The SUV (sports utility vehicle) has soared in popularity and has quickly risen from a niche vehicle to becoming a market favorite. Yet, not all are equal. Some are far more at home in the dirt and mud than others. Some SUVs are held back by their owners - vehicles like the Range Rover Evoque, the normal Range Rover and more high-performance models like the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga. Many people simply use their SUVs like normal cars, never leaving the security of asphalt.
We've updated this article with more useful data, and more entries of reliable off-road SUVs for gearheads who love venturing into the wild.
These aside, there are genuine hardcore off-road SUVs which were specifically designed to tackle any array of terrains in whichever weather. A Range Rover is excellent at traversing mountains and wading through rivers. Unfortunately, that same Range Rover also has a bad reputation for reliability, and reliability is a quality that anyone venturing off-road needs.
Off-roading takes skill and calls for a lot of driver's attention. No off-road driver needs a continued distraction - especially one that comes from the worry of poor reliability. So, for those looking to head off into the wilds, these are the 10 most reliable off-road SUVs ever made.
All informational data for this article was retrieved from popular automotive sites such as Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds, CarSurvey, and the automakers' websites themselves.
The Jeep Wrangler was built to go anywhere. It offers rugged reliability and huge amounts of dependability. It is an instantly recognizable design that has barely changed from decade to decade. And it is all the better for it. An iconic vehicle with a huge cult following worldwide.
A Jeep Wrangler is a fairly basic machine. It features a separate body and frame. Offers low and high gearing. Everything is tried and tested. It is a record-breaking off-roader with a rock-solid reputation. Standard or modified, their ability and reliability are legendary.
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It's a Toyota. This alone should reinforce confidence in reliability and the FJ Cruiser is no exception. It may look like a retro-styled concept vehicle. But the Toyota FJ Cruiser is a capable off-roader. It is loaded with specialist features and ideal for tackling the rough stuff.
The 4.0-liter V6 is a strong unit. Owners rejoice at its quality. It also takes high mileage well. All versions have plenty of power under the hood. The interior features easy wash-down materials. The 4x4 system also ensures that the FJ Cruiser has plenty of grip on all surfaces.
The Chevrolet Blazer is a legacy vehicle. It paved the way for modern SUVs and came into its own during the nineties. A huge array of engines, trim levels, and specifications have been offered over the years. All have a fantastic blend of on- and off-road performance.
Regularly voted as being the best in its class, the Blazer won over a legion of fans. Through every generation, it continued to deliver high levels of reliability. Many owners hold onto their vehicles for decades. Often using them as a dependable second, bad weather vehicle.
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There was nothing glamorous about the original Land Rover Defender. It was a simple vehicle, designed to do a hard day's work in the worst conditions imaginable. Farmers loved them. Able to take a beating, the Defender would soldier on regardless. It's a hardy vehicle.
The Camel Trophy event underlined the Defender's prowess. Grueling expeditions over the world's most demanding terrain. The Land Rover Defender lapped it all up. It went where other SUVs feared and did so without causing mechanical concern. It's a true 4x4 hero.
The Ford Bronco is an SUV pioneer. It cut a path in the market way before SUVs were fashionable. Built to last, older models will lap up daily use in harsh climates. The classic Bronco was very popular with buyers. Thanks to its sturdy build and easy-to-drive demeanor.
The re-born Ford Bronco has picked up the torch. It has already impressed with its off-road abilities. Fitted with a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6, the Bronco has 330hp to play with. That's plenty of power to use when scrabbling up the side of a dusty mountain, or across a field.
In the nineties, Subaru put a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine into their family SUV. Doing so, they created an all-terrain weapon. The early Forester turbos delivered enormous pace across all surfaces. It offered practicality with mechanicals that wouldn't let a driver down.
Later on, the Forester got a revamp. It became bigger and more likened to what people expected an SUV to look like. It lost none of its abilities. The XT model even features a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with 237hp. The Forester may have grown up, but it's still fun.
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Big, brash, and wearing designer army boots. The Hummer H1 is a civilian version of the famed military-only Humvee. What the H1 can achieve may be as impressive as its bold silhouette. It can wade through 30 inches of water, and climb over a 22-inch step.
The only drawback is that it may be a little too big for conventional off-roading. But that said, it can still go further than a lot of its rivals. Loaded with specialist equipment to traverse any terrain. The Hummer H1 isn't afraid of getting its tires dirty. As long as the trail is wide.
The Suzuki Jimny proves that not all off-roaders need to be big, beefy machines. With less than 60hp on tap in older versions, it is a well-respected mud-plugger. A vehicle that relies on its compact dimensions. Its lightweight construction gets it places that some 4x4s can't.
The latest version looks amazing. A square-jawed miniature brawler. Its 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine makes just 101hp. But it uses it to great effect. This is no cute pretender. It's an SUV that is capable of putting much more expensive, complicated vehicles to shame.
The Porsche Cayenne arrived fairly late to the SUV party. Its looks also divided opinions. These were then blown away by the Turbo versions. An SUV that delivered almost supercar levels of performance. Yet, this was no track star. It could still head off-road with ease.
The first Cayenne Turbo S packed 514hp, thanks to a twin-turbo 4.5-liter V8. It came loaded with a low-range gearbox, locking differential, and adjustable air suspension. This allowed it to perform very well off-road. Much better than most people had ever expected.
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The G-Wagen started its life as a military vehicle. It has been described as one of the best off-road vehicles ever made. And features three locking differentials, a rare feature on a passenger vehicle. Early versions are horrifically slow on the road. But hugely competent off it.
Now something of a fashion icon. The G-Wagen has received numerous updates during its lifetime. A huge selection of versions makes up the back catalog. With notable additions from the AMG tuning group. A 621hp snorting V12 bi-turbo monster is of particular note.
The Jeep Cherokee XJ is one of the most instantly recognizable off-roaders on the planet. Between 1983 and 2001, three different companies manufactured the XJ Cherokee at six assembly plants all over the world. Jeep built just under three million Cherokee XJs and Grand Cherokee ZJs, resulting in them becoming quite the cheap and popular off-roading option - even for the most amateur of enthusiasts. It also helps that the Cherokee models on the used market is so cheap.
The Cherokee XJ is a sturdy and pretty reliable hunk of metal and plastic that will continue to perform admirably if the owner takes care of it. Many owners have put well over 300,000 miles on their vehicles, and they are still going. The 4.0-liter straight-6 is a pretty good engine, even if it is a bit on the slow side. The XJ Cherokee also looks fantastic and will likely still be with us into infinity.
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The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most well-known off-roaders on the planet - one that spawned from the creation of the Willy's Jeep along with the original Land Rover. The Land Cruiser has seen many different iterations over its decades of production, with three different versions in production at the same time.
The Land Cruiser - being a Toyota product - is one of the most reliable off-roaders ever made. It is so reliable that international organizations such as the United Nations use them for the transportation of their people in extremely adverse conditions and situations all across the planet. With the introduction of the new generation Land Cruiser 250, the US market will once again see the model on its own soil.