>
Blog>
Best 4-Wheel Drive Cars You Can BuyBest 4-Wheel Drive Cars You Can Buy
With winter just around the corner, more extreme weather predicted left right and centre, and the road condition worsening, now might be the best time to jump into a 4x4 for your next car, but what are the best ones to look for?
Best 4-Wheel Drive Cars for Off-Road Use
4 wheel drive was invented for increased traction off-road, so I’ve added this section for useful but still comfortable 4x4s, perfect for anyone who lives in a rural area and needs to travel over rough terrain.
Land Rover Defender - £57,420
With the first Defender, itself being an evolution of the Series Landrover of old, being so revered, Land Rover had their work cut out bringing a completely new version to market. The new Defender is a good homage to the old one, albeit with much more luxury and comfort, although that isn’t hard!
Starting at £57,420 for the utility hard top version, with steel wheels and one paint finish option, the Defender is priced to the upper end of the market. Inside you’ll find a blend of old and new styling with a few callbacks to the classic Landy.
Ford Ranger Double Cab - £30,800
Although predominantly a pickup truck, the double cab Ranger offers plenty of passenger space alongside a very useful pickup bed, if you add on the optional tonneau cover this is essentially a huge boot!
Because many of the users of the Ranger double cab treat it as an SUV rather than a pickup, the interior is kitted out with all the mod cons you’d expect in a high-end Ford, including touchscreen infotainment, adaptive cruise and more, a utilitarian pick-up it is not!
Ineos Grenadier - £65,010
As an established chemical processing company, Ineos doesn’t have the pedigree of Ford or Land Rover, but that hasn’t stopped them from producing a dependable and impressive vehicle in the Grenadier.
The mantra the company publicised was that the Grenadier is to be the “spiritual successor" to the outgoing Defender, and many argue it fills that gap better than the new Defender.
Whatever your opinion, you can’t argue with its ruggedness, with its heavy-duty ladder-chassis, permanent 4-wheel drive and front and rear skid plates.
Best Luxury 4-Wheel Drive Cars
If we’re being honest most 4-wheel drive vehicles rarely see dirt, and as such don’t need to offer long-travel suspension or locking differentials.
What they do offer is an elevated driving position and heaps of passenger space.
Audi Q7 - £68,370
Launched in 2005, the Audi Q7 is based on the same platform as the VW Toureg, with an onus on on-road performance, comfort and safety. The latest model is one of the German brand's flagship models, featuring all the latest gadgets and styling hallmarks.
With a colossal 500NM of torque available, the new Q7 will make it to 60mph in 5.6 seconds, impressive for a car that weighs over 2 tonnes. Contributing to the heft is an abundance of safety and tech features, such as adaptive air suspension, a hybrid system and loads of safety systems.
Range Rover - £104,025
Hailed by many as the peak of luxury SUVs, the Range Rover certainly exudes style and comfort. It has a price tag to match, though, starting at over £104,000. This gets you an SE trim level, with a mild hybrid diesel engine.
Regardless of trim level, the interior of the new Range Rover is an excellent place to be, with premium leather and metal everywhere. The 24-way adjustable heated, cooled and massaging seats are a perfect example of the exuberance and comfort found throughout.
BMW X5 - £72,335
Although the X5 is now technically BMW’s mid-size SUV, it's still sizable enough to provide plenty of comfort and luxury touches. Whilst the base model xDrive30D xLine possibly offers the best value at just over £72,300, the M60i would be the dream spec, with its twin-turbo V8 producing in excess of 500hp!
All models come with the modern styling of contemporary BMWs, with the exterior of the current generation X5 being less divisive than that of the X7, for now at least. Inside the seats and controls are as well built and functional as you’d expect from a high-end BMW, which is to say very!
Mercedes G-Class - £136,690
Another luxury SUV born from a utility vehicle, the first G-Classes made were for military use, it wasn’t until the updated version was unveiled in 1990 that it gained traction as a luxury/status vehicle.
Nowadays the base G-wagon costs well over £130,000, with many opting for the superior G63 V8 version starting at £184,000+. For your £136,690 you get all-wheel drive and a diesel hybrid powertrain, giving a sprightly 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds, what’s even more impressive is its claimed economy of 30+ MPG.
Best Cheap 4-Wheel Drive Cars
If you don’t need an enormous Land Rover or an ultra-luxurious German SUV, these bare-bones, simple and cheap 4-wheel drive options may be worth a look.
Suzuki Jimny - £22,299
Another modern revamp of an old classic, the new Jimny is a quirky but practical small off-roader. Sadly due to EU emissions regulations, the passenger version was discontinued in 2020, but the commercial 2-seater is still made.
Inside the Jimny is just as functional but fun, with rugged switchgear and controls, despite its price and simplicity they still include a touchscreen infotainment system for interior convenience and a low-range gearbox for off-road capability.
Dacia Duster - £26,545
New for 2024, the Duster is a modern mild hybrid that has a certain degree of off-road capability, it's powered by a 3-cylinder 1200cc engine, that’s straight from the Renault production line, and it offers modest power and impressive fuel economy.
Inside the new Duster is a far cry from the plastic-heavy early Dacias, with synthetic leather and high-quality plastics elevating the feel. Infotainment is provided through a touchscreen system combined with sleek physical controls for certain features.
Suzuki Ignis Hybrid Allgrip - £17,949
Although the Allgrip system isn’t a permanent 4-wheel drive, it can offer some additional traction in tricky situations, the Ignis Hybrid is slightly lacking in ground clearance too so don’t attempt any difficult green lanes or off-road courses!
Although not an all-out offroader, the Ignis does offer a good compromise between a compact city car and a small SUV, with its quirky body mouldings and interior designs. As standard, the SZ-T trim comes with 16” alloy wheels and Apple Car Play as standard.
What Does 4x4 Mean on a Car?
4x4 means the car’s engine powers all 4 wheels, most cars use either the front or rear wheels only. 4-wheel drive gives the car better traction in slippery conditions such as snow, ice or mud.
What Are The Downsides to a 4x4 Car?
Delivering power to all 4 wheels requires more components and therefore more complexity and weight. This means 4x4 cars typically have more costly maintenance schedules and use more fuel than 2-wheel drive vehicles.
Author - Joseph Law
Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.
Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.
Related Posts