This is where it really counts for large 4×4 all-terrain wagons – how they perform off the bitumen
The ability to venture deep off-road is a core skill of any good 4WD. Being able to climb or descend steep, slippery tracks or straddle rocky outcrops is vital, as is being able to take the occasional knock underneath, negotiate water crossings and hustle across wind-whipped dry sand without getting bogged easily. Some contenders for carsales Best Off-Road SUV have to work hard at it, while others here are born naturals. Let’s find out which is best…
In stark contrast to the tall, all-wheel drive SUVs that are springing up everywhere, the 12 models lining up for carsales Best Off-Road SUV 2022 are the real deal when it comes to ‘go-anywhere’ ability – they’re specifically designed to motor over rough stuff at the drop of an Akubra.
Across this dirty dozen, there’s not a massive gulf in respect to off-road ability; all are capable of crawling up and down undulating, steep tracks and fording water or a boggy mudhole.
Yet, as we all know, a bit more clearance, better angles or more decisive traction control can make all the difference between getting stuck or not.
A day out on the tracks in a 4×4 wagon that rides like a billycart is more tiring than one that is more supple.
Having a bigger fuel tank reduces the risk of running out in the middle of nowhere or having to carry jerrycans of fuel.
Some of the off-roaders on test here fill the brief better than others in terms of clearance, traction hardware and off-road ride, performance and range.
Of course, none of these vehicles are suitable for hard-core rock bouncing or for a remote expedition direct from the showroom floor. You’ll need to spend money on off-road accessories for that.
Only the Isuzu MU-X, LDV D90, SsangYong Rexton and Toyota Fortuner use a simple part-time 4WD system. These vehicles must have 2WD selected on dry paved roads, or else their transfer cases will be damaged.
The rest of the contenders have more user-friendly systems.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Defender, Nissan Patrol, Toyota Prado and Toyota LandCruiser 300 have full-time 4WD. This means that they have the security of all-wheel grip no matter the surface, only requiring that the centre differential be locked for slippery, off-road surfaces.
The Ford Everest and Jeep Wrangler have a torque-on-demand centre diff, so you don’t need to do anything to engage 4WD – these run in rear-wheel drive and automatically engage 4WD when slip is detected.
Finally, the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has a full-time/part-time Super Select centre diff, which offers the best of both worlds. The key point is that it offers the fuel efficiency of 2WD when on paved roads or the option of full-time 4WD, with the better traction the latter affords.
All of the vehicles on test have off-road traction control and all bar the Wrangler Unlimited have off-road driving modes, which provide unique throttle management and traction control adaptation for particular off-road terrains.
The Wrangler instead has another off-road party trick – Selec Speed Control, which acts like an off-road cruise control to enable the driver to select a set crawl speed as low as 1km/h, without the need to touch foot controls.
A rear differential lock is fitted to the Everest, MU-X, D90, Patrol, Rexton and Fortuner.
The LandCruiser 300 is the only vehicle here fitted with a snorkel as standard
There are many elements that combine to make an off-roader great in the rough stuff, and the LandCruiser 300 has the best compromise here of off-road specs and real-world ability.
Despite it lacking a rear diff lock at this entry-level GX grade, the 300’s traction control system is so good that it barely needs it. Rear-wheel travel is excellent, and having a snorkel as standard is a big plus.
While the Defender also lacks a locking rear diff – it’s on the options list – its massive ground clearance and water fording ability, plus the best overall off-road angles here, are strong assets. (See our specs details below.)
Tie that to excellent wheel travel and a smart Terrain Response system, as well as a relatively smooth off-road ride, and you have a very capable off-roader.
Only the Defender’s P300 petrol engine and less-than-stellar 90-litre fuel tank capacity take away from its remote bush travel ability.
The Nissan Patrol comes in third place, with the off-road specs underscoring its excellent ground clearance and water fording ability. It has a standard rear diff lock too.
While the big V8 will get very thirsty rock crawling or sand sliding, the 140-litre fuel tank will keep it fed all day.
The Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X share the next position in the points tally, with each having strong water fording and similar ground clearance specs and off-road angles.
Both also have lockable rear diffs, while the slightly more powerful and torquey inline five-cylinder diesel engine in the Everest (compared to the four-cylinder unit in the Isuzu) makes it a slightly better proposition for keeping up momentum in mud or sand.
Both have an 80-litre fuel tank, which provides decent range given their similar fuel consumption figures.
If we were testing the Rubicon version of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, it would be much further up the scale here. As it stands, the Night Eagle is a mid-ranking player among our contenders for overall off-road nous.
It’s actually a contradiction in some ways; its approach angle is the best here, and departure angle is only bettered by the Defender. In contrast, its ramp-over angle is among the poorest.
While unique among this cohort with its live axles front and rear – which provide great articulation and the most consistent ground clearance – it also translates into a rougher off-road ride for the Wrangler.
