Easy Upgrade ABCs

Changing your SUV's appearance is a process that does not need to be time consuming or ridiculously expensive. With a few carefully selected items and a little planning, you can give your sport utility a makeover in no time. This story shows 15 ways that you can change both the inside and the outside of your vehicle, listed by general price range. All of the bolt-on applications can be installed in less than two hours, and many can be finished in less than one. The prices are estimates, accurate as at the time this issue went to print. As is the case with most vehicle modifications, you can spend as little or as much as you want on these components. While there are several places where you can buy these components, we included a list of sources to help you get started.

Side Steps

Side steps are built in a variety of sizes. Some are the width of a foot, some provide a place to enter the vehicle at all four doors, and some stretch from wheelwell to wheelwell. They can be polished, chrome, or powdercoated, and they often come with non-skid pads. The price range is determined by the length of the steps, the finish you want, and the quality of the product. For those that want an OE look with the option of lights, running boards serve the same purpose and are about the same price. Prices often range from $80 to $360 per pair.

Fender Flares

Whether you want to give your sport utility a more off-road-worthy look or just want to change the lines of the vehicle, a set of fender flares can do the trick. Fender flares are either bolted on or are held on with adhesive and can give an SUV a more muscular appearance. In most cases, the flares are made of ABS plastic composite or urethane and can be painted to match the vehicle. Flares also come UV coated, matte black, or gloss black. They are sold in sets of two or four. Four fender flares will set you back $200 to $400.

Taillight Guards

If you want to give your SUV a rugged look all the way around, taillight guards can set off the rear of the vehicle and can match a grilleguard up front. They are often made in the same finishes and materials as grilleguards, and the bars are often the same shape. They can be used for appearance or to protect your taillights from trail and city debris. Taillight guards install in less than an hour and cost $15 to $210 per pair.

Clear Corners

Adding a set of clear (or white) corner lights or Euro taillights can totally transform the rear of the vehicle. Other options when considering rear lighting include smoked corner lights and carbon-fiber taillights. Most clear corners are bolted in, in place of the stock lighting. Before buying a set, you will need to make sure clear corners are legal in your state. Most are $100 to $240 per pair.

Lighting

Driving lights and foglights serve an important purpose on the road: improving visibility in inclement weather and in limited-light situations. The side benefit to installing a set of driving lights is that they can give the front of an SUV a new look. These lights are often yellow, white, or blue and are designed to give the front end crisp, sharp accents. Driving and foglights are most commonly halogens, either standard or super whites. These range from $60 to $160 per pair, with HID lighting systems costing considerably more.

Roll Pans

A roll pan takes the place of the rear bumper on trucks and SUVs. This piece is especially appealing to those who are modifying their SUVs and want to make the body as smooth as possible. A roll pan can replace the bumper, which often juts out and doesn't always match the lines of the vehicle, and is a component that follows the natural curve of the rear. Roll pans come in fiberglass or steel and can come with a hidden hitch, a license plate frame, a choice of lights, or none of these at all. They are about $90 to $300.

Gauges

Even if your SUV didn't come with white-face gauges, you can still have them installed after the fact. There are other options as well. Some gauges have flames, some are backlit with cobalt-blue accents, and some are platinum rather than white or traditional black. You can buy individual gauges to install on the A-pillar or the dash, or you can buy the full instrument cluster. Sets are about $100 to $120, depending on the vehicle and the manufacturer.

Exhaust Tips

There are a surprisingly high number of ways you can modify your SUV's exhaust. If changing out the entire system is too costly, you can replace the exhaust tip and give the back of the vehicle a different look. Another option is to buy several, and bolt whichever one you like on the back, whenever you want. Exhaust tips bolt on fairly quickly and easily, depending on the vehicle and system, and can cost $25 to $100.

Interior Trim

If your vehicle does not have wood accents or you want something different than what it came with, a new set of interior trim pieces may be the best way to modify your vehicle's interior. There are dozens of options, including numerous wood finishes, billet accents, and real and imitation carbon fiber in varying colors. The pieces are available as individual items or in sets as many as 34 pieces. The trim is fixed in place with a strong adhesive, and there are pieces made for the dash, the center console, the doors, and more. The sets usually cost $90 to $300.

Hoods

There are many options to consider when buying an aftermarket hood. What style do you like? Would you prefer steel or fiberglass? Making these decisions will most likely determine both the price range you are looking at and the company you'll buy the hood from. Most companies that manufacture hoods stick with one material and make it their specialty. Even though there are variations in style and material, chances are that if you want to buy a new hood, you'll spend anywhere from $400 to $650.

Bumpers

If you are not satisfied with the stock bumpers, replacing them is another easy makeover mod. Front and rear bumpers can be purchased separately, but most places that sell one will sell the other. There are numerous options when selecting bumpers. Some are color-matched, helping provide a monochromatic exterior, others are made rugged for off-road use, and others use chrome accents. New bumpers bolt on using the stock bumper bolt holes and cost around $100 to $440 each.

Grilles

Getting a new grille is a popular modification because installing a grille can be easy, especially if the insert you choose is precut and shaped to fit in your vehicle's fascia. There are a few finish choices, but the most popular is billet. Different manufacturers make a variety of styles, giving you several choices for the front of your SUV. The quality of material and the work that was done by the manufacturer to ensure a good fit will affect the price. Most range from $60 to $500, but a top-of-the-line grille can cost as much as $900.

Roof Racks

Installing a roof rack will change both the function and the appearance of your SUV. A new rack can add extra cargo space on top of the vehicle, providing space for bulky or dirty cargo. The price and design of the roof rack your vehicle needs depends on what the SUV came equipped with from the factory. There are racks that work in conjunction with OE racks and others that work on roofs that did not come with any sort of rack system. Prices can be as low as $110, but they can go as high as $500.

Grilleguards

Grilleguards are a great way to protect the front of your SUV from trail damage and can totally change your vehicle's appearance. Even if you don't want to take your sport utility off-road, it gives it a more rugged look and can help protect the front fascia from fender benders and city life. Grilleguards are mostly chrome or powdercoated black, and some come with aftermarket lights or light mounts. The cost of the guard is partially determined by whether or not you want lights and headlight protection. They usually run between $90 and $600.

Wheels and Tires

You can't really buy a set of one without buying the other, can you? This is especially true if you want to increase the overall size. Wheels and tires are a purchase that is almost entirely based on price limitations and personal preference. It doesn't have to be an expensive proposition, but it is very difficult to find a set of wheels and tires for less than $800. In fact, this modification can get expensive in a hurry. Expect to spend anywhere from $75 to $375 per tire and $105 to $1,500 per wheel.