What are the best 4x4s you can buy?

If you want every journey to feel like an adventure, even if you’re just popping to the shops, then maybe you need a 4x4 in your life. The best 4x4s have a commanding driving position and the ability to get places that other cars can’t, giving you the freedom to explore the open road and beyond.

What’s the difference between an SUV and a 4x4?

Well, both are types of car that are more rugged than your average hatchback but 4x4 is actually a technical term for four-wheel drive – so our definition of a 4x4 is a rugged-looking vehicle with four-wheel drive and at least some off-road ability. Here, we’ve used our expertise to select what we think are the best new and used 4x4s you can buy, ranging from small, low-cost options to luxurious seven-seaters and everything in between.

1. Land Rover Defender

The original Land Rover Defender is the daddy of off-roaders, with a heritage that stretches all the way back to 1948. What started off as a military off-road tool became one of the most-loved British cars ever and it didn’t change all that much during its 68 (yes, really) years on sale. 

The all-new Defender you can buy today (and the one that we’re recommending) was introduced in 2020. In many ways it’s a very different beast to the original – bigger, posher, more practical, packed with high-tech features and far better to drive on the road. It has the no-nonsense character of its predecessor, however, as well as similarly formidable off-road ability. Land Rover makes some of the most appealing 4x4s around, but this is the best of the bunch.

2. Suzuki Jimny

Honey I shrunk the 4x4! Yep, the Suzuki Jimny is a tiddler but it’s also a ‘proper’ 4x4, with excellent off-road ability thanks to good ground clearance (how high it sits off the ground), robust suspension and standard four-wheel drive. It’s a bit rough and ready on the road, and there’s not a lot of rear legroom or boot space. But the Jimny looks awesome and, like all the best 4x4s, it gives you a real sense of adventure behind the wheel. 

The Jimny we’re recommending is the model that was sold new in the UK between 2018 and 2020. Because it wasn’t on sale for long (due to emissions regulations) there are limited numbers available, so demand – and prices – are high. On the flip side, running costs should be low and depreciation shouldn’t be a worry.

3. Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 has always been a great choice if you’re looking for a practical, reliable car that gives you a commanding driving position and the reassurance of four-wheel drive. 

The latest model – introduced in 2019 – is the largest RAV4 yet and it makes a great family car thanks to its spacious, well-built interior. Every version is a hybrid, which means an automatic gearbox as standard and impressive fuel economy. As well as the standard ‘self-charging’ hybrid there’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version that can give almost 50 miles of pure-electric driving when fully charged, according to official figures. Four-wheel drive is optional for the hybrid and standard for the PHEV.

4. Dacia Duster

Dacia has become the brand of choice for canny car shoppers over recent years, offering some of the cheapest new hatchbacks and seven-seaters on the market. It also sells one of the most affordable SUVs in the shape of the Dacia Duster. We say SUV, but the Duster has the character of a traditional 4x4 and it has off-road talent to match if you go for a four-wheel drive version. 

Inside and out, the Duster has a rugged look and feel and it gives you a lot of interior space for your money. You can pick up one of the first Duster models – sold new between 2013 and 2018 – for little more than £2,000 but these early versions are very basic. Our pick is the 2018-2024 version, which has more up-to-date tech yet is still great value.

5. Mercedes-Benz GLE

When is a 4x4 also a luxury car? When it’s the Mercedes-Benz GLE. This big SUV comes with four-wheel drive as standard and it has an interior that matches Mercedes-Benz’s big luxury saloons for comfort, tech and sheer wow factor. 

It’s an effortless car to drive, with powerful petrol and diesel engines and the option of plug-in hybrid power. And while it gives you the kind of smooth, quiet ride you expect of a luxury car, the GLE is also pretty capable off-road. Especially if you choose one with the optional off-road package that includes extra protection for the car’s underbody and extra electronic features to help get you across rough terrain.

6. Skoda Yeti

With its boxy looks and raised stance, the Skoda Yeti looks every inch the robust off-roader – squint and it could almost be a miniature Land Rover Discovery! While it might not be a match for the Land Rover in the rough, the Yeti is available with four-wheel drive and many models have a hill-descent system that maintains a steady speed if you’re tackling a downhill slope.

Sold new between 2009 and 2017, the Yeti has gained something of a cult following and it’s easy to see why. As well as its tough-yet-cute looks it has lots of interior space for such a small car, and it’s versatile thanks to rear seats that slide, fold and can even be removed if necessary. It’s also good to drive, solidly built and most models give low running costs.

7. Toyota Land Cruiser

In parts of the world where there are no proper roads and breaking down isn’t an option the Toyota Land Cruiser has been the car of choice for decades. Its off-road prowess and reliability are, quite simply, the stuff of legend.

That continues to this day and the latest Land Cruiser (on sale new since 2024) carries on the tradition while adding more high-tech kit and a cool retro-inspired look. If its starting price of nearly £80,000 is out of your league then take a look at the previous model, which was sold new between 2009 and 2023. It’s not as stylish, but you get similar functionality for a fraction of the price.

8. Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is one of the best all-rounders in the business, ticking a lot of boxes for a lot of people. It’s classy, comfortable, good to drive and makes a great family car thanks to its roomy, versatile interior.

Although a muddy overflow car park is likely to be the closest most Q5s get to testing their off-road abilities, all versions have four-wheel drive and decent ground clearance, as well as the latest electronic driver assistance and safety features. In all, it’s a very reassuring car to drive and gives you a real sense of wellbeing on board.

9. Ineos Grenadier

Look familiar? It’s no secret that the Ineos Grenadier was inspired by the original Land Rover Defender. When production of that car stopped in 2016, Sir Jim Ratcliffe – founder of the Ineos chemicals group (and now part-owner of Manchester United) – decided that it left a gap in the market. So he set up a new car company to build a car to fill it. As you do. 

Make no mistake, the Ineos Grenadier is a proper go-anywhere machine, with powerful engines and the hardware to climb any mountain and ford any stream. It also has a hugely spacious interior that, with most versions, you can simply hose clean. Ownership costs will be high and the Grenadier is rather old-school on the road. But if you think the new Land Rover Defender has ‘gone soft’ this could be the car for you.

10. Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is a big, seven-seat SUV that’s solid, spacious and excellent value for money. The latest model was introduced in 2020 and it offers a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or diesel power. All have an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive as standard, as well as a Terrain Mode feature that allows you to choose ‘mud’, ‘snow’ or ‘sand’ settings that optimise the engine, brakes and four-wheel drive system to the conditions. The diesel version has a very impressive 2500kg towing limit, making it a great choice as a tow car.

The interior has space for seven adults and standard equipment is lavish. Even the entry-level model has heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and wireless support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.