Best 4x4s 2025

When you think 4x4, you'll probably think Land Rover and the mighty Defender. Land Rover set itself no easy task when it decided to replace the iconic Defender with an all-new model, but thankfully, the latest Defender is exactly what the company promised it would be. 

The new Land Rover Defender was launched in 2020 and thanks to its boxy outline, is unmistakably a Defender, but bought bang up to date for the demands and expectations of the modern-day user. This includes matrix LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, the brand's 10-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system and a panoramic sunroof.

But what's it like off-road? There's plenty of clever tech on hand to ensure the Defender will conquer any type of terrain. All models come with four-wheel-drive, naturally, and with Land Rover's Terrain Response off-road system that ensures the Defender's settings are always optimised for the precise type of terrain you're on (sand or mud, for example). There's also air suspension as standard and an optional 3D surround camera that can help when wading in deep water or reversing a trailer.  

What makes the Defender so good is that it does everything the old model could do off-road, but is in a different league when it comes to on-road performance. The only concern may be that it's so refined and high-tech, you might not want to cake it in filth after all...

The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser replaces a model that was introduced way back in 2010. As such, it represents a big step up in terms of the interior, technology and on-road refinement. 

Off-road ability remains high up on its agenda, however, it still has locking differentials (now electronically controlled) and a low-range gearbox, and is further helped by a stiffer frame and a clever system that disengages the front anti-roll bar for better wheel articulation. 

You pay dearly for all that, however, with a starting price of - wait for it - £74,995. If you don't mind sacrificing some of the new model's improved on-road manners, however, the long life of the previous version means there's stacks of choice on the used market, and the earliest examples are very affordable. 

Yes, the 2.8-litre diesel engine is thirsty and not that powerful, but this is an incredibly reliable SUV that's more capable off road that pretty much anything else out there. 

For several years now, the Dacia Duster has been charming car buyers by offering a roomy and practical family car that's rugged enough for off-road weekend adventures, and all for a price that undercuts rivals by many thousands of pounds. The appeal of the latest 2024 Duster is no different, but it delivers its tempting mix of abilities with more polish than ever before.

For starters, it's better to drive than previous Dusters, with noticeably less body lean in corners and sharper responses, yet the ride remains comfortable enough for use as an everyday family car. Granted, refinement isn't what it might be and performance from the engine range is a little limited, but that's all perfectly acceptable given the value on offer.

Likewise, the cabin is roomy and the boot is decent, while the interior strikes that delicate balance of being functional and hard-wearing enough to feel rugged, but not so functional that it feels too basic. Luxury kit isn't plentiful in lower-spec models, but all the basics are covered. And yes, the price is right, happily. For four-wheel drive, you'll need to spec it on the mid-range TCe 130 engine, and doing so will give you the ability to get further into the wilderness than you might expect.

The Mercedes G-Class certainly isn’t one of the most affordable options here, but if you're a wealthy landowner wanting a car that does luxury, style and off-roading, it's a great choice. The original G-Wagen that preceeded the G-Class is able to trace it's roots back to the early 1970s, and while the latest G-Class might look almost indistinguishable from the old car, a lot has changed. 

Its plush cabin wouldn’t look out of place in one of Mercedes' luxurious saloons, like an S-Class. Its upright design has lots of pretty trim pieces and you get a pair of large and colourful infotainment screens. Build quality is first-rate, so it'll stand up to rough treatment, too. Four adults have loads of room to stretch out, and the boot is wide and square.

The G-Class is available with a range of powerful petrol and diesel engines, and comes with a sophisticated four-wheel-drive system with locking diffs that mean it can tackle pretty much anything you throw at it. Yet it’s also easy to drive and comfortable. A class act. 

The range was revamped in 2024 with new technology and slightly tweaked looks, although it - thankfully - looks much the same as before. There's even now an all-electric G-Class, but its even more expensive than its already pricey combustion relatives, costing an incredible £180,000. 

We have a separate list for the best pick-up trucks, and you'll find the regular Ford Ranger right at the very top of it. The Ford Ranger Raptor, however, is no ordinary pick-up truck. This thing is more of a hardcore off-road racer with its own enthusiast following, and it's also one of the most capable off-road vehicles that money can buy. 

The Ranger Raptor takes an existing Ford Ranger (itself pretty handy in the rough stuff) and adds uprated suspension with Fox Racing shocks providing way more travel. There's an electronically locking rear differential, off-road tyres and new driving modes, along with body protection and styling tweaks. The range-topping model also has Fox dampers with 'Live Valve' technology, and these react in real time to the conditions and can even detect when the vehicle is airborne. Handy when you're busy launching your truck off the nearest sand dune.

The Raptor's huge performance comes from either the same twin-turbo 210PS 2.0-litre diesel engine in the previous version of the Raptor, or a newer twin-turbo V6 petrol developing 292PS. Both operate through a ten-speed automatic gearbox. 

