I rented a Nissan Xterra about two years ago that was quite capable and had four low which I didn't use but saw it on the switch. However of course I recommend you rent a Wrangler.

 

Yeah, that would be a good choice too, but I've never seen one on the Rental Menu. Both Wranglers and Xterras are "outside the norm" and often not available from airport rental facilities. And when they have a Wrangler, it's a whole lot pricier than other SUVs that actually cost more than it MSRP.

 

Yeah, that would be a good choice too, but I've never seen one on the Rental Menu. Both Wranglers and Xterras are "outside the norm" and often not available from airport rental facilities.

Just FYI...Hertz has 4WD Xterra's. I was offered one on my last trip to DFW Airport. We also rented a 2015 Toyota 4-Runner to drive down to Portland 4 mos ago. I would opt for one of those to accommodate your 4WD needs if a wrangler is not available.

 

Avis charged me about $40 extra to have the Xterra dropped off at the airport for me if I remember correctly. I had only asked for a 4x4 SUV and the Xterra was at another local lot so they offered to have brought to the airport.

Most days I can't remember if I put on socks and without digging out receipts the above information is my best guess.

 

I didn't particularly care which model it was, as we weren't going fourwheeling, per se, but often needed the traction to get where we were exploring.

I would say the same thing was happening to the offering of manual and automatic transmissions over that time period. The automatic offer more safety because it filled a lot of holes in the average driving skill in the rental market.

The AWD is getting better all the time and because the AWD system is always on, continually gaining feedback from the tires and sending the most power to the wheels which are receiving the most traction at the moment, it is arguably preferable over 4x4 in some situations, winter driving conditions for example and certainly better for casual drivers that are not skilled in manual traction strategy.

I would say that type of customer may more often than not prefer both automatic systems, the auto trans and AWD.

 

It's been a couple years now, but I traveled several western and southern states with my boys sports teams. Wranglers were fairly common options with the rental car places.

Honestly, I see any motivation for a regular rental car agency to offer try 4WD LO offerings. By the time you need 4WD LO you have likely gone way beyond what the agency would approve.

Your best bet is to research various options available at your destination or look into multiple day Jeep specific rentals in that area.

For that specific need be sure to get specific confirmation many agencies have an "or similar" clause.

 

Base Grand Cherokee models don't have low range.

The 4 Runner does, as do all the pickup trucks currently. Most of the big GM SUVs no longer have low range. I think the Expedition does. Cherokee has low range on certain models. But yeah it's a dying breed. People are becoming stupid/lazy and don't like buying vehicles that require knowledge for the most part.

 

Base Grand Cherokee models don't have low range.

Not just base models -- my wife's 2011 WK2 Overland Hemi has a dial on the console with Snow/Sand/Rock/Mud on it, and it has an air suspension with selectable ride-height, but seems to lack a 2-speed case.

(Truth be told, I've never dialed the knob to "Rock" so it's possible this gets you 4Lo. But I doubt it. I've always assumed those dial positions are nothing but software options for the traction control computer. But that got me thinking and I'll test it tomorrow to make sure.)

 

1) What happened? The trend to softer-to-engage electronic switches for added convenience, and to independent suspensions for increased comfort --and efficiency-- has forced "SUVs" to rely on electronic-based AWD systems that use electronic "LSDs" and ABS-activated brakes. Of course the limitation of this is that a brake will stop a wheel in hope for added grip, while a locker or LSD will continue providing forward torsion to keep forward momentum as long as the tire can grab onto something.

2) As mentioned, Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ --both disappearing in 2016; Toyota 4Runner in certain configurations; Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX; Mercedes G-Wagen; most 4X4 pickup trucks.

Wrangler is probably alone in still using a mechanical lever to engage 4-Lo, but who will want to rely on an electronic switch in a vehicle whose interior can be hosed down...?

 

Thanks for the list!

 

Land Rovers too but good luck renting one.

 

Jeep Renegade Trailhawk has an electronic 4-Lo as well, but is a "selectable" AWD, not really a 4WD system, despite what FCA would like us to believe.

 

Just rent a Subaru, they will go any place a rental needs to go.

 

Ahem... my rentals usually involve the areas in and around Moab and SW Colorado. Sometimes a Subie isn't quite enough.

 

FWIW, I saw a Cherokee Trailhawk climb up a pretty tough man-made Rock-crawling course at an offroad park north of Los Angeles a few months ago. It was painful to watch and hear the electronics do their ungraceful work, but I was impressed it made it up!

 

Good to know. Is that a feature of only the Trailhawk (which is unlikely to grace many rental lots), or can you get the same drivetrain by specifying the 4WD or AWD Cherokee?

 

You can also rent Wranglers in Moab.

 

So two questions to the knowledgeable among us:

1) what happened? Seems like even the truck-based SUVs don't have actual Lo-range t-cases anymore.

