When you’re on the go and you need a car that supports your active lifestyle, there are some important features that will make a huge improvement to whatever adventure you’re chasing.
To be prepared for exploring the great outdoors, your car becomes your home on the road. You need space for hauling bulky gear, driving the whole rowing team around, or even getting changed in the backseat. You need versatility to drive on and off the beaten track. And you need technology that will enhance your adventure time and give added safety to your journey.
The best cars for outdoor lifestyles have been equipped exactly with your adventures in mind, so here are our top 5 car features for your active lifestyle:
1. Cargo Accessories
Adventures come in all shapes and sizes, and your car has to be kitted out with the right accessories to transport everything you need with ease. Some of our favourite kiwi activities require long or awkwardly-shaped items that just don’t fit inside your car, so cargo accessories are an absolute must!
Big adventures come with big equipment, so consider adding for an easier ride:
- Roof racks for surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks, tents and camping equipment
- Bike attachment for mountain, road or electric bikes
- Ski attachment for skis and snowboards
The fitment of a towbar not only allows you to tow a trailer with your important equipment but can also be used for mounting bike racks - a better option for carrying heavy e-bikes rather than on the roof.
Whatever it is you have to take with you on your journey, specialised Suzuki accessories can attach any equipment that you need for your next adventure.
2. 4WD or SUV Body Design
It’s no mystery why kiwis love SUVs - the combination of space, versatility and durability make them the perfect partner to your sense of adventure. There are many different types of off-road vehicles - from mini-SUVs to rugged 4x4s, and they are all built to support freedom and fun.
The body design of 4WDs and SUVs have features designed especially for complementing your adventures such as high ground clearance and generous departure angles for taking on the steepest slops and sharpest descents. In some models like the Suzuki Jimny, a separate chassis is included for driving stability on those gnarliest environments.
SUVs are also popular for their spacious interior - giving you plenty of space to bring along an extra person on your road trip, or load up those few extra items you would otherwise have had to leave behind. Suzuki SUVs like the Vitara or the S-Cross have split folding seats that can be adjusted when you need to make some extra space.
All of these features make SUVs the best all-round adventure vehicles, giving you the practicality to get on with your outdoor pursuits.
3. AWD/4WD Technologies
Smart technology is an absolute game-changer when it comes to chasing your next adrenaline-rush. Here are some of our favourite features that will improve your drive:
All-Wheel and Four-Wheel Drive Capability
Suzuki's ALLGRIP technology maximises the performance of the transmission, engine and safety systems, depending on road surfaces and driving conditions. With ALLGRIP SELECT, you can easily modify your car’s handling with a flick of a dial, choosing from four driving modes:
- AUTO
- SPORT
- SNOW
- LOCK
Take it one step further with ALLGRIP PRO, it's a simple gear change between 2WD and 4WD as you head off the road and into unsealed territory. When the going gets really tough, there's the low range transfer gear for maximum grip and traction.
Limited Slip Differential
LSD for short, a limited slip differential is designed to help your engine put its power to the road surface more efficiently, improving performance and traction in off-road situations. It’s basically a device that limits the amount of wheel-spin when the driven wheels lose grip, so it’s also a useful safety feature that offers more control over your car’s power delivery. You’ll be thankful for the extra traction in serious off-road situations when you have wheels off the ground or are in very slippery terrain.
The same principle can be provided through electronic assistance. The latest Jimny offers Brake LSD Traction Control that automatically brakes the slipping wheels and redistributes torque to the other two wheels.
Hill Descent Control
As you might have guessed from the name, hill descent control is a system that allows you to drive down steep gradients at a slow, controlled speed. Hill descent control applies the brakes without any input from the driver, allowing each wheel to be controlled independently to maintain traction and ensure steady downward progress.
4. Smartphone Connectivity and Touchscreen Infotainment
Chances are you’re going to have a bit of a drive ahead of you before you can get stuck into your outdoor action. Clever technologies when you're in the driver’s seat are going to help you spend less time fumbling about and more time pursuing your passions.
Touchscreen display
A touchscreen display is the easiest way to control your music, your smartphone, Bluetooth, Sat Nav and reverse camera - everything is at your fingertips. And if you don’t want to reach for the display, audio and cruise controls are on your steering wheel, so you can stay in control without taking your eyes off the road.
Smartphone Connectivity
Hooking your smartphone up to your car with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will let you make calls, ask for directions, and listen to your music - all by voice command.
Music
A road trip wouldn’t be a road trip without good tunes. Turning up the music will help keep energy levels up after a long, tiring day of physical activity. Tune into the radio or use Bluetooth or your connected smartphone to get the sounds playing.
GPS or Satellite Navigation
You might find yourself far away from any street signs, and who keeps a map in their car these days? Make sure you don’t get lost by getting Sat Nav directions up on your display before you hit the road.
5. Fuel efficiency
Most outdoor activities require you to drive a little bit further than you would on a daily basis. When you’re venturing further away from the city lights (and the petrol stations), you'll want to maximise fuel efficiency on long trips. That way you spend less time looking for places to stop for petrol, and more money on the activities you love doing.
Suzuki is renowned for making fuel efficient cars, and if you want to fit in more adventure between fills, you’ll want to use our Fuel Economy Calculator to compare the fuel efficiency of our different vehicles. If fuel efficiency is a top priority for you, and you want an SUV that will make your adventures more awesome, check out our most fuel-efficient Suzuki SUVs.
Is your current ride missing these fantastic features? Our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car has everything you need to know before you invest into a car that’s built to suit your active lifestyle.
