While vehicle manufacturing is a worldwide business, there are multiple benefits to purchasing domestic vehicles if you’re in the market for a new ride. In addition to being able to find replacement or aftermarket parts closer to home, you can also rest assured that your vehicle meets the safety standards outlined by the nation in which you’re planning to drive the car.
If you’re one of the millions of people who simply prefer the concept of buying a vehicle and supporting your nation’s economy, you’re in luck. There are several high-quality domestic vehicles that check the boxes that you’re looking for in your next vehicle purchase.
SUVs have essentially replaced sedans as the vehicle of choice for many Americans, and there is a host of great domestic options on the market within that class.
Chevy Equinox
The Chevy Equinox came onto the scene in 2004 and has been a mainstay in the incredibly competitive crossover SUV market sector, thanks in part to its 26 city/31 highway mpg and ability to go 0-60 in 6.8 seconds. One of the primary benefits of the Equinox is found in the spacious interior. Not only can drivers and passengers enjoy plenty of personal space inside the vehicle, but the cargo space also provides ample room, 29.9 cubic feet to be exact, for hauling whatever you need to take from place to place.
In addition to the spacious interior, the heart of the Chevy Equinox is found in its power and handling. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine makes it one of the more powerful crossover SUVs on the market while still offering precise handling. Finally, the Equinox provides a consistent driving experience over most driving surfaces, meaning this is a great choice whether you’re looking to drive in the city or through rural America.
Chevy also made some cutting-edge safety features standard in the 2020 Equinox. In addition to the blind-spot warning system that notifies you of approaching vehicles that have entered your blind spot, you can also take advantage of the forward collision alert system. If your vehicle deems that a front-end collision is imminent, a loud alarm begins sounding in the vehicle.
With powerful handling, plenty of cargo space and lots of safety features, the Chevy Equinox proves to be a great domestic vehicle option.
Ford Escape
Take everything that you knew about the Ford Escape and throw it away. Before the 2020 launch, Ford completely redesigned the Escape and brought back the beloved hybrid option. The fourth generation of the Escape brings Ford into the compact SUV market with a new, sleek, sporty look.
Ford didn’t just change the look of the Escape for 2020, though. They also took out about 200 pounds worth of weight, upgraded the suspension and installed a new base engine, meaning that essentially every part of the Ford Escape is new. That new engine boasts fuel efficiency of 26 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway and can go from 0-60 in 8.4 seconds.
The second-row seats in the Escape can be adjusted by sliding them, allowing you to choose between a spacious backseat for passengers or expanded cargo space when the time comes to haul stuff around. If you fold those passenger seats down, you get an impressive 65.4 cubic feet of space.
Finally, the powertrain options put you in complete control when it comes to choosing what you want your vehicle to be. You can opt for the sporty performance that not many other compact SUVs offer or the hybrid option that increases efficiency while lessening your impact on the environment and your budget.
Ford also upped their safety game with the 2020 Escape. The lane-keeping system causes the wheel to vibrate if you begin to drift out of your lane and even offers correctional steering in the event that it’s needed. The manufacturer also hopped on the blind spot information train by putting an indicator in the side mirror that lights up when an approaching vehicle is in your blind spot. Finally, if braking isn’t enough to avoid a collision, the Escape offers steering assist that can help with avoidance.
The updated safety features and hybrid option mean that you can feel good about driving the Ford Escape.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee didn’t change much between 2010 and 2020. Generally, that could be viewed as a red flag for potential buyers, but there’s a reason that Jeep hasn’t had to make many alterations. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Outside of discontinuing the diesel-powered V-6, the Grand Cherokee went into 2020 with much of the same traits intact that have made it a staple in the crowded SUV market.
It’s a brave move to combine cutting-edge technology with off-road capabilities, but that’s exactly what Jeep went with in the Grand Cherokee. In addition to Apple CarPlay, the Jeep Grand Cherokee also supports Android Auto, voice command, Bluetooth controls and more.
The off-road power of the Grand Cherokee still makes it a vehicle that you can take on essentially any trail. Most SUVs on the market are going to make you choose between having a family-friendly vehicle or one that can tear up the trails. Jeep bucked that trend and continues to provide the best of both worlds with the Grand Cherokee.
If power is what you’re looking for, the loss of the diesel-powered V-6 isn’t an issue as the V-8 provides more than enough power for essentially anything you could need out of your vehicle, going 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. That power comes in handy if you’re looking to pull cargo with this vehicle, which boasts some of the best tow ratings in its class. While the tow ratings are at the top of the class, it does have slightly lower mpg than the Equinox and Escape at 18 city/25 highway mpg. However, it boasts over 36 cubic feet of cargo space.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has proven it’s a great vehicle for families and off-roaders alike.
Buick Encore
Sometimes less is more, and that was the motto at the heart of Buick’s decision to reduce the number of trim options in the Encore lineup for 2020. The Encore, initially introduced in 2013, is still in its first generation, but Buick has made a big splash in the crossover SUV market with the Encore in such a short time, which can get from 0-60 in 9.5 seconds.
They say that big things come in small packages, and that’s certainly true of the Encore, which has up to 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space if you fold the second-row seats down. The small size of the vehicle makes it easy to maneuver in almost any situation. You will also notice a lack of road noise in the cabin, even while moving at highway speeds where you can average up to 30 mpg. This car gets 25 mpg in the city.
The Encore’s biggest claim to fame is the safety-driven technology that Buick has loaded these vehicles up with. In addition to OnStar, which provides your roadside assistance, Buick also designed the 2020 Encore with features meant to take the guesswork out of your driving experience.
Blind spots put all of us at a disadvantage on the road. Fortunately, the Encore comes with a blind spot warning system, which notifies you if there’s a vehicle in those areas you just can’t see from the driver’s seat. Buick also implemented forward collision alert, which notifies you of any imminent danger in front of your vehicle.
While the Encore is considered an “extra-small” option on the SUV market, the safety and tech advances made by Buick are certainly large.
No matter what vehicle you’re considering as your next daily driver, you need to be sure that you can feel safe while you’re on the road without having to sacrifice the creature comforts, power and sheer satisfaction that make your vehicle a place you enjoy being for hours every week. There’s certainly not a shortage of domestic vehicles on the market, so find the one that makes you feel completely happy when you sit down behind the wheel and pull out onto the open road.
