4WD Off Road And MPG?

[02SE]

With mostly around-town driving, I regularly get 22+ mpg out of my '97 V6 manual trans 4Runner. It also has slightly oversized LT 265/75R16 Toyo Open Country AT tires, and the factory electrically locking rear differential.

It can crawl over some nasty terrain, and still cruise down the highway nicely.

 

[Zaedock]

I used to get 26-28MPG in my old '98 Tracker 4 door. Full frame, low range and decent protection (real gas tank skid), tow hooks, etc... I was t-boned at a stop sign by a Saab doing 50mph in a snow storm. There was decent damage to the B pillar, but I walked away without a scratch.


I've been involved in off roading for a long time. While I love to see other breeds out on the trail it really is hard to beat a Jeep. Wrangler, Cherokee, heck even a Liberty. I can get about 20mpg out of my '89 Cherokee 4.0L and still do some decent unmaintained roads with 215/75R15 bologna skin tires.
My Wrangler on 38's goes where it wants, except the highway.


Lately, I've been checking out Mahindra, who should be opening up dealerships anytime now (if they haven't already!).

I think these trucks are just cool. Compact with 4WD, four doors, and a four cylinder common rail diesel that knocks down 30mpg.

 

[blackdiamond]

I can see why your Jeep doesn't "fly" on the highway, 4 cyl with 38's is an off road combination.

Ever been to Moab? My 4Runner sits on 35's with the 4 cyl since it's my daily driver and so far it's done the highway trip from Washington to Moab twice and once to the Rubicon. The last trip to Moab I ended up driving straight through on the way home, about 1100 miles.