It's certainly not the most sophisticated vehicle here on the road, but off the beaten track it's nigh-on unbeatable. Many will find that the significantly cheaper base Ranger is capable enough, but some will pay extra to experience the ultimate off-roader. 

The Volkswagen Touareg may not be as well suited to the off-road adventure lifestyle as some of the other 4x4s on this list, but it’s still a highly capable and well equipped machine that can roll up its sleeves and get muddy if needs must.

There’s plenty of space for five people and luggage on the inside - something you’d expect from a large 4x4 - and the infotainment system is one of the best around with heaps of functionality. Plus, all of the versions currently available - Elegance, Black Edition and R - come with the excellent Innovision system. 

It’s quiet inside the cabin, too, with the Touareg offering good levels of sound insulation making for a peaceful time. That's complemented by a comfortable ride, especially if you opt for a model with the air suspension. You’ll find petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, and you’ll get bags of grip and traction with any of them.

Dire to drive, noisy on the road and lacking space: the Suzuki Jimny is very much an acquired taste. But, whether you’re into its Tonka toy looks or not, this is one supremely capable off-roader.

Buyers love its reliability and low running costs, as well as its ability to get from A to B… even if that means going via X, Y, and Z. However, the Jimny is not without its ‘quirks’. Or flaws, in other words. You see, as an old-school 4x4, it’s not very civilised on the road… but its compact size and light controls do make it okay around town.

On the motorway, though, the Jimny can be hard work. There are only five gears and even at 60mph it feels strained. The steering also requires a lot of input, so you’ll be busy with that, and fast cornering is definitely best avoided. Creature comforts are pretty minimal, too...

Despite all of this, Jimnys hold their value incredibly well. The latest model was launched in 2019 and wasn't on sale for very long before it had to be withdrawn so that Suzuki could meet new European emissions targets, and that meant that demand outstripped supply by a long way. As a result, you'll see used models costing significantly more than they did when they were brand new. Suzuki brought it back to the market in 2021, but as a commercial vehicle with no back seats. 

When it comes to 4x4s, most drivers have to choose between style and substance. Don’t get us wrong, there are a few mud-pluggers that can do it all and offer the ability to scale mountains in the automotive equivalent of palatial luxury, but most of the time you have to choose between an interior you can host in, or an interior you can hose down. 

The Subaru Forester falls closer to the latter category. Low-rent, functional, hard-wearing… call its cabin what you like. This is the kind of car bought by people who need a working vehicle. And that’s because it’s incredibly capable. It has all-wheel drive as standard, plenty of ground clearance and can make progress on the muddiest of fields. It’s also got a braked trailer rating of between 1800kg and 2000kg, which means pulling a medium-sized caravan or small horsebox is no drama.

As a family wagon, however, it’s better than you'd think. There's a lot of luggage space - 505 litres to be precise - while the back of row of seats is comfortable for adults as well as children. Visibility is decent, too, which makes it easy to see over hedges or spot the corners when parking. Not as plush as more road-biased SUV rivals, perhaps, but the Forester is still a very worthy 4x4.

Off-roaders don't come much more recognisable than the Jeep Wrangler. Its story started way back in 1940 with the original Willy's Jeep, and that heritage is still in clear evidence in the styling of the latest car, with its large round headlights and seven-slot grille. The Wrangler is an effortlessly cool car as a result. It's also pretty much unstoppable off-road. Short of a vertical cliff face, there's pretty much no surface that the Wrangler can't deal with.

Granted, it's fairly rough-and-ready as a result. The on-road ride is bumpy, noisy and unrefined, while the cabin materials are basic, equipment levels are modest and the interior is surprisingly cramped. It's not quite the stripped out off-roader that the original Land Rover Defender was, but compared with more modern cars, it feels rather behind the times. However, few cars will get as far across the countryside as the Wrangler, and thanks to its detachable roof, you can even feel the sun on your face in the process: in fact, it's the only five-seat convertible that money can buy.

With the current Land Rover Defender taking the model in a more refined, luxurious direction, the Ineos Grenadier looks to pick up where the old version left off. Ineos Automotive made no bones about the Grenadier's primary inspiration, to the point where Land Rover launched a legal challenge which it subsequently lost. 

Coming from a new firm that's an offshoot of a multinational chemicals company, you might wonder what sort of automotive pedigree the Grenadier has beyond its Defender-like looks, but it has plenty. The engines and gearboxes come from BMW, it's engineered by Magna Steyr (which builds the Mercedes G-Class among others), and it's built at the former Smart factory in France. 

Its focus on off-road performance does come at the cost of how it performs on road, however. It's noisy, the driving position takes some getting used to, and the steering is slow. The Grenadier is expensive, too, but if how a vehicle performs on the rough stuff is of the utmost importance to you, it's worth a look.