Which SUVs Are The True Off-Road Champions

In recent years, SUVs have exploded in popularity, taking the top spot as the leading type of vehicle in the US in terms of sales. They've come to replace the minivan, sedan, and station wagon as the favorite family car. However, even though SUVs were originally designed for off-roading, that doesn't mean all of today's popular models come with this capability. For the true off-road enthusiasts out there looking to find an actual all-terrain champion that won't break the bank, here are the 10 best off-roaders for cheap and 10 overpriced ones to avoid.

1. Jeep Grand Cherokee

When talking about off-roaders, you can't get much better than the Grand Cherokee, the most awarded SUV ever. It's the perfect blend of off-road capabilities, luxury, and offers great value for the price.

2. Nissan Xterra

The Xterra was an iconic SUV, known for its ruggedness. Though its on-road performance was lacking, it was a true off-roader, designed for the most difficult terrains. It's also extremely budget-friendly and reliable.

3. Suzuki Samurai

The Samurai was a lightweight four-wheel drive renowned for its incredible off-road performance and low price point. It was the first Suzuki vehicle marketed in the US and its success paved the way for future models.

4. Jeep Wrangler YJ

The OG Jeep Wrangler, the YJ is now a legend of the off-roading world. It incorporated elements of the XJ Cherokee and the CJ with its leaf-spring suspension, axles, and ladder frame but it had better handling and an affordable price point.

5. Subaru Forester

Subarus are known for being the ultimate car for outdoor enthusiasts and the Forester is no exception. It has a solid reputation for reliability, off-road capabilities, practicality, and affordability.

6. Toyota Tacoma

Pickup trucks aren't necessarily known for their off-road performance, but the Tacoma is exceptional in this regard. It's compact with a high ground clearance and off-road driving packages that make it extremely good at traversing all kinds of terrain. You can find them cheap on the used market.

7. Toyota 4Runner

For those prioritizing ruggedness, off-road performance, and reliability, the 4Runner is among the best. Although it may not have to most modern technology, it's durable and performs beautifully off-road. What's more, it's affordable and keeps its value over time.

8. Isuzu Trooper

The Trooper was famously cheap to buy but was a surprisingly capable off-roader considering its price. It's a hearty and durable SUV for those willing to sacrifice on-road driving refinement and luxury for off-road performance.

9. Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness

The Crosstrek Wilderness is like an Outback but enhanced specifically for off-roading. It boasts a 9.3-inch ground clearance, optimized traction, specially designed bumpers, and a front skid plate to ensure performance in various conditions. What's more, it has a price tag of less than $35,000.

10. Jeep Gladiator

The Jeep Gladiator is the perfect compromise between pickup truck and off-road SUV. You still get the open-air driving experience of a Wrangler but you also get the bed of a pickup truck, all for an affordable price.

Now that we've covered the cheap and cheerful off-roader options, let's talk about the overpriced and overrated ones.

1. Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon is more of a luxury icon and status symbol than actual off-roader. Its known for its unique boxy design, lavish interior, and performance, but it comes in at a whopping $200,000 for the same off-road capabilities you could have at a much lower price.

2. Hummer H1

If you're going to spend around $90,000 on a car, you'd expect some level of reliability. This is where the H1 is lacking. It boasts great off-road capabilities, but abysmal on-road handling, failure-prone front-end suspension, and poorly laid-our interior space.

3. Rivian R1S

The Rivian R1S was one of the most hyped SUVs ever when it was released in 2022. It's a fully electric adventure-oriented vehicle with off-road capabilities that are impressive for an EV, but it's high price point of around $90,000 make it inaccessible and owners have reported several malfunctions and problems with build quality.

4. Toyota Land Cruiser

While the Land Cruiser is quite a capable and robust off-roader, it's overly expensive for what it is. It also has exceptionally poor fuel economy, even when compared to other SUVs.

5. Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

Even though it's an SUV, the Durango SRT Hellcat isn't really designed for off-roading because of its low ground clearance and long wheelbase. It comes in at over $100,000 which is an astronomically high price for an SUV that doesn't perform well on rough terrain.

6. Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer blends luxury with off-road prowess. While it may fit the bill for those looking for an off-roader that also feels lavish, it's a chunky, cumbersome ride and has a price tag of over $100,000.

7. Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The Range Rover Sport is widely considered the Land Rover with the worst off-road capabilities. With an over $100,000 price tag, this model was built more for luxury than for adventures, despite having the aesthetic of an SUV.

8. Nissan Titan Pro-4X

Despite being designed for off-roading, the Titan Pro-X4 isn't really that capable in rough terrain. It performs well on dirt and gravel roads only and while the price isn's as astronomically high as the other vehicles on this list, we find the $55,000 to $65,000 price point a little hard to stomach considering its limitations.

9. BMW X5

The BMW X5 is known more for its luxurious features than off-road capabilities. While performs well on gravel roads and maintained dirt roads, calling it a true off-roader would be a stretch, making the roughly $70,000 price tag hard to justify.

10. Porsche Cayenne

With a price tag of around $100,000, the Porsche Cayenne is not the SUV for a serious off-road adventurer. While it can traverse gravel, mud, and some slightly rocky terrain, it's more of a luxury city drive than a true off-roader.