A 4-wheel drive car is a vehicle that has very few limits. It can be used in winter, in any conditions, but it is also very nice to drive it in the summer, when you want to travel off-road, to the mountains or other destinations in the middle of nature. Moreover, when you want to tow a vehicle, platform, or trailer, a 4-wheel drive car is very useful once more. So, we should not be surprised by the large number of these cars that circulate on the streets, and we should not be surprised that they are in high demand!
However, these cars are expensive and considering that not everyone has the money to purchase a new vehicle, the alternative is to find a used 4-wheel drive car that you can rely on.
What to look for when you buy a used 4-wheel drive car
The safest thing is to opt for buying from a used auto broker that offers certified vehicles or at least to take the car to an authorized service for verification, if the seller agrees.
Other things to look for include:
- Tires. Never buy a car that has old, worn, or uneven tires. When it comes to 4-wheel drive cars, tires are expensive, so make sure that the car you want to buy has good tires that can still be used safely for at least 2-3 more years.
- All-wheel drive. Everything must go smoothly, and you must not identify noisy or unusual sounds. Any malfunction or something that does not work can signal poor maintenance, caused by lack of oils or by forcing the vehicle past its limits. Although a coupler that does not work may seem like something easy to repair, it may hide other complications.
- Useful accessories. Accessories for 4-wheel drive cars are quite expensive, so purchasing a used car that already has them is a plus.
Top 3 4-wheel drive cars to buy used:
Chevrolet Captiva
Captiva is one of the Chevrolet models developed by the South Korean division of the American manufacturer (just like the Cruze, for example). With this SUV, American manufacturers tried to enter the European market. Chevrolet Captiva typically has 5 seats, but 7-seaters are also available. The most popular engine in the range is the 2.2-liter turbodiesel.
Ford Kuga
The second American car in this list is the Ford Kuga. This car is offered with 5 seats on board, and there are versions with front axle traction and all-wheel drive, depending on the engines. The range of petrol engines consists of the EcoBoost family of 1.5 and 1.6 liters, available in a wide variety of versions. The automatic box and the 4×4 system are available exclusively with the top versions.
Mitsubishi Outlander
This Japanese SUV has managed to become a real bestseller, but this is mostly due to its electrified version, which became famous due its affordable purchase price, but also to its exceptional reliability. The Outlander is one of the largest SUVs in its segment, therefore a very practical model.