10 Cars Similar to the El Camino

The El Camino is a classic coupe utility vehicle produced by Chevrolet between 1959 and 1987. Its design incorporates elements of a sedan and a pickup truck. The design may be odd, but it makes driving the car easy.

For instance, it handles better than a pickup truck while still carrying loads just like pickup trucks. Additionally, the car has a powerful engine, particularly the third generation models.

The models use a turbo-jet V8 engine which produces 325 HP. The El Camino is not the only coupe utility car you can drive; since there are others similar to it. Additionally, they are just as good as the El Camino. Here are ten cars similar to the El Camino below.

10. 1987 Subaru Brat

This model is equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission. You can link this transmission with a 1.6-liter boxer or a 1.8-liter boxer. The former delivers 67 HP, while the latter delivers 73 HP. Currently, those two horsepower units are too low.

According to Autolist, the average horsepower for most cars is between 180 and 200. However, low horsepower is a good thing since it means the car will use less fuel. The car has fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. In the 1980s, oil prices increased due to abrupt interruptions in oil supplies.

Since this car consumed less fuel than most vehicles, it was highly sought after since people would not have to constantly purchase expensive gas. Another factor that makes this car fuel-efficient besides its engine is its weight.

This car only weighs 2,200 lbs. Since the car is light, you will use minimal effort to drive the car. As a result, you will not need much fuel to accelerate it. Lastly, this car is equipped with a four-wheel drive system. This system provides traction in dangerous driving paths like snow, ice, and rocks. It generates traction by engaging both sets of wheels.

9. 1984 Dodge Rampage

This car is powered by Chrysler’s 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine, which is available for manual and automatic transmissions. Since it is an old car, its horsepower of 100 may still be low for some drivers.

Due to its relatively low horsepower, it accelerates from 0-60 mph within 16 seconds. According to Horsepowerful, the average 0-60 mph time should lie within 1-3 seconds.

However, this is a good car for those who like to cruise and care about fuel economy. The car does 25 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway.

This car is only available in front-wheel drive only. Generally, the drive type is more effective than rear-wheel drive in difficult terrains and poor weather conditions.

In rear-wheel drive, the rear wheels push the car forward, but in front-wheel drive, the front wheels pull the vehicle forward, which is an easier way of providing stability. The car is able to track straight after hard braking.

That is because it has a load-sensitive brake proportioning valve with a lever between the cargo box and rear axle. This valve can increase or decrease the braking force distributed to the rear wheels.

8. 1979 Ford Ranchero

For a 1970s car, it has quite a powerful engine. It uses a 302 ci V8 engine which delivers 164 HP. Even now, there are cars with a lower horsepower than this car. Driving this car is fun since it is connected to an automatic transmission.

The transmission enables you to cruise smoothly and handle high-speed braking due to its beefed up brakes. This car is equipped with an automatic parking brake release function.

The function allows you to accelerate from a braked position without having to release the parking brake. As a result, the function is very helpful during hill starts. For aesthetic purposes, the car’s steering wheel is wrapped in leather.

The material’s color matches the car’s upholstery and dashboard trim. However, the material serves a functional use since it maintains a constant temperature. That means you can hold onto it in both cold and hot weather.

7. 2006 Subaru Baja

Driving this car is fun, but you have to tolerate its sluggish acceleration. If you desire rapid accelerations, it would be best to get the Baja Turbo model. Whichever model you get, you will find that it drives more like a car than a truck due to its fully independent suspension.

When you make corners, you will not feel as though it is unstable. Its suspension is strong enough to allow the car to be driven on rutted dirt roads and sandy places. The car has a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 165 HP and 166 ft-lb of torque.

For drivers who desire more power, you can opt for its turbocharged variant that produces 210 HP and 235 ft-lb of torque. Another notable feature of this car is its Switchback feature. The feature lets you extend its cargo bed. According to Edmunds, it expands the length of the cargo bed from 41.5 inches to 60 inches.

6. 2017 Holden Ute

This car comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that generates 281 HP and 350 ft-lb of torque. Its high torque makes it ideal for towing small and middle-sized trailers. Additionally, its exceptional towing capacity is also due to its rear-wheel drive system.

The appeal of this car is that it drives like a sedan. That is all thanks to its independent rear suspension, which provides quality and unladed rides. It can therefore deal with high speed country roads and city bumps. Lastly, this is the model to get if you desire a roomy coupe utility vehicle.

The storage behind the seats is vast enough to store hard hats and store work boots since its tray measures 1,878mm long, 1,454mm wide, and 500mm high.

5. 1984 Volkswagen Caddy

The car has a wheelbase of 103 inches, which makes it quite short. People typically go for cars with long wheelbases since there will be more space in the cars. However, cars with short wheelbases like this one have some advantages.

