Sport Utility Vehicle

Attractive design, rich equipment, functional interior and above-average driving qualities - these are the main advantages of SUVs. Thanks to these qualities, SUVs have been a real sales hit for many years.

Story and photos by Bartosz Grzybiński

One of the fastest growing segments not only on the Polish market is the SUV segment (Sport Utility Vehicle). No other segment records such dynamics. What makes these cars so popular? There are many reasons. Starting with the appearance and driving characteristics (often including four-wheel drive), through the spacious and multifunctional, yet well-equipped interior, to the enormous variety in terms of size. Suffice it to say that two-box SUVs can be found in the city car segment (B) as well as in the compact class (C), the medium class (D), the upper medium class (E) and even in the luxury class. Because of the large number of models on offer, cars with smaller dimensions and single-axle drive have even begun to be distinguished among them, creating their own sub-segment - the crossover. In the first part of the report in the Autumn 2021 issue, I selected a few crossovers and compact SUVs from among dozens of models available on the market. Today, the models are larger, both in terms of body size and spaciousness of the passenger compartment, which in many models (thanks to the third row of two seats hidden in the trunk floor) can accommodate up to seven passengers. The models, most of which have four-wheel drive, are even better equipped in terms of active and passive passenger protection, even more comfortable, even faster and even more expensive.

RENAULT ARCANA

enault Arcana is a mid-range (D) SUV debuting on the European market this spring. The Arcana is a global model. Renault corporation, having factories in Russia, Ukraine and South Korea, introduced this model two years earlier on the Russian market, and then on the Far Eastern and South American markets under the names Megane, Conquest or Samsung XM3. The European version differs in many aspects of design, technical and stylistic from the Russian or Far Eastern versions and is prepared for the tastes of European drivers. The body with a length of 4.57 m. and a wheelbase of 2.72 m. has a fashionable coupe shape with a gently sloping roof. The brand’s characteristic “stubby” C-shaped headlights and narrow rear lamps running the

E-TECH HYBRID R full width of the trunk have been retained. The sleek and legible cockpit is borrowed from the Capture model. Five passengers share a trunk capacity of 513 l. The Arcana is powered by a turbocharged 1.3 Tce four-cylinder petrol engine producing 140 or 160hp, and a 1.6 E-Tech Hybrid petrol engine specially developed for Europe, with a total power output of 145hp. Drive is transmitted via a dual-clutch 7-speed EDC automatic in the petrol versions, or a Multi-mode MMC automatic transmission in the hybrid. The model is available in three trim levels: Zen, Intens and R. S. Line. The cheapest petrol version in basic Zen equipment level costs about PLN 114,000. The best equipped hybrid version with R.S. Line equipment package costs almost PLN 145,000.

ALFA ROMEO STELVIO

he Alfa Romeo Stelvio is a five-seat mid-engined (E) SUV that made its market debut in 2016. Last year, the model received a minor facelift to the exterior and interior. The compact, sporty body of the car is 4.68 m. long, with a wheelbase of 2.81 m. The cockpit resisted the trend for large displays and remained old-fashioned for today’s times. The highlights are the round speedometer and tachometer clocks. Five passengers can travel in the Stelvio. They have a trunk capacity of 525 liters at their disposal. If necessary - by folding the rear backrests - this can be increased to 1,600 l. Only petrol engines are used: a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder

TI Q4

Twith 200bhp or 280bhp, and a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre six-cylinder V6 with 510bhp. This modified Ferrari engine (model 154), allows acceleration to 100 kph in just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 283 kph. All-wheel drive (Q4) in all versions of the Stelvio is provided by an 8-speed automatic transmission, with a manual shift function. The Stelvio is available in eight equipment variants, all of which can be complemented by additional packages. The cheapest version Business with 200hp engine costs about PLN 180,000. The TI version with 280hp costs about PLN 240,000. The most expensive and the most powerful Quadrifoglio version with 510hp 2.9 V6 engine costs around PLN 440,000.

PORSCHE CAYENNE

COUPE TURBO S E-HYBRID

The Porsche Cayenne is a sporty SUV from the upper-middle class (E) segment. The model debuted on the market in 2002, causing consternation in the automotive world. Years later it turned out that this was a bull’s eye, because thanks to this model the brand not only expanded its portfolio, but also gained considerable profits and new fans. Since 2010, the second and since 2017, the third generation of the model is on the market. In 2019, the Cayenne also made its debut in a Coupe body style. The sporty silhouette with a drooping roof and retractable rear spoiler is 4.93 m. long and has a wheelbase of 2.89 m. The Coupe version has four seats and a slightly smaller trunk. It is powered by the most powerful turbocharged gasoline and hybrid units. The gasoline model of the Cayenne Coupe S has 340hp, while the hybrid E-Hybrid version has its power increased to 462hp. The gasoline version of the Cayenne GTS has 460hp, but the Turbo S version has 550hp already. The gasoline Turbo GT model has 640hp, and the most powerful hybrid version of the Cayenne E-Hybrid Turbo S has as much as 680hp. All versions have four-wheel drive, transmitted through an 8-speed PDK automatic transmission. The cheapest Cayenne model costs about PLN 380,000, but in the Coupe body version prices start from PLN 423,000 for the Coupe S gasoline version. The most powerful hybrid version in the Cayenne Coupe Turbo S model costs PLN 883,000. The most expensive is the gasoline model - Coupe Turbo GT with 640hp – it costs PLN 963,000. These are the starting prices, because the list of optional equipment can increase the purchase amount even by half.

