Many off road vehicles and performances are mixed and the definition of off road seems to be a bit of a confused term. Does off road mean simply the vehicle can drive down a dirt or gravel path that would be easy for any vehicle to handle? Or does it actually mean the vehicle is capable of climbing over boulders and logs with easy on the way to the remote destination? What does an actual off road vehicle need for you?
Only you can answer that question, but here are ten off road vehicles that might be a great place to start your shopping.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Hard Rock Edition
Often one of the most popular choices is a Wrangler from Jeep. As the original off road vehicle that was made for the military the Wrangler has performed for over seven decades for those who just want an off road adventure as well. With the versatility to offer great wheel travel the Wrangler can be set up to handle just about every single obstacle that could possibly stand in its way. This Hard Rock Edition of the Wrangler shows off with a great deal of off road equipment and performance to get the job done in just about every locale.
Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
As a long running off-road model the 4Runner has given so many the joy of being able to trek out to the most remote locations possible for a very long time. The TRD Pro option package has turned the 4Runner in to an even more trail ready beast by adding a flexy coil-link rear suspension, a locking rear differential and Crawl Control to make the 4Runner a confident performer for you when the campsite calls your name.
Nissan Xterra Pro-4X
The Xterra has been a great choice for some mid-range off-road enjoyment and when fitted with the Pro-4X package the Xterra can run with the big boys. As one of the most capable SUV’s on the market since its release 14 years ago the Xterra has shown a great deal of strength and given Nissan an excellent SUV to make this list. The Pro-4X adds a locking rear differential, decent control and hill start assist, as well as some great all-terrain tires and Bilstein shocks. This awesome equipment allow the Xterra to be a great vehicle to crawl up rocky terrain without damaging the SUV.
Toyota Land Cruiser
This big and bold SUV is the flagship of the Toyota line of SUVs that offers an amazing amount of trail and off-road capabilities. With a very large 5.7-liter V8 engine that shows off with 381 horsepower this great truck offers the ride confidence to take on obstacles and inclines knowing it is going to come out on top. The performance secret of the Land Cruiser comes from the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension that allows for the different suspension movement based on speed and conditions making intuitive changes where needed.
Ram Power Wagon
Even though pickup trucks aren’t always the most popular off-road vehicles the Ram Power Wagon is certainly capable of handling off-road challenges that are presented to it. The capability for this truck starts underneath with the sold axles and coil-link suspension. With the Atriculink installed in the suspension the truck offers more distance of movement for the axles to give the necessary ability to traverse rough terrain and obstacles. With a very nice towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and the power to pull itself out of sticky situation, this pick up is one that will make a great choice for true off-roading.
Chevrolet Colorado Z71
A midsized truck makes a great choice for an off-road vehicle by being smaller than the full size models that might not be agile enough. By reentering the midsize truck ranks the Colorado gives you some excellent towing capacity to enjoy along with hill decent control, an automatic locking rear differential and an upgraded suspension with better shocks when the Z71 model is chosen. Not made for the heavy trail running this is a great choice if only moderate trail riding is in your future to get to your favorite fishing hole.
Ford Raptor
When your idea of off-road adventures include desert four-wheel racing or traversing some very sandy and remote beach areas, the Ford Raptor is the best choice. From its debut in 2010 other models are still trying to catch this bad boy and failing to get there. This is the result of the 411 horsepower 6.2-liter V8 engine aboard and the wide track suspension. Add some 35-inch tires and there won’t be much in the desert or on off road trails that this big truck can’t handle with ease and agility to get you and your outdoor party where you need to go.
Land Rover Range Rover
At the high end of any pricing spectrum, but with outdoor and off-road ability that is nearly perfect the Range Rover is an SUV that has been longed for by those who want to find the most remote destinations their vehicle can head to and the Range Rover can make it to many that others dare not. With one of the longest travel suspensions and Terrain Response four-wheel drive the Range Rover is capable of climbing over obstacles and working its way through the dirt and the mud to find itself faced with the euphoria of reaching the destination you selected.
Ford Super Duty
Even though this truck might not be a first thought for four-wheeling or off-road action, when the trail requires very slow rolling and the hauling of a large and heavy payload, this is the vehicle to make things happen. When powered by the 6.7-liter diesel engine that offers up to 440 horsepower the big benefit to this monster is the 860 lb.-ft. of torque that will continue to work and strain until the job is done. With the large ground clearance and large wheels this big beast can even handle trails that are filled with obstacles to get to the final destination.
Mercedes-Benz G500
When true trail riding is thought of the Mercedes-Benz line of vehicles should come to the front of mind. These trail lovers were built for the German armies to be able to handle the rough and tough terrain during wartime. What has transformed has been the G-Series of SUVs that offers not only amazing off-road manners but a huge amount of interior features for anyone who is willing to pay the massive price for this luxury off road tamer.
With ten great vehicles to choose from to head off road, all depending on what kind of trails you are about to face, there is a great diversity in interior cargo space, towing capacities, size of the vehicle and power under the hood. Regardless of which one you pick of these ten you can be sure you will enjoy the outdoor experiences even more knowing you have the right equipment to reach any remote locations you can think of for your very next weekend or week long adventure to the wilderness. The only question left is “where are you going to take your new off-road trail rider?”
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.