After a four-wheel-drive vehicle with a bit more off-road clout than the average SUV? Our top 10 best 4x4s list is the place to go…
While there are a huge number of SUVs on sale, not all of them offer four-wheel drive and some are very much intended to stay firmly on the road. Fortunately though, If you are after a car that’s better suited to the rough stuff there are still a number of 4x4s to choose from – ranging from small SUVs to premium seven-seaters. Read on to find out which are best.
If you require a tough vehicle with extra grip for slippery road conditions or serious off-road forays, while also being well set up for normal road driving, the best 4x4s will cover both bases. We’ve also prioritised durability and practicality in making our selection, paying particular attention to low running costs, safety kit and value-for-money prices. If that sounds like your perfect new car, you’ve come to the right place.
With all that in mind, here are the best 4x4s you can buy today…
Best 4x4s to buy 2022
- Land Rover Defender
- Dacia Duster
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Ford Ranger
- Fiat Panda 4×4
- Land Rover Discovery
- Mercedes G-Class
- SsangYong Rexton
- Jeep Wrangler
- BMW X5
1. Land Rover Defender
It was an unenviable job, but Land Rover has succeeded in bringing the Defender firmly into the modern age with new levels of luxury and refinement, while crucially not losing any of the ‘go anywhere’ ability it had become renowned for.
The Defender remains as practical as ever, available in three-door (90) and five-door (110) guises, with a range of capable petrol and diesel engines on offer. The 398bhp P400e plug-in hybrid model delivers low emissions and is capable of travelling up to 26-27 miles on electric power alone, while sprinting performance is also impressive: 0-62mph taking just 5.6 seconds.
Although the Defender is relatively pricey to buy, it is supremely accomplished with a stylish image that will appeal to urban families and an all-conquering practical quality that stays true to its rural heritage.
2. Dacia Duster
Dacia’s Duster 4×4 sticks to the budget brand’s established formula as a no-nonsense, low-cost family vehicle. There’s more to the Duster than its attractive up-front price, however, as it’s adept off-road and has a spacious interior. The cheapest Dacia Dusters are front-wheel drive, but the 4×4 models further up the range still undercut equivalent rival cars.
While it’s not the last word in cutting-edge design, either inside or out, the latest model looks smart enough and build quality seems well up to scratch. In terms of value, the little Dacia can’t really be beaten.
3. Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is an off-road icon that’s as popular in some parts of the world as the Land Rover Defender is in the UK. These days, the Toyota leaves something to be desired in terms of driving dynamics on the road when compared with leading family SUV rivals, but it’s still up with the very best in terms of toughness and that unerring talent for not getting stuck.
Toyota has a fantastic reputation for reliability that cars like the Land Cruiser have played a significant role in establishing. The latest 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel means that fuel economy has improved, and on the inside you get a cavernous interior with room for seven occupants. It all contributes to making the Land Cruiser look like a huge amount of car for the money.
4. Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is one of the most popular pick-up trucks in the UK, and the latest generation does a surprisingly sound job of combining both utility and comfort. The Ranger also feels somewhat upmarket to sit in compared to some rivals, but the materials still feel durable.
If you want to take your Ranger off-road, an electronically-controlled 4×4 transmission fitted to most models makes it easy to shift between two and four-wheel-drive modes while on the move. All Raptor variants are powered by a capable 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine with either 128bhp, 168bhp or 210bhp – however, this unit can prove rather thirsty.
5. Fiat Panda 4×4
In a sea of bulky SUVs, the plucky little Fiat Panda 4×4 continues to be indisputable proof that size isn’t everything. With a considerably lower weight than an SUV, steel bash plates, black plastic bumpers and wheel arch extensions, a raised suspension, and an electronic rear differential, the Panda doesn’t just look tough, it genuinely is.
It might be small in stature, but take a trip to the French Alps, and you’ll quickly notice more locals negotiating steep and snowy mountain passes in vehicles like the Panda 4×4 than SUVs like the Defender or Land Cruiser.
6. Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery from Land Rover is a big SUV that can do it all. Its sizeable 7-seat body offers prodigious practicality and there’s outstanding off-road ability from a high-tech chassis marshalled by Land Rover’s Terrain Response system. Yet, while doing all this, the Disco is still comfortable and relaxing to drive on the road. As far as the qualities you want from a big SUV go, there are precious few weak spots, but prices are on the high side.
7. Mercedes G-Class
If you want to stand out from the 4×4 crowd, then opting for a Mercedes G-Class might just do the trick. It’s been around for donkey’s years as the G-Wagen, but has been thoroughly updated on a regular basis with a host of driving and tech upgrades to keep it (just about) relevant.
If you can afford the £100,000-plus starting price, then you might as well go all in and stretch to the rather entertaining 4.0-litre V8 G 63 model. With 577bhp and 850Nm of torque, it has enough grunt to haul itself from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, while towing anything short of your own house shouldn’t prove to be too much of an issue.