In soft sand or mud, the Jeep’s V6 petrol engine also needs to be revved a lot to keep up momentum – its torque peak arrives relatively high in the rev range.
While the Toyota Prado has middling ground clearance, water fording and off-road angle measurements in this group, out on the tracks it impresses with its relatively comfortable ride and high levels of refinement.
The Prado’s 2.8-litre diesel engine does feel as if it could do with more power in more challenging, slippery off-road conditions, but the 150-litre fuel tank – the largest in this group – will keep you going in the bush for a lot longer than the others.
The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner are next up on equal points, with very similar ground clearance, off-road angles and water fording height.
While the Pajero Sport lacks the Fortuner’s rear diff lock as standard, the Mitsubishi has hill descent control that the Toyota in GX trim misses out on, plus better low-range overall reduction, making it easier to crawl on rough terrain.
Despite its heritage, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Night Eagle is well down the pecking order for off-road ability. It provides only average off-road angles and ground clearance – at this trim level it lacks the air suspension found further up the line, using coil springs all around – and it has the lowest water fording capability here.
It also lacks underbody protection at this entry level, and although it has a very good traction control system, there’s no rear diff lock.
The LDV D90 and SsangYong Rexton are both at the back of the field in this contest for off-road ability.
The Rexton’s auto-locking rear diff is not as responsive as the lockable diff in the LDV, and it has poor off-road angles. However, the SsangYong 4WD does offer slightly more ground clearance and stronger mid-range torque.
Neither the Korean nor the Chinese 4×4 wagon offers a resolved off-road ride, and they both miss out on large fuel tanks that reduce range anxiety when you’re a long way from the nearest fuel pump.
Ford Everest Ambiente 3.2D 4×4Driveline: Dual-range on-demand 4WD, locking rear diffGround clearance: 227mmApproach angle: 29.5 degreesRamp-over angle: 21.5 degreesDeparture angle: 25 degrees
Wading depth: 800mm
Isuzu MU-X LS-M 3.0D 4×4Driveline: Dual-range part-time 4WD, locking rear diffGround clearance: 230mmApproach angle: 28.6 degreesRamp-over angle: 22.6 degreesDeparture angle: 27.6 degrees
Wading depth: 800mm
Jeep Grand Cherokee Night Eagle 3.6PDriveline: Dual-range full-time 4WD, open rear diffGround clearance: 218mmApproach angle: 26 degreesRamp-over angle: 19 degreesDeparture angle: 24 degrees
Wading depth: 508mm
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Night Eagle 3.6PDriveline: Dual-range on-demand 4WD, open rear diffGround clearance: 232mmApproach angle: 35.2 degreesRamp-over angle: 19.5 degreesDeparture angle: 30.5 degrees
Wading depth: 760mm
Land Rover Defender 110 P300 2.0PDriveline: Dual-range full-time 4WD, open rear diffGround clearance: 290mmApproach angle: 31.5 degreesRamp-over angle: 22.2 degreesDeparture angle: 37.5 degrees
Wading depth: 900mm
LDV D90 Executive 2.0P 4×4Driveline: Dual-range part-time 4WD, locking rear diffGround clearance: 210mmApproach angle: 28 degreesRamp-over angle: 20 degreesDeparture angle: 25 degrees
Wading depth: 550mm
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX 2.4D 4×4Driveline: Dual-range full/part-time 4WD, open rear diffGround clearance: 218mmApproach angle: 30 degreesRamp-over angle: 23.1 degreesDeparture angle: 24.2 degrees
Wading depth: 700mm
Nissan Patrol Ti 5.6PDriveline: Dual-range full-time 4WD, locking rear diffGround clearance: 273mmApproach angle: 34.4 degreesRamp-over angle: 24.1 degreesDeparture angle: 26.3 degrees
Wading depth: 700mm
SsangYong Rexton ELX 2.2DDriveline: Dual-range part-time 4WD, auto-locking rear diffGround clearance: 224mmApproach angle: 20.5 degreesRamp-over angle: 20 degreesDeparture angle: 22 degrees
Wading depth: Not provided
Toyota Fortuner GX 2.8DDriveline: Dual-range part-time 4WD, locking rear diffGround clearance: 216mmApproach angle: 29 degreesRamp-over angle: 23.5 degreesDeparture angle: 25 degrees
Wading depth: 700mm
Toyota LandCruiser GX 3.3DDriveline: Dual-range full-time 4WD, open rear diffGround clearance: 235mmApproach angle: 32 degreesRamp-over angle: 21 degreesDeparture angle: 25 degrees
Wading depth: 800mm
Toyota Prado GX 2.8DDriveline: Dual-range full-time 4WD, open rear diffGround clearance: 219mmApproach angle: 30.4 degreesRamp-over angle: 21.1 degreesDeparture angle: 23.5 degrees
Wading depth: 700mm
Keyword: Best Off-Road SUV 2022: Off-road performance