models in the North American market, and was officially discontinued in 2015 due to emissions and sales decline. In 2002, the first-generation Nissan Xterra ushered in a small facelift, which carried out a series of improvements to the front face without pickup. Most of the second-hand Nissan Xterras that can be bought in the North American market for around US$5,000 are models that have undergone this minor facelift. Currently, the 2004 Nissan Xterra sells for around US$4,200, or about RMB 28,000.
In terms of power, the Nissan Xterra entry-level model is equipped with a 2.4L inline four-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 107 kilowatts. High-end models are equipped with 3.3L V6 power, among which, the maximum output power of the naturally aspirated version is 134 kW, and the maximum output power of the supercharged version is 157 kW. The four-wheel drive system provides a simple and durable part-time four-wheel drive system, and there is also an optional rear axle differential lock.
2002 Range Rover
Yes, you read that right, a Range Rover. Currently in North America, you can buy a second-generation Range Rover last model year, which went into production in 2002, for about $4,200.
In 1970, Land Rover officially released the first-generation Range Rover, which was Land Rover’s first attempt to enter the field of high-end SUVs. Unsurprisingly, the first-generation Range Rover achieved great success due to its luxurious configuration and high-end positioning after its launch, which also opened its 26-year history.
In 1994, after being acquired by BMW at that time, Land Rover officially launched the second-generation Range Rover. Compared with the first-generation model in 1970, the second-generation Range Rover incorporates more fashionable elements in the image of the vehicle. In terms of power, it is equipped with a 4.6L V8 naturally aspirated engine with a maximum output of 166 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 407 Nm. It is matched with a four-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel drive system. Air suspension is also added to the chassis to ensure its comfort.
However, the Land Rover brand has become notorious for its quality problems in the North American market, which has directly affected its value preservation rate, especially this second-generation Range Rover. Therefore, although the price is cheap, once something goes wrong, the cheap Range Rover will become very expensive.
2003 Mitsubishi Montero
Mitsubishi Montero is the name of Pajero in North America. In fact, the name Montero has also appeared in the Chinese market. Many second-generation and third-generation Pajero American versions appeared in China under the name of Montero. We also gave these models a Chinese name Montero . Among them, the second-generation Montero is the most famous, because in this generation of models, there are some differences in appearance between the American version and the international version, and the American version will obviously be more handsome.
However, what is currently available in the North American market for $5,000 is not the second-generation model, but the third-generation model with a load-bearing body, and it is still a V77 equipped with a 3.8L V6 engine. At present, in the North American market, the price of the 2003 Montero V77 is about 4,500 US dollars, or about 30,000 yuan. Of course, there is also a V75 equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine as an option.
The 3.8L V6 engine equipped on the Montero V77 is also configured on the V97. Its maximum output power is 160 kilowatts, and it is matched with a five-speed automatic transmission. It is matched with Mitsubishi’s second-generation super-selected four-wheel drive system. Even now, the advanced nature of this four-wheel drive system is still comparable. In the case of full-time four-wheel drive, the four-wheel drive system will transmit two-thirds of the torque to the rear axle, and in the locked state, the front and rear torque output will be 50:50. The driver can also select the two-wheel drive mode through the transfer case handle.
Powerful four-wheel drive performance, spacious interior space and very good quality are the reasons why Montero V77 is worth recommending. It will be a very good choice to be used as a travel vehicle for families in harsh weather environments.
1994 Chevrolet K1500 Blazer
Since the 1960s, Chevrolet’s Blazer series has derived a large number of standard American off-road vehicles. The reason why it is called a standard American off-road vehicle is that the most typical feature is the design of the hard top and two doors, and the size of these models is often very expensive.
At present, in the North American market, you can buy a Chevrolet K1500 Blazer around 1994 for less than US$5,000, and the price is about US$4,600, or about 31,000 yuan. The Chevrolet K1500 Blazer launched in 1994 is based on the Chevrolet GMT400 pickup platform, so it was born to meet the needs of rough roads and large loads at the beginning of its birth. The body size is also very impressive.
In terms of power, the Chevrolet K1500 Blazer is equipped with a 5.7L V8 naturally aspirated engine with a maximum output of 149 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 420 Nm. It is equipped with a time-sharing four-wheel drive system as standard. However, although the body size of the Chevrolet K1500 Blazer is not cheap, the design of the two-door hardtop will make it slightly inconvenient in actual use. It’s a great option to use it as a permanent bed wagon after the rear seats are folded down.
1993 Land Cruiser LC80
Sorry, I’m still more used to calling this car the Land Cruiser, or LC for short. In the 60-year development history of the Land Cruiser series, every model that can bear the Land Cruiser logo is well-known and best.