HYUNDAI SANTA FE

HYBRID

Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the forerunners of the SUV segment. It appeared on the market back in 2000. In 2018, the fourth generation of the model, which is classified for the upper-middle (E) class, debuted, which underwent a facelift last year. The most distinctive change is the front fascia, in which attention is drawn to the large grille structure and the double strip of LED driving lights and headlights forming a T-shape. Also, the rear part of the body has been slightly changed as far as the trunk lid or the rear lamps are concerned, which are now connected to each other by a light strip. The body is 4.78 m. long and the wheelbase is 2.76 m. The functional interior is spacious and can accommodate up to 7 passengers. The capacity of the trunk in the 5-seater version is 831 l. The cockpit is clearly and ergonomically laid out. The powertrain uses a diesel engine and two hybrid units - a classic HEV hybrid and a plug-in PHEV version. The 2.2 CRDi diesel model has 202 horsepower, transmitted through an 8-speed automatic to all wheels. The 1.6 T-GDI HEV hybrid model with a total output of 230hp. equipped with a 6-speed automatic is available with front-wheel drive or both 4WD. There is also a PHEV plug-in version with 265hp., with a 6 or 8 speed automatic transmission. The richly equipped model is available in three equipment versions Premium, Executive and Platinum. The cheapest HEV version with front-wheel drive and Premium equipment costs about PLN 166,000. (For 4x4 drive you have to pay extra 10,000). Diesel version costs about PLN 237,000. The most expensive model Santa Fe 1.6 T-GDI PHEV with 265hp., all-wheel drive and automatic transmission with 8 gears in Platinum equipment version costs about PLN 245,000.

KIA SORENTO

he new fourth iteration of the Kia Sorento was officially unveiled last spring. The Korean SUV with a body length of 4.81 m. belonging to the segment of the medium-high class (E) was created on a completely new platform, which allowed the introduction of a version with a hybrid drive. The advantages of this model, in addition to economical engines, include high comfort, solid assembly, a spacious (7-seat) interior with a trunk capacity of 821 l./2011 l./max. and extensive standard equipment in four equipment levels: M, L. XL and Prestige Line. There are three power sources to choose from: hybrid, plug-in hybrid and turbodiesel. In the hybrid variant, power can go to the front or all wheels, while the plug-in version and the diesel variant only come with

ECO PLUG-IN AWD T a two-wheel drive. The 1.6 T-GDI HEV hybrid has a combined output of 230hp. and an electric range of about 50 kilometers, the 1.6 T-GDI PHEV version has 265hp. and a range of up to 70 kilometers, and the 2.2 CRDI SCR turbodiesel has 202hp. The cheapest HEV hybrid version, with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive, costs less than PLN 160,000 in the basic equipment version, and the model with two-wheel drive (AWD) costs less than PLN 170,000. The prices of the Plug-in Hybrid start at around PLN 196,000 for the basic version, and go up to just under PLN 240,000 for the Prestige Line equipment version. The model with a diesel engine can be bought for less than PLN 190,000, and with complete equipment in the Prestige Line version for less than PLN 240,000.

VOLVO XC90

T8 AWD RECHARGE

Classified in the upper-middle (E) class, the Volvo XC90 debuted on the market in 2002. The second generation was presented in 2014. It received a minor refresh two years ago. Volvo XC90, is not only the largest SUV by Volvo, but one of the largest models in the segment. The athletic body is 4.95 m. long with a wheelbase of 2.98 m. The passenger cabin is spacious and luxuriously equipped. Optionally, it can accommodate 7 passengers. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 709 l. or 649 l. in the plug-in hybrid version. Under the hood, you will find only 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines - gasoline and diesel (using mild hybrid system support) and plug-in hybrid. This version can drive a distance of about 50 kilometers on electricity alone. The gasoline units, designated B5 and B6, have engines with 250 or 300 horsepower (with an additional 14 horses of soft hybrid). The diesel engine has 235hp (+14) and the T8 plug-in hybrid has a combined 400hp. All units are mated to an 8-speed Geartronic automatic and have all-wheel drive (AWD). The model is available in several equipment versions. The cheapest, petrol version B5 AWD (2.0/250+14hp) with Momentum equipment costs about PLN 318,000 and about PLN 340,000 (Inscription and R-Design), and B6 AWD (2.0/300+14hp) - about PLN 350,000 (Inscription and R-Design). The T8 eAWD hybrid variant (303+87hp) is priced at PLN 350,000 with Inscription equipment and over PLN 370,000 with R-Design equipment.

FORD EXPLORER

he Ford Explorer is the largest SUV in the brand’s European range. The sixth-generation Ford Explorer debuted in the United States in 2019, and it also hit European markets last year. Despite its sizable size (5.05 m. length and 3.02 m. wheelbase), this mid-engine (E) hybrid SUV handles very confidently, and thanks to its electric backed - gasoline V6 unit, it never lacks power. The spacious interior easily accommodates up to 7 people and offers generous equipment and user-friendly handling. The minimum volume of the luggage compartment (with all passengers on board) is 240 liters, but when 5 people are travelling in the car, 635 liters of cargo space is

PLUG-IN HYBRID AWD T available. After folding all the seats in the 2nd and 3rd row we can pack up to 2274 l. of luggage. On the Polish market, the Ford Explorer is only available as a plug-in hybrid with a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. The electric range is limited to 48 kilometers. Power goes to all wheels. The hybrid powertrain consisting of an electric motor and a gasoline “six” 3.0 V6 EcoBoost Plug-In Hybrid has a combined output of 457hp. The Explorer with a 10-speed automatic transmission accelerates to 100 kph in 6.0 seconds and can go a top speed of 230 kph. The 2020 model year Ford Explorer costs respectively: 366,000 (with ST-Line equipment version) and 367,500 (with Platinum equipment).