- Best off-road pickup truck under $45,000?
- Subaru Crosstrek vs Jeep Renegade?
- New Kia Soul?
The first question comes from Twitter (@Nathanadlen) regarding the best off-road truck for under $45,000.
Q: (Via Twitter@NathanAdlen) I’m disappointed. Can’t quite afford a Ram Rebel. Okayed for a $45K loan, but it’s not enough. Hate Fords. What else should I look at?
BF
Hi!
The most capable off-road pickup trucks, the Ford F-150 Raptor and Ram 2500 Power Wagon (currently) share the spotlight with the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. It is still pricey, especially for a mid-size pickup truck, but its overall off-road abilities are remarkable. It is a hell of a package and, until the Jeep Gladiator hits the market, it is the best-off road pickup in your price range.
Cheers!
Nathan
The next question comes from a hot hatch fan that’s choosing between a Subaru Crosstrek and a Jeep Renegade.
Q: Help! I’m in the market for a new used car and I can’t decide between the Crosstrek and the Renegade.
A: Hello Katie!
I think the Subaru Crosstrek is a better fit. I know the Bay Area and, you’re right, there are tons of them cruising around. That also means that there are several places you can go to service the vehicle. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Renegade, but the older ones seem to have a poor reputation for reliability.
Still, I like the Jeep’s interior layout, utility and capability. It truly is better off-road. The Jeep Renegade, if it was well taken care of, wouldn’t bee too shabby either.
Still, all in all, I think the Subaru Crosstrek is the way to go.
Cheers.
N
The last question comes from a fan who wants to know if she should wait to trade in her Kia Soul for a new Kia Soul.
I saw photos of the new Kia Soul at the LA auto show and I was wondering if I should trade my 2016 in on one.
I like the look and the idea of a nicer interior. Plus, I haven’t had a single problem in nearly three years and 33 thousand miles! I love my car, but having more modern features is tempting. Humm Nathan, what would you choose.
God bless!
Tammy G
A: Hi Tammy!
Yes, it is full of new goodies, but I would hold off a little while. We (and other automotive journalists) have yet to test any of them and there is a lot to test. The Kia Soul is all-mew and comes in three different flavors. A sporty turbo GT, a adventure-themed X-line and a EV.
I would recommend waiting to hear about the vehicle(s) and test driving a new one against your current one.
Hope that helps!
N
Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com.[Ask Nathan]\
