Father’s Day Special: These Are The Off-Roaders Built For Tough Dads

While it’s tough to disagree that the quality of a child’s upbringing is dependent on his/her surroundings, we can also acknowledge that intrinsic values are key to their development. Granted, if a parent prefers their child to be exposed to experiential learning, especially those of a more hands-on nature, simple expeditions off the usual paths are essential.

Sure, major roads in Singapore are layered with (largely) smooth tarmac, which defeats the purpose of securing vehicles engineered for rough-and-tough duties. Crossovers and “supposed” SUVs claim to fill the gap between sportiness, functionality and efficiency, but in truth these cars are simply not built to tackle lumpy terrains. DIfferential locks, a low range transfer case, high ground clearance and usable low-end torque are essential, but these only scrape the surface of what an off-roader should possess.

These cars might not be the sharpest tools in the shed, but their functionality trounces any resistance you’ll have about the next family off-roading activity. Bang for buck takes on a different beat this Father’s Day, for value derived from a usability standpoint can also be substantiated by smiles on both dad and child.

Suzuki Jimny

Depreciation: S$13,500 per year

We’ve all had discussions before about how some cars could pass the highest-level of sign-offs with designs as busy (for lack of a more polite word) as abstract art. The opposite rings true for the Suzuki Jimny - none we’ve spoken to have harboured any misgivings about its looks. From enthusiast magazines to those with a strong lifestyle-lean, the 4th-gen Jimny has managed to set the tone for hobbyists and trendsetters alike.

That it made to dream car garage lists for those with deep pockets is no coincidence. There’s 377-litres of luggage space, four luggage anchors and five utility hole screws packaged in a footprint considerably smaller than a Honda Jazz. Drive the Jimny with a Swiss Army knife in your glove compartment, and you’re ready to conquer the world with your child.

Ford Ranger Raptor

Depreciation: S$22,400 per year

We’re not entirely optimistic to see this Ford Ranger Raptor still up for sale when the story gets uploaded, but that’s precisely why we think trucks (or utes for that matter) deserve more recognition in Singapore. Sure, they are not the most convenient to pilot given their chunky tracks, but for those who have sampled their unrivalled utility will find even proper SUVs too soft-roadish.

Granted, it falls under Category C COE so you’ll need to have a company registered to have this driven as part of your fleet. Honda’s N-Van is currently doing the heavy lifting in this commercial space, but watch out for trucks in future - more family-oriented and sporty variants of Isuzu’s D-Max, Toyota’s Hilux and Mitsubishi’s Triton could be introduced by parallel importers if there’s demand. Both your child and you could be pitching tents next to waterfalls not before long, or in the case of this Raptor, whipping up a sandstorm in Baja mode…

Mitsubishi Type 73

Depreciation: S$7,200 per year

While the lure of adventures can be addictive, too much of something might not be healthy, which is why this Mitsubishi J3 Type 73 registered under the vintage vehicle scheme can be ideal, serving you and your child only when required. Apparently this 1969 example was built for the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF), so it can’t get any more realistic than this if family excursions chuck social studies into the curriculum.

Interestingly, it weighs less than 1.5 tonnes for one constructed to withstand heavy battle - goes to show how heavy EVs are given that a MINI Electric weighs 1.7 tonnes! Imagine rocking up for ICT in this…

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