Best 4x4 2022
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For some people, a regular SUV simply won’t do. They want a guarantee of being able to drive almost anywhere, be it up the side of a mountain, or through a flowing river. Such motorists need a full-fat 4x4.
The best 4x4s are much less car-like than their SUV alternatives. They are generally big and boxy, have raised-up suspension for brilliant ground clearance, and boast the most over-engineered all-wheel-drive systems you can buy.
Many of them have multi-terrain modes. For example, if you’re driving on a beach, simply select ‘sand’ mode and the car does the rest, helping you keep moving forward without getting stuck. On some 4x4s, there’s a mode for any terrain imaginable.
Not getting stuck is something the best 4x4s do better than anything. These are the vehicles you will see on the winter news reports, pulling giant trucks clear of motorway danger, or helping deliver supplies to cut-off communities.
Although car manufacturers remain focused on SUVs, many still offer a good old fashioned 4x4, ready for Armageddon. Here are the best 4x4s you can buy.
Best 4x4s
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Land Rover Defender
The iconic Land Rover Defender has been brilliantly reinvented as a modern icon, which is just as desirable as the original. Award-winning design means it turns heads even when parked alongside a Ferrari, and the interior is a tactile, minimalist treat (albeit one fully equipped with the latest touchscreen wizardry). Offered in 90 and longer, family-friendly 110 guises, it has a cavernous 1,075 litres of boot space even with all five seats occupied (well, all six seats, if you go for the three-seat front row). You can get a Defender 110 with three rows of seats, too. Offered in petrol, diesel and new plug-in hybrid form, the Defender has an exceptional range of talents off-road, with even more ability than its predecessor. And it’s another world in terms of on-road refinement and dynamics, too.
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Toyota Land Cruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser is the car you choose if you want to drive deep into the Australian Outback, and guarantee you’ll be able to get home without a problem. It is world-renowned for its reliability, and is the vehicle of choice in the most inhospitable regions on the planet. In the UK, it is offered in three-door and longer five-door formats, all with a hardy and robust 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine. You can also buy a commercial version, to enjoy van-based tax savings. Roomy, well-equipped and exceptionally able when the going gets tough, if you need a dependable 4x4 to really put to work, look no further.
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Dacia Duster 4x4
The Dacia Duster is one of Britain’s most affordable rugged 4x4s. Priced from around £20,000, the 4x4 version of this popular SUV comes with an economical but punchy 1.5-litre Blue dCi turbodiesel engine, and is offered in well-equipped Comfort or posher Prestige trims. With family-focused space for five and a decent 467-litre boot, the Duster 4x4 also looks the part, with a recently refreshed design that boasts chunky bumpers and handy roof rails. There’s 214mm of ground clearance, which is perfect for green-laning, and occupants can watch what the all-wheel-drive system is doing through a neat 4x4 Monitor, displayed via the 8.0-inch touchscreen.
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a 4x4 legend. First introduced back in 1970, it defined the luxury SUV and, in all-new 2022 guise, looks set to raise the bar once again. Prices from £95,000 – or £120,000 for the long-wheelbase version – are justified by a beautifully pure-looking exterior and staggeringly plush interior, which is palatial in its panache. Initially offered with petrol and diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid follows later – and will have a 38.2kWh battery and 62-mile electric range. Despite all this sophistication, the Range Rover can still off-road with the best of them. It has an intelligent all-wheel-drive system, a Defender-matching wading depth of 900mm, plus 295mm of ground clearance (which can be lifted a further 145mm via height-adjustable air suspension). This is not just one of the best 4x4s, it’s one of the best new cars on sale.
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is one of the original 4x4s, with its roots back in World War Two. These days, it’s a higher-end proposition, with prices from £50,000, but this latest version has been thoroughly re-engineered over the years to offer contemporary features and technology. It has a touchscreen infotainment system, plenty of active safety features and even adaptive cruise control with auto stop and go. But it’s off-road where the legendary Wrangler really earns its stripes – particularly the formidable Rubicon range-topper. This has 32-inch mud-terrain tyres, a disconnectable front anti-roll bar, locking front and rear differentials and a Jeep-honed Rock-Trac 4x4 system. Off the beaten track, it’s pretty much unstoppable.