Due to its short wheelbase, the car does not occupy so much space in parking lots. As a result, it provides room for other drivers to park around you. Since it does not occupy so much space, you can park this car in small spaces, unlike cars with long wheelbases that will not fit.

Another advantage of the car’s short wheelbase is that it is more agile. Its agility is due to its short turning radius. Since the car is small, you can cross to the next lane without part of the car being on the other lane, like with trucks.

4. 1979 GMC Caballero

This car takes inspiration from the fifth and final generation El Camino models. That is evident from their shared V6 and V8 engines. Initially, the car was equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine but was soon replaced with a 7.4-liter V8 engine.

The latter engine produces 300 HP. If you are fond of 1970s car designs, you may be impressed with this car’s interior. The red upholstery complements the car’s red exterior, which contains white seaming.

This seaming is what gives the car that typical 1970s look. This car is best for individuals since it contains a bucket seat. A bucket seat is a type of seat that only seats the driver.

The advantage of this seat is that it significantly reduces the car’s weight since other seats have been excluded from the car. Additionally, it holds you tight, so you will not feel your bottom sliding around. That means you won’t have to keep re-centering your body.

3. 1988 Suzuki Mighty Boy

The car has a low-slung interior. Its design was inspired by Cervo, which is known for its wide B-pillars. However, its rear-end design is unique. The car’s inside bed is only 600mm long, yet its short length does not hinder comfort.

If you find the seats too low because of the low-slung design, you can recline or slide them. As you adjust the seats, you will realize that the car can store plenty of cargo. This car was created primarily to consume less fuel.

So, do not expect a car with a powerful engine. It uses a tiny 543 cc three-cylinder engine. The engine does not offer fast accelerations, which explains why you use less fuel with this model.

To get the most out of this engine in terms of fuel economy, this car was the first to introduce the two-speed automatic transmission. Previous models used four-speed manual transmissions.

Lastly, we need to acknowledge the car’s 10-inch wheels, which are considered huge. With the car’s big wheels, you will enjoy improved cornering. The big wheels have more contact with the road and more treads to increase traction.

With increased traction, you can take corners without skidding. Also, the car’s big wheels lead to better braking since they have more contact patches and grip on the road.

2. 1979 Chrysler Valiant

This car yields impressive power thanks to its 4.3-liter Hemi-six that delivers 265 HP. The engine’s efficiency was due to Chrysler’s Electronic Lean Burn technology.

This technology has many advantages, such as controlled emissions, improved smoothness of the engine operation, and smooth engine warmups. Chrysler’s technology measures air temperature entering the engine, engine load, speed of throttle movement, etc., which explains its efficiency. With a curb weight of 3369 lbs, this car is quite light.

We have already established the benefits of a car being light. If you ever want to sell this car, you can be sure its demand will be high. At a time when oil prices are rising, some people are likely seeking ways to minimize fuel usage.

This car uses less fuel due to its lightweight. Since the demand will be high, you can sell this car for a higher price. Some people are more drawn to V6 or V8 models since they tend to have many valves. It is understandable since more valves mean you enjoy more combustion and power output. Though this car has only two valves, there are still some merits of a few valves. For instance, they are fuel efficient and cost-effective.

1. 2009 Dacia Logan

This car has three available engines: a 1.4-liter gasoline engine, a 1.5-liter diesel engine, and a 1.6-liter engine. All these engines produce 105 HP. Therefore, if you are choosing from the three engines, you will determine how frequently you drive.

For instance, if you are a regular driver, the 1.6-liter one may be good for you. The beauty of the car’s engines is their impressive fuel economy. For instance, you can expect to get ratings of 24.5 mpg city and 43.5 mpg highway.

Another factor for the car’s high fuel economy is its multipoint fuel injection system. The system uses fuel injectors which supply a precise amount of fuel into the combustion chamber.

Since it only injects the fuel it needs, you will continually have plenty of gas in the car. Plus, this is the best car to get if you are environmentally conscious since it does not emit any gases into the atmosphere as waste. The gases are responsible for the greenhouse effect, which leads to heat waves.

If you are hoping that this car has high speeds, you will be rather disappointed. The car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 13 seconds, which is part of the reason for the car’s remarkable fuel economy.

However, the low acceleration benefits drivers who accidentally step on the gas pedal rather than the brakes. It is not uncommon for such a mistake to lead to accidents. If you accidentally step on this car’s accelerator, you will not have gone fast enough to cause accidents yet.

Conclusion

Coupe utility vehicles have been out of the market for a while since most cars stopped producing them. As a result, you may want an El Camino and fail to find it. However, it does not mean you cannot get it. Since you may get tired of looking for it, there are other available coupe utility cars. These ten cars drive just as well as the El Camino. Ultimately, you will choose an El Camino alternative that appeals to you.

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