This past summer I took my girlfriend to Yosemite for the first time. We saw water falls, made friends with deer — literally drank water out of stream and didn’t get dysentery. It was absolute blast. However, aside from the 16 mile round-trip hike to Half Dome, we faced some challenges.
First, I drive a black Pontiac G8. I know, I know. Pretentious as hell. What can I say? When I bought it I was living in L.A. and wanted a cool ride to pick up dates in. At least I’m honest… Point being — for a camping trip, it wasn’t happening.
We took my girlfriend’s car. A Mazda3. Sharp car. However, not quite sure it was ready for some of the terrain we would experience camping in the mountains…
We ended up blowing out a front tire (by we, I mean “I”) and had to make the 6 hour trip back home on a spare going 45 mph. Painful.
That’s when I realized I that if I wanted to go on weekend adventures — real ones that involve hiking Half Dome or surfing Huntington — I would need a vehicle to accommodate.
So if you’re in my shoes, congratulations. I did the research for you.
Below are vehicles which are consistently rated online as the best for active lifestyles, most of them even earning an ALV Award (Active Lifestyle Vehicle).
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
MSRP values via AutoTrader for 2015 models.
Best Cars Active Athlete Types
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Jeep Wrangler
MSRP - $22,695 +
Winning the ALV Award for Best Value Off-Road, the Jeep Wrangler comes not only with a very affordable price tag, but also with high strength steel in what Edmunds calls "unstoppable on the trail."
This car isn't for the luxury lover, but if you need an affordable way to carry a surf board or go off-roading in any way, the Wrangler, which comes with a Torx tool kit for removing the doors and roof, is your go-to dream machine.
Photo: Jeep
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Honda CR-V
MSRP - $23,320 +
Consistently rated the best bang for your buck SUV, the Honda CR-V not only has great room for storage, but can get you up to 34 MPG -- fantastic for a mid-sized anything.
The new model also includes the new Touring technology, which can help during long road trips.
Photo: Honda
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Jeep Grand Cherokee
MSRP - $29,895 +
Jeep won two ALV awards this year, one of them being the Grand Cherokee for the Luxury Off-Road category.
Not only is this vehicle spacious and, by my opinion, incredibly stylish and affordable, the Grand Cherokee comes with Selec-Terrain, which allows you to choose from a variety of 4x4 options depending on the topography you're driving on.
Photo: Jeep
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Nissan Xterra
MSRP - $23,660 +
The Nissan Xterra Pro 4x model has a selectable 4WD system and a 9.5 inch ground clearance similar to that of the Jeep Wrangler. It's also spacious; folding down the seats can give you 65.7 cubic feet of cargo room. Still not impressed? The Xterra has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. Not too shabby for a vehicle that allows roof racks and skid plates.
Photo: Nissan USA
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Range Rover Sport
MSRP - $63,350 +
Looking for something more luxurious yet bad ass enough it's not pretentious? The Range Rover Sport is your answer.
It was rated one of our best cars of 2014 because of its comfort and off-road capability and if you get the SVR, not only will you be riding in style, you'll be going from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds in a vehicle Land Rover says is "designed to deliver in even the most challenging conditions."
Photo: Landrover USA
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Subaru Outback
MSRP - $24,895 +
Another ALV Award winner for Best Value Off-Road, the Subaru Outback is an affordable car that gets great gas mileage (up to 33 highway) and has the storage for any camping trip. The car also has permanent 4-wheel drive and an 8.7 inch ground clearance for off-road.
Photo: Subaru
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Toyota 4Runner
MSRP - $33,010 +
Still one of the most popular SUVs on the market, the Toyota 4Runner provides solid tow (4,700 lbs.) and 85 cubic feet of space behind the front seats. If you get the Trail package you will also receive an additional rear differential lock and an advanced traction control.
For those who are truly off-road adventurers, Car and Driver loved the ultra rugged TRD Pro model, saying the vehicle's "lifted front suspension, red Eibach springs, and higher-capacity Bilstein shocks allow an additional inch of wheel travel at all four corners that make this kind of driving a blast, with a ride that gets smoother the faster you go."
Photo: Toyota