Fiat Panda Cross 4x4
The brilliant little Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 is another of the UK’s cheapest 4x4s. It’s also among the smallest, proving that good things come in small packages. The Panda looks the part, with silver skid plates, wheelarch extensions and two bright red tow hooks. Its 15-inch alloy wheels are also fitted with mud and snow tyres as standard. With selectable 4WD, hill descent control and 161mm of ground clearance, the tiny Panda is a bit of an off-road star, and its diminutive dimensions mean it can reach places other more lumbering 4x4s cannot. The charismatic 85hp TwinAir engine makes it characterful to drive on the road, too. And naturally, it’s as comfortable in the city as in the countryside. There’s even a button on the dashboard marked ‘City’ to make the steering fingertip-light.
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Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a long-running 4x4 (formerly known as the G-Wagen) that, like the Range Rover, has evolved from a working vehicle into a true luxury proposition. Prices starting from £110,000 are evidence of this, but so too is the G-Class’ appearance. Yes, it’s boxy and classically ‘4x4’, but it’s also finished to a fantastic standard, with mirror-like paint and jewel-like detailing. The same is true inside; it’s the Mercedes S-Class of 4x4s. The car’s specification claims a climbing ability of 100 percent, and it can traverse side slopes of up to 70 percent. You will be terrified way before the G-Class cries enough. Take the G 400 d diesel for 330hp of effortless performance – or the G 63 AMG petrol for startling acceleration and a great soundtrack.
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SsangYong Rexton
The SsangYong Rexton is a great-value large 4x4. This towering seven-seater is very roomy and well-equipped, while its 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox give smooth on-road performance. Notably, it’s able to tow a full 3.5-tonne load, with a clever trailer sway control system to keep things stable in windy weather. There’s selectable all-wheel drive, including a low-range mode, and hill descent control is standard. We also like some of the surprising features, such as the Rexton’s luxurious interior, and a digital cockpit that owes plenty to the latest BMW systems. As for reliability, SsangYong expects no nasty surprises; that’s why it offers a seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty as standard.
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Toyota RAV4
Toyota has a growing range of SUVs, which leaves its original model, the RAV4, able to furrow its own more 4x4-inspired path. The latest model has a pleasingly rugged design, that’s more ‘off-roader’ than urban SUV. This continues inside, where details extend to large, rubber-coated heater controls, which are easier to use while wearing gloves. You can get a fuel-saving, front-wheel-drive RAV4, but here we’re only interested in the all-wheel-drive versions. The intelligent system is available on both regular hybrid and newer plug-in hybrid versions of the RAV4. The latter combines 306hp with a pure electric range of up to 46 miles, offering a taste of the EV future coming to the best 4x4s.
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
What’s a stylish all-electric SUV doing in our list of best 4x4s? Because batteries and electric motors are the future – and the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX shows what we have to look forward to, thanks to its high-power, all-wheel-drive EV tech. It has twin motors, one for the front wheels and one at the rear, which combine to produce 299hp. This gives great acceleration, but also plenty of controlled pulling power when driving in slippery conditions. Even the GTX name betrays its 4x4 pretensions; this is the sporty, off-road alternative to a GTI. The 77kWh battery provides up to 299 miles of zero-emissions driving, making it a very green way indeed to go deep off-road.
Which 4x4 is best value for money?
The Fiat Panda Cross 4x4 is a very affordable small car. It has tenacious four-wheel-drive traction and will embarrass many larger SUVs when the going gets tough. We think the slightly pricier Dacia Duster 4x4 offers the best value for money, though. It’s larger, so has a much more practical interior, while the extra oomph from its economical diesel engine makes it a better drive away from the rough stuff. Both model grades for the Duster are well equipped, too.
What is the most reliable 4x4?
Surveys show the Toyota Land Cruiser’s standing as the most reliable 4x4 is thoroughly well deserved. It has a global reputation forged in some extremely tough environments. If you want a vehicle that will almost certainly never break down, choose the Land Cruiser. The more compact and affordable RAV4 is also a safe bet from Toyota. Mind you, SsangYong is another manufacturer that is willing to stake its reputation on reliability. The Rexton offers a comprehensive seven-year warranty ‒ among the very best in the business.
What is the best 4x4 on the market?
Because the 4x4 market is so broad, from the Fiat Panda to the Range Rover and beyond, which vehicle is best for you really depends on your budget and requirements. Cheaper models will guarantee mobility no matter what the weather or terrain, while larger models are great for active families who want a machine to support ‘lifestyle’ hobbies or extreme sports. If money is no object, the new Range Rover already looks like a magnificent vehicle, ready to claim the crown of best 4x4 in the world.