In 1989, the Land Cruiser 80 series model was officially unveiled, thus creating a precedent for Japanese luxury off-road vehicles. The LC80 series models have also become the favorites of players because of their comprehensive product performance and strong off-road performance. Compared with the LC100 series models that were launched into the market later, the biggest advantage of the LC80 series is that its front axle still retains the hard-axle non-independent suspension configuration. Of course, there is another very important reason that makes LC80 a generation classic, which is the unparalleled reliability brought by its excellent mechanical performance.
At present, in the North American market, the cost of owning an LC80 is not high. The price of the 1993 model is about 4,700 US dollars, or about 32,000 yuan. In terms of power, it is equipped with a 4.5L inline six-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 158 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 373 Nm. In terms of the four-wheel drive system, a full-time four-wheel drive system and a central differential lock are provided. In addition, the front and rear axle differential locks are also optional. After being equipped with three differential locks, the LC80 is basically omnipotent.
As a large luxury SUV, the interior space of LC80 is also very considerable. The maximum loading space of the trunk can reach 2577L, which fully meets the loading requirements of large items.
2002 BMW X5
In 1999, BMW launched the first-generation BMW X5. As the first SUV under BMW, BMW has applied all its attainments in handling performance to the BMW X5, which has also greatly weakened its off-road performance. This method of enhancing road handling performance has allowed the BMW X5 to gain widespread attention from the market at the beginning of its debut. And BMW also defines the product category of BMW X5 as SAV.
At present, the BMW X5 has ushered in the fourth-generation model, and in the North American market, the first-generation model that once created history for the BMW X5 family has also fallen into the price range of 5,000 US dollars. The price of a first-generation BMW X5 in 2002 is about 4,800 US dollars, or about 33,000 yuan.
In terms of power, the first-generation BMW X5 is equipped with a 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 168 kilowatts, while high-end models also have the choice of 4.4L V8 and 4.6L V8, with a maximum output of 210 kilowatts and 255 kilowatts respectively. The $4,800 version is a 3.0-liter inline-six mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
The driving form is full-time four-wheel drive, and the rear axle will get 60% of the torque during normal driving. It is worth noting that on the BMW X5, low-speed four-wheel drive is not provided.
2000 Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner is what we call the American version of the Prado in some cases. Indeed, from the perspective of product positioning, Toyota 4Runner and Prado are really similar. Like the Prado, this is a perfect family SUV. It can not only satisfy the comfortable driving and riding in daily family use, but also meet the demands of high-intensity off-road.
The history of Toyota 4Runner originated in the 1980s. In the development history of its first two generations of models, Toyota 4Runner was inseparable from Hilux. The first two generations of 4Runner were built based on the Hilux pickup platform. To a large extent, it is a representative of tool-type SUVs, and the related technologies of its second-generation models have also made Great Wall Cypher in China.
From the third-generation model, Toyota 4Runner has shared platform technology with Prado, that is, a non-load-bearing body platform for passenger cars. At present, the third-generation product of the 2000 model that can be bought for US$4,900 in the North American market is about 33,000 yuan.
In terms of power, the third-generation Toyota 4Runner is equipped with the same 2.7L inline four-cylinder engine as the Prado LC90, with a maximum output of 112 kilowatts. In addition, the high-end models also provide the option of a 3.4L V6 with a maximum output of 136 kilowatts. Toyota 4Runner has a high inventory in the North American market, coupled with Toyota’s consistent high-quality performance, this 4Runner is obviously also a recommended object.
1993 Wrangler YJ
When it comes to fun, Jeep, the originator of SUV, and its most direct successor, the Wrangler series, cannot be forgotten at any time. This year, the brand new Wrangler JL will be officially launched. And now you can buy a 1993 Wrangler YJ for under $5,000.
The Wrangler YJ can be said to be the most characteristic model in the Wrangler series. Its biggest feature is that this car only adopts the square lamp design. And this square lamp also makes the Wrangler YJ look very different. The convertible design also makes the Wrangler YJ full of playability, especially after the convertible is removed, the lowered window frame line makes driving this car have a very transparent effect.
Currently, the price of the 1993 Wrangler YJ is around US$4,950, or about RMB 34,000. At this price, you can buy a 2.5L four-cylinder engine or a 4.0L inline six-cylinder engine configuration. The former has a maximum output of 92 kilowatts, and the latter has a maximum output of 134 kilowatts. The driving form is part-time four-wheel drive. In addition, the Jeep culture that has already formed in the North American market also makes refitting the Wrangler series a useful way of socializing, especially the retro YJ. It is also recommended.
The above is the case of SUVs that can be found in the North American market, and the playability is very good, and the price is less than 5,000 US dollars. How about it, seeing this, do you remember the advice I mentioned at the beginning of the article? Mind you, these are stunners.
