The 4x4 can trace its history to tractors manufactured by French manufacturer Latil around 1898. The 4x4 then gained prominence during the First World War when the demand for all-terrain military vehicles increased significantly. It has been quite a journey since then. 4x4 vehicles come equipped with a host of features like locking differentials, sturdy axles, and adjustable suspension – all designed to help the car get through challenging road surfaces devoid of a tarmac cover.
However, in recent times, 4x4s are rarely used for the purpose they were intended for – hardcore off-roading. Instead, most people acquire them as family vans or, in the more extreme cases, status symbols – take the case of the most expensive production SUV, the Rolls Royce Cullinan.
Manufacturers have adjusted to this trend and even the more extreme off-roaders come equipped with a suite of comfort features for pleasure and entertainment. This does not mean that the cars have lost the capacity to venture off-road as the following images will show. There are still some 4x4s out there that will willingly take on the most challenging road conditions – and do so with style.
15 2019 Mercedes Benz G550 – King Of The Hill
The G-Wagon is a beast and we are not even talking of the AMG models. Even the regular G550 is a very capable machine when the tires leave the tarmac for some serious off-road action. Select the off-road driving option, lock the center differential and get set for some impressive action as the German machine makes its way through rough terrain.
14 Range Rover – It's All About The Balance
The British have few off-roading vehicles but the ones they do have are pretty good. The new Range Rover will cost way north of $100,000 but you get a host of off-road goodies like independent air suspension, locking rear differential and a proper low-range gearbox. In this image, the Range Rover is navigating the more daunting sections of the infamous Hell’s Revenge trail in Utah.
13 Jeep Rubicon – As Tough As They Come
The Jeep brand has always been synonymous with off-road action and this Jeep JK Rubicon is no exception. It is one of the most capable stock 4x4s on the market today and it can handle almost anything an unforgiving terrain has to offer – and it will do all that while you are safely cocooned in an air-conditioned interior, complete with leather seats and other cool creature comforts.
12 Mercedes Benz G63 AMG 6X6 – King Kong
The regular G63 AMG pretty much came in at the top of the food chain but that wasn’t enough for the AMG engineers. So they slapped on an extra axle and the ultimate off-roader in the form of the 6x6 was born. The car weighs in excess of 4 tons but it’s more capable off-road than most 4x4s and yes, they can also jump.
11 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon – Boneshaker
Few people will doubt the fact that this is the most popular off-road 4x4 today. It’s the backbone of the Jeep brand; in 2018, almost a quarter of all Jeeps sold were Wranglers. There’s a good reason for that – the Wrangler is a highly capable vehicle whose true talents shine when you venture off-road.
10 Toyota Land Cruiser – Challenge Accepted
The Landcruiser may be big but it uses that bulk to its advantage when it’s taken off the paved highway. In this image, you can see one – taking part in a Turkish rally challenge – bullying its way through a fast flowing stream. The massive tires helped but that should not take away from the abilities of this tried and trusted 4x4.
9 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk - Coming Through
Here’s another proper off-roading machine – if you haven’t guessed that already from the name. With this one, you can switch to low-range four-wheel-drive, engage the locking differentials and thrash it properly, away from the tarmac. The vehicle was introduced to replace the Jeep Liberty but you will not feel your freedom is shackled when you take this one out for a trip to the outback.
8 2017 Land Rover Discovery – Finding New Grounds
This chunky vehicle may look ungainly and boxy but don’t let that fool you into thinking it will shy away from uneven surfaces. The car comes equipped with features such as height-adjustable air suspension and Terrain Response 2 traction control system that come in handy on most types of bumpy terrain. You don’t lose all the comfort features you would expect in a family SUV too – that’s a plus.
7 Jeep Renegade – Ready to Rumble
Engineers at Jeep worked really hard to create a proper SUV that’s fun to drive on smooth surfaces and uneven paths. The Renegade’s high-ground clearance is better than a lot of vehicles in its class and specialized off-road features like Hill Descent system ensures you never lose the feeling of control when you venture off-road.
6 2020 Land Rover Defender – Hardened Warrior
This Land Rover Defender has been in existence now for about 70 years and one of the reasons it’s been around this long is down to its off-roading prowess. The 2020 model continues that fine tradition by introducing cool features like the ‘wade’ program that allows the car to navigate a sizeable body of water and that’s after driving on rocky paths with a gradient of up to 45 degrees.
5 2010 Nissan Patrol GU Ti – Ground Cruncher
The Nissan Patrol is known for a solid drivetrain and tough axles – features that are invaluable during a rock crawl. The 2010 model may lack some of the more modern off-road technology but that does not mean it can't navigate its way through pretty harsh terrain in capable hands.
4 2015 Nissan Patrol – Big Business
Under the hood of the 2015 Nissan lies a thumping 5.6-liter V8 engine and you can be sure you will not be short of power to haul the big SUV up the slopes. This Patrol is packed with a host of electronic assists that greatly boosts its performance off-road and with music blasting from the 13-speaker Bose sound system, you probably won’t even feel the war going on between the tires and the rough surface.
3 Toyota FJ Cruiser – A Cruiser On Steroids
In 2017, Toyota ceased production of the FJ Cruiser; such a shame really considering the car is one very capable off-roader that can conquer most uneven terrains. Here you can see one literally crawling up a challenging surface on monster wheels. Even in stock form, the car has considerable ground clearance and a four-link coil-spring suspension system ideal for off-roading.
2 Rolls Royce Cullinan – A Different Kind Of Off-Roading
The Rolls Royce Cullinan is the undisputed king of luxury SUVs at the moment but that does not mean it will not get ‘down and dirty’ if it has to. For the Cullinan owner bold enough to go off-road, the SUV comes packed with features like an electronically controlled shock absorber system that should get it over uneven surfaces with minimum fuss.
1 2019 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro– Rock n’ Road
The Toyota 4Runner has earned a reputation as one of the leading names in off-road design and functionality. It is well deserved too. The average user will enjoy this SUV as a daily cruiser and it will not disappoint even when it is taken off smooth surfaces for some proper outdoor adventure.