The real problem is that just about all of the SUVs are no longer "truck based". Most of them are now "crossovers" that share drivetrains and suspension with minivans but they have an "SUV-like" body instead.

Outside of the Wrangler, the only body on frame "truck based" SUVs left are the XTerra, the 4Runner, Sequoia, the Tahoe/Suburban, and some luxury SUVs like Land Rover. The Expedition almost qualifies except that it's fully independent suspension set up specifically for road manners. The Grand Cherokee is unibody and has fully independent suspension as well.

Wrangler is probably alone in still using a mechanical lever to engage 4-Lo, but who will want to rely on an electronic switch in a vehicle whose interior can be hosed down...?

The "Trail" model of the 4 Runner (between the SR5 and Limited), along with the TRD-Pro model both have a mechanical lever to shift the transfer case. Beyond that, I don't know of others. Some pickup trucks probably still have mechanical shifters but this is an SUV discussion.

Ahem... my rentals usually involve the areas in and around Moab and SW Colorado. Sometimes a Subie isn't quite enough.

You can rent Wranglers in Ouray and Moab both. And they're quite reasonable.

 

I may get flamed for this, but is there a reason why a 4 door pickup truck would not suit your needs? Most of them are still traditional trucks with real transfer cases and have low range. My previous F150 Fx4 had more interior room than a wrangler and, although I only took it light offroading and in some mud, it never got stuck even on street tires (Firestone destination LE2) and the factory 20" rims. It was shift-on-the-fly but the low range still worked well. If you get there and they don't have any "real" SUVs, you could fall back to a truck.

 

I think OP was mostly inquiring about rental vehicles. I don't think pick up trucks are common at rental car agencies. Even at u-haul your only going to get basic work trucks

 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee with the Select Terrain off road system option has the 4 low range available.

 

Body on frame isn't the real issue.

The XJ is more than capable.

I think manufacturers are missing the boat. I think a small/mid-sized, basic, capable, utilitarian SUV would sell like crazy. A base model JKU almost hits the target except for the price point.

 

Here's the thing though. Car companies have to follow what the market wants or they end up with cars that don't sell well.

Sales of traditional truck based SUVs are in decline and have been for some time.

Why? Because a vast majority of people want the room of a traditional SUV but with a car like ride and good fuel economy. A traditional SUV gives them neither the car like ride nor the good fuel economy. A vast majority of consumers couldn't care less about how good their car does off road. And yes, they look at their crossovers as cars. They rarely see dirt roads, much less real off-road trails.

There just aren't that many people who really want the off road capability more than the comfy ride and fuel economy.

When it came out, the XJ was "a small/mid-sized, basic, capable, utilitarian SUV" but towards the end, sales were dropping off. And as years go on, the market is demanding more and more creature comforts over trail prowess. What defines "a small/mid-sized, basic, capable, utilitarian SUV", to most people now, is a crossover.

That's just the way the market is going. Higher gas prices, fewer and fewer people interested in taking their family SUV on the trails, and features that make the crossover easier to live with in day to day use are driving this change in the market. They want a station wagon, not a truck.

There will still be trail capable SUVs on the market going forward. But they're going to go back to being the niche vehicle they were before the big SUV craze started in the 80's.

 

Guys OP here. Thanks for the many explanations and suggestions. Just to clarify, I can't use a pick up because it is 2 to 3 guys traveling with all of their backpacking gear and luggage. Need an enclosed rear space.

And yes, I am very familiar with modified Jeep rentals in Moab. I take advantage of these when I am on four wheeling trips in the area.however, this requires me getting from Vegas or Salt Lake City to Moab in order to pick up the jeep. At which time the rental I got at the airport will just be sitting around while I use the jeep.

My point in this post was sort of to bemoan the fact that historically I was able to rent a vehicle at the airport, readily available at any rental company, that would get me through just about anything I would encounter short of specific rock climbing adventures. And honestly, we often would detour for that purpose and get in a little Mild rock work as well. And as recently as 8 or 10 years ago, I only had to specify four-wheel-drive and that is what I would get. But now when I rent a four-wheel-drive, I wind up with a patriot or compass or Chevy traverse. Trust me when I say these are not up to the task.

I think I will work to get a Xterra if I can't get a wrangler at Avis in the future. When those are gone, I guess I will have to start settling for the Cherokee or something.

 

If you catch a flight to Salt Lake City, you can take a puddle jumper to Moab from there and back. Utah Airways

 

My Porsche 911 turbo was all wheel drive... I crack up when I think about it having a selectable transfer case. I imagine another lever sticking out of the console, and even more, I imagine the number of Porsche drivers who would be confused by it. Sadly, even the iconic Porsche 911 is more easily found with an automatic than with a manual.