8. SsangYong Rexton
There are plenty of big, capable 4x4s, but not many can match the SsangYong Rexton when it comes to value for money. The big SsangYong has smartened up its act considerably in its latest generation, adding sharp looks and improved build quality to its arsenal. If you’re after a spacious family 4×4 that can cope well in the rough, the Rexton is an often overlooked but extremely competent choice.
9. Jeep Wrangler
Much like the Land Rover Defender, the Jeep Wrangler owes its heritage to a World War 2 military vehicle – the Willys Jeep. Fast forward eighty-something years and the latest Jeep Wrangler is a far more sophisticated machine than its ancestor, but will still gladly traverse just about any terrain.
It is worth bearing in mind that the Wrangler is a bit more heavily biased towards off-road performance than some rivals, so the on-road ride can be bouncy, with large amounts of road noise. However, aim it away from the tarmac and there’s little that can stop it.
10. BMW X5
A polished on-road performer, the BMW X5 is arguably better suited to smoother tarmac than navigating its way through muddy fields or wading through troughs of standing water. Launched in 1999, the X5 has evolved into a modern, luxurious SUV, that although isn’t quite able to mix it with the very best 4x4s in this list, still offers decent off-road ability.
If you are buying an X5 and think you’ll be covering some rough terrain, then you might want to tick the xOffroad Pack on the options list. It’ll cost around £2,500, but adds four selectable driving modes (xSand, xRocks, xGravel, xSnow), an electronically-controlled locking differential and underbody protection.
What is a 4×4?
In recent times, the huge expansion in what we like to term ‘the SUV market’ has brought a big increase in the number of cars on sale with four-wheel drive. It’s probably safe to say that a car with four-wheel drive isn’t quite what most people are envisaging when they talk about ‘4x4s’, though.
The term ‘4×4’ is more usually transposed with ‘SUV’ (Sports Utility Vehicle), referring to the style of car – tall, tough-looking, designed to be driven off road – rather than its drivetrain. Although you can have 4×4 sports cars, hot hatches and estates, it’s the all-wheel-drive SUVs that are most often associated with the term 4×4.
While some cars referred to as SUVs are front-wheel drive and potentially no more adept in the rough stuff than a standard hatchback or crossover, the definition we apply to 4x4s is that they’re 4WD SUVs designed with off-road driving as a more central consideration. These are the kind of cars you’d be looking to buy if you needed to regularly or occasionally use the added traction and protection from rough terrain that 4×4 vehicles are built to provide.
While our best SUVs round-up focuses more on the cars that excel in the kind of everyday driving to which SUVs are usually exposed – namely on the road with the occasional snowfall or gravel driveway to contend with – 4x4s can go the extra mile when rough terrain is more regularly encountered.
Choosing the best 4×4
A big part of the decision-making process here will be working out how much off-road ability you actually need. As 4×4 cars get more capable over rough terrain, they tend to become less comfortable and composed on the tarmac. While 4x4s that are brilliantly comfortable on the road and capable off it do exist, you’ll need to pay a premium to buy one. More extreme off-road driving is ultimately about not getting stuck and, at a basic level, that means good tyres and lots of ground clearance.
4x4s designed to be driven off-road will have lots of ground clearance and suspension travel, plus protection underneath for when either runs out. There are numerous 4×4 systems available, too. For off-road 4x4s, being able to fix the transmission in all-wheel-drive mode is useful and many models will also offer locking differentials and low-range gearboxes for really difficult terrain.
You will find all manner of electronic aids for off-roading fitted to various models. Advanced traction control systems that adjust the car’s settings for different types of terrain are common in higher-end cars, as are air suspension systems that can adjust the ride height to suit the conditions. More commonplace are extras like hill descent control that will lower a car down a steep descent automatically using the ABS braking system. Many 4×4 models also come with 360-degree camera systems to give you a better view of obstacles around the car.
The 4×4 market
These days almost every car brand builds an SUV of some kind, but if you want a 4×4 with genuine off-road ability, there are certain marques that have a strong reputation, and deservedly so. Land Rover is an obvious choice for UK buyers, although the US has Jeep and many of the Japanese marques are renowned 4×4 specialists with dominant positions in different markets around the world.
Size is very important, but it’s not necessarily a reliable indicator of off-road ability. Small 4x4s like the Suzuki Jimny and Jeep Renegade deliver a lot of rough-terrain prowess for not a lot of money. Pick-up trucks are also a value-for-money choice that happen to be very tax efficient for businesses and company car users, while models at the upper end of the scale like the mighty Range Rover can give you genuine luxury.
If you’re after traction rather than ultimate off-road ability, there are lots of 4×4 estate cars that don’t quite have the same raised ride height of an SUV but do provide the same kind of practicality and all-weather grip. They can be a good bet in areas that get regular snow and with a good set of winter tyres fitted they can prove extremely capable.
Keyword: Top 10 best 4x4s and off-road cars to buy 2022