Review written on 8/1920.
The Van segment is not for everyone. But the Appalachian may be the vehicle for you. Philadelphia Motors sure hopes it is. So this week I took a trip down to Philadelphia Motors's headquarters to test out the Appalachian. Luckily we've also tested the Appalachian Diesel and the Oribi this year. So we should be able to give you a verdict on how it stands in the Van community.
Normally we take the vehicles out to the track as our first test. And to be honest we tried, but the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian is so slow that it took us nearly 3 hours just getting out of the parking lot.
And that shows you how dreadful this Van is. The 40 hp @ 1817RPMs 4778 cc I3 engine is grossly underpowered. Interestingly enough if you waited all week you could power the Appalachian up to a top speed of 21 mph and accelerate full throttle with a Not Applicable time. The engine puts out 94 lb-ft of torque making it able to tow 22 lbs which is average for this class. When it comes to handling, the Van segment has very few models that are better than the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian. While it's no race car, this vehicle offers above average cornering abilities that will leave a smile on your face.So in a nut shell the Appalachian is as slow as a rock. The only way to make it move is to push it off a cliff.
While the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian won't win any awards, It won't turn heads, and it certainly doesn't have a wow factor. The Appalachian does have a very well design interior. It may not be top end, but it is more than enough for long trips and everyday drivers. It makes you feel good about life. Without feeling pompous.
Inside the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian it feels like they could add an extra row of seats. There is enough room to even lay down, which is amazing! The 108 cu-ft of cargo and passenger space ensures that you always have plenty of room to do whatever it is you need to do. And that makes us happy.
'Spare no expense!' and 'Perfection!' are known to be mottos of Philadelphia Motors. And they show this off in their Appalachian. The build quality is no short of perfectly amazing. Hats off to their hard work.
The Philadelphia Motors Appalachian was designed with longevity in mind. The vehicle is sturdy and easy to maintain. It will last as long as you want it.
The 7.3 mpg city and might not look great. And it isn't. But there are worst options out there. That is no excuse however. The Philadelphia Motors Appalachian needs to squeeze out a little more mileage if it ever wants to be a contender.
When it comes to safety features Philadelphia Motors Appalachian maintains the bare-bones amount required to keep you safe. While you probably won't survive a major accident. The vehicle shouldn't explode hitting a pothole on poor roads.
When it comes down to it, the Philadelphia Motors Appalachian is one of the best Van on the market. For almost everyone on the looking for a Van, you won't find a much better vehicle than the Appalachian. It testing team was astonished by the results. We give it our total and complete recommendation.