It used to be you drove an SUV because you were a woodsman who needed to drive through trees, up mountains and across deserts while keeping your stuff dry (otherwise you would naturally drive a truck). Skip ahead a few decades and what were once creaky automobiles designed for rugged utility have been transformed into a host of different permutations. Some SUVs are now convertibles, while others offer impressive efficiency and a few are down right sporty.
We have gathered a list of five very different SUVs for sale in the area below. Information on each car has been gathered below or can be reviewed in the photos along with this article.
2012 MINI Cooper S Countryman Base - $23,900
Let's start with the vehicle on this list that may offer the least utility of the bunch. Being a Mini means a lot of things and in this SUV variant it translates to having less cargo space than much of the competition. But what you get in trade is some serious sportiness that other SUVs would love to call their own. This is still a heavy little car, but a lot of that Mini appeal still shines through and with a turbocharged 1.6 liter engine and a manual transmission you are going to be able to get around quickly.
This SUV is for sale with 6,690 miles for $23,900 by Anderson Automotive, according to Cars.com.
2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo - $119,000
In the performance world, there is sporty and then there is mind blowing. This Porsche falls into the latter category. Built as a way for the company to go mainstream and rake in the money, this vehicle also became the fastest SUV in the world when it first debuted. This is the second generation of the Cayenne. It offers higher levels of performance and refinement. What we are talking about here is a twin turbocharged V8 in a vehicle that can still carry all the kiddos to school.
This SUV is for sale with 6,800 miles for $119,000 by Audi & Porsche Westwood, according to Cars.com.
2009 Subaru Forester 2.5 X - $12,995
Some of the best SUVs can be thought of as faithful little pack mules. They lug you and your gear around without complaining too much and essentially take care of themselves. The Subaru Forester falls into this category. Eschewing the urge to throw sportiness into everything, the base forester gives you all the power you need to get moving and all wheel drive to ensure that the elements won't keep you from making progress.
This SUV is for sale with 85,314 miles for $12,995 by Fafama Auto Sales, according to Cars.com.
2010 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ - $40,685
Make no mistake about it, this is a real deal SUV. Built on the backbone of a truck with a burbley V8 up front and nearly enough room for a family reunion in the back, the Tahoe is one of the last of the true truck-based SUVs. This means ruggedness and towing abilities that lesser SUVs could never manage. You trade off in handling and fuel economy, but what does that matter when you are driving over trees and through rivers? (Check your owners manual before driving over anything or through bodies of water)
This SUV is for sale with 35,429 miles for $40,685 by Wagner Kia of Shrewsbury, according to Cars.com.
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland - $36,998
What SUV list would be complete without a Jeep. Now this isn't your grandpa's Jeep. Nore is it the same kind of Jeep that you might have seen lifted up so high on off road suspension that you need a ladder to climb in. This is a redesign of the Grand Cherokee that turned Jeep's big off-roader into a world-class vehicle. It rides smoothly, offers cosseting interior amenities all while still retaining the coveted trail-rated Jeep status.
This SUV is for sale with 29,255 miles for $36,998 by Brigham-Gill Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, according to Cars.com.