This year we experienced a longer than normal period where it was a constant 100+ degrees outside, so now that the weather is finally starting to break it is the perfect time to go camping. Normally when we go camping we just take my car, however I needed to make a repair or two so I didn't want to take it up into the mountains, instead we rented a Jeep from a rental company up the road from us.
My husband had been wanting a Jeep so we were pretty excited to get the chance to check it out and see how we liked it. The rental company provided us with a 2020 Jeep Sahara for what we'd be renting for the weekend. Both my husband and I have slightly older cars so they don't have all the extra bells and whistles that this truck does. This truck has a back up camera, Bluetooth connection for our phones/devices, a built in compass, keyless ignition and more. When driving this I did have a slight "Oh my gosh" moment that I felt silly about, this car has engine start-stop technology that I wasn't aware of prior to driving it. What does this mean? It means that when your car comes to a complete stop at a red light, stop sign, drive thru, etc. that your engine will turn off on it's own and will start up again once you take your foot off the brake. Not knowing this I thought the truck had died while I was driving it and had a mini "No Way!" moment thinking I'd have to take it back to switch for a different vehicle. All was alright though once I realize what was going on, the start-stop is supposed to help save fuel consumption and lessen emissions being released, it just makes it sound funny when you are stuck in stop and go traffic because your car will keep turning off and on.
While I really enjoyed some of the features the truck came with, there wasn't as much room inside of the Jeep as I thought there would be. We actually had to leave a few of our camping items at home, as I hadn't realized just how square the inside of Jeeps are so the back storage area is short and tall instead of being deep. Since renting this I've actually taken a look at other Jeeps as I've driven by them and have noticed that most people usually don't have a lot in the back, I noticed one woman had just her stroller back there and it looked cramped. It also seemed a bit stuffy up front where the driver/passenger sit, I am used to my car that has a lot more room in the front to stretch out while driving.
One of the cool things we noticed about this truck is that the back passengers seat has it's own set of A/C vents right in the middle of the front seats, there is also open spots to put USB chargers and even an actual plug! The cup holders are also a nice side and have a little slot just incase your cup has a handle.
Everything in the front was pretty simple to figure out when it came to tuning the radio, turning on the A/C and hooking up my MP3 player to play when our cell phones weren't getting reception due to the mountain area. You'll also notice that the controls for the windows is on the center console instead of on the drivers side door. Once the car is on your dark provides you with the outside temperature, the direction you are headed in, what radio station you are listening to and a digital speedometer along with the normal speedometer on the right hand side. The truck we were in also had a warning light on letting us know that it was out of windshield fluid. It also has automatic headlights that will come on when it is dark out, they will be on as soon as you open the truck door.
The ride itself was very smooth, it had no issues with the mountains we had to drive up and down to get to our camping spot and it didn't have any issues with the curvy roads/dirt roads that we took. As with any car after a camping trip we did end up with a bit of dust and pine needles in the truck but it was really easy to clean out. It also did well on gas, we drove about 220 miles round trip (all highway) and doing an errand or two near home, it used a little less than a full tank.
After testing out the Jeep and talking about it, my husband decided that he doesn't want to get a Jeep when we switch over to a new car for him. This Jeeps seems better suited for off roading for fun or camping for a couple vs camping for a family of four. Instead we are going to look into a small suv or truck similar to a 4-runner that offers more space in the back.
What are some of your favorite features that you'd like to have (or already do) on your vehicle?
**This is not a sponsored post, I am not affiliated with the Jeep brand. This is a truck we rented ourselves for the purpose of taking camping, this is a post simply sharing my thoughts.**
12 comments:
That's a beautiful working vehicle. I would love to have one of my own.
LOL The stop start engine tripped me up, too, the first time I experienced it! I'm in the market for a new car, so I'll keep this review in mind.
I always wanted a Jeep maybe someday I will get one or just rent one.
The Jeep Sahara looks nice, both inside and out. I think it’s a great idea to hire a vehicle for a weekend to see if you like it.
Looks very nice. We just purchased the 2020 Acura RDX. I am loving all the features, but yes that stop/start engine can really get you at times! :) Great review.
Stephanie S
Interesting review. When learning to drive, my driving instructor had the same type of car which turned off automatically. It does take a few hours to get used to, but I ended up quite liking it.
In terms of practicality, it depends on what you're using it for, but for everyday use in a city, this car would seem way too large.
Great review, seems like it's a nice drive with good features. A shame it didn't offer more space. The space is a must have for a family of four.
A friend of mine bought one of these right before he moved to Arizona, and he really likes it. His complaint is always when he has to use it for work. Being a contractor, his truck is far more appropriate for transporting tools and larger equipment that he needs. So the back seat/trunk area being very limited seems to be a common theme. For me personally, I will keep my full size truck. I love the space in the bed that I have for hauling things. I may look at a Jeep Grand Cherokee for my husband later on, but I can't see this Jeep fitting for us either.
Earlier when I was younger the Jeep used to fascinate me. They were those sturdy machines. I love this version. Absolutely classy. Must be fun driving.
Jeeps are so great for adventures like camping or going to the beach.
I love Jeeps! I am going to try to convince my husband when he is ready to trade in, to look at a Jeep for our next vehicle.
The 2020 Jeep Sahara is so classy and modern. How cool it would be to purchase this!
twinkle at optonline dot net
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