The Best 4x4’s for Going Off-Road

The new Land Cruiser came out in 2018 and it’s still relatively fresh on the scene, but it carries through all the characteristics that have made it a huge success with drivers who like to take their vehicles off the tarmac and onto the slippy stuff. The Land Cruiser is a vehicle of titanic proportions with faultless reliability and almost unparalleled robustness. It isn’t exactly cheap, with prices starting from £35,655 - but it’s reasonably priced and buyers will be happy with the level of refinement and luxury inside the cabin. Of course, it’s not overdone. Most of the dashboard is operated by chunky buttons and hard-wearing plastics which can be operated with gloves on - so if you’re looking for an ultra-sleek state-f-the-art touch screen then look elsewhere. The Land Cruiser is built for the tougher tasks and turns its nose up at conforming to modern standards.

The Amarok is a class-leading pick up which has proven hugely popular for commercial buyers that need a bed to carry a euro pallet and a cabin suitable for five adults. It’s more than just a pick-up though, it’s an off-road beast. The Amarok uses an always-on all-wheel-drive system with a differential and a 60:40 front-rear power split, which is optimised for towing and traction. The Amarok has up to 580 Nm of torque too, which means it’s more than capable of dragging itself out of a sticky situation or rescuing other vehicles. The Amarok has a 3.2-tonne towing capacity too, which means its one of the best on the market for dragging caravans, trailers, construction equipment and so on… The Amarok is fairly reasonably priced with a starting point of £35,408 after VAT.

The Jeep Wrangler was purpose-built for tackling tough terrain. Off-roading runs through the genetics of the Wrangler, it is what the car was built to do. The new model uses a very clever Rock-Trac 4x4 system which provides monstrous amounts of torque and control on slippy surfaces. The Wrangler can also be fitted with a Tru-Lok electronic front and rear locking differentials, to prevent the wheels from spinning up in the mud and to help apply traction when it is needed the most. The Wrangler also comes with a low-range gearbox, which is a more traditional way of managing how power is applied throughout the rev range while at slow speeds. The Wrangler is on sale now with prices starting from £41,525 for the 2-door entry-level model.

The Ranger is another pick-up truck that’s making waves in the UK, a market which has typically been unfavourable to the pick-up segment. This new Ranger is helping to buck that trend thanks to its versatility, affordability and go-anywhere attitude. The Ranger has a huge 237mm ground clearance which allows it to wade through water up to 800mm deep.

The Ranger comes loaded with protective plastics on the exterior and side steps which protect the sills of the vehicle - all very handy when going off-road and, as you would expect, the Ranger has 4 wheel drive as standard. The Ranger is on sale now in a huge variety of body styles and specifications, with prices starting from £22,361 excluding VAT.

Off-road enthusiasts swear by the Disco. It’s one of the most composed and capable vehicles on the market and it comes from the brand who are renowned across the world for creating the best 4x4 vehicles that money can buy. The new model comes loaded with technology optimised for ff road driving. For example, the Terrain Response 2 system will scan the driving conditions and automatically adjust the driving modes to achieve the best possible chassis and powertrain settings. The new Discovery also comes with Wade Sensing technology which uses sensors to tell the driver when the water levels are near the 900mm max wading depth. Last but not least, the Discovery also has a maximum towing weight of 3,500kg - which is as good as best in class. The Discovery is on sale now with prices from £48,340.

Last but not least is the G-Class or G-Wagen. This is quite literally a military vehicle that has been adapted for the roads and made to be one of the most luxurious 4x4’s on the market. The first G-Class was introduced in 1979 and it remained largely unchanged until 2019. This new model is, in fact, all-new, despite being extremely similar in appearance to the older model. This latest model is still an absolute monster on the tarmac, the farmland and the battlefield, but also an extremely beautiful and well-crafted vehicle. It’s a lazy similarity but the G-Class is built like a tank on the outside and it has the capabilities to back up its appearance. The G Class is on sale now with prices from £96,220.