Off-roading symbolizes man’s victory over nature. The idea of man versus nature has been the center of stories throughout history. Depicted in stories from hand-painted cave walls to orated poems in amphitheaters to Hollywood silver screens, this conflict has always intrigued the masses. Since the dawn of the 4x4 in the early 20th century—when man ostensibly triumphed over nature—there has been a plethora of four-wheel drive vehicles available to car buyers around the world. A four-wheel drive vehicle—also known as 4x4—offer owners the ability to break away from the beaten path to uncharted areas. The engines in these vehicles power all four wheels, hence where it gets its name. Unlike a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, a vehicle has more traction with all four wheels getting power. This makes rugged terrain a breeze to navigate.
Updated March 2022: If you're a fan of 4x4s and off-roading, you'll be happy to know that we've updated this article with more information regarding the various models.
Off-roading—which is best with a 4x4—is both fun and thrilling. If someone has the opportunity to go off-roading, they should jump at the chance. There’re just a few criteria involved to make it happen. First, there needs to be an adequate landscape for off-roading that’s not too dangerous, though still provides ample adventure. Secondly, it calls for a great 4x4. Like any class of vehicles, the 4x4 market is full of duds that don’t have what it takes to handle every terrain, despite what they may advertise. The mid to late ‘80s Toyota 4Runner N60 and the ‘70s Ford Bronco are just some of the great examples of 4x4s out there. Though the following 4x4s detailed below have enough problems to scare buyers away.
25 Ford Bronco II
Just because a car lasts long on the market doesn’t necessarily make it a high quality option. Four Wheeler Network reports that the Bronco II was in production from 1984 to 1990, yet many consider it one of the worst—if not the worst—4x4 in history.
Part of the problem has to do with the power that’s underneath the hood. In 1986, the same source notes that the Bronco follow up V6 could do a conservative 140 hp that fell short.
24 Hummer H2 SUT
There’s something aggressive about the Hummer H2 SUT. It’s monstrous and doesn’t shy away from making it known. The New York Times notes that a Chevrolet Silverado will tow and haul the same as an SUT, but that it doesn't leave as much of an impression as massive SUT does.
This tank shouldn’t have problems off-roading, though it’s going to rub people the wrong way. It’s going to stand out on regular roads. That makes this an inconvenient car to drive in any setting except for off-roading.
23 Audi A6 Allroad
For those interested in purchasing a 4x4, there’s a study from 2010 they may want to reference of. According to New Atlas, the study came by way of Warranty Direct in the U.K. who compiled a list of the most unreliable 4x4 vehicles out there.
Making the very top of the list was the Audi A6 Allroad, which is a top honor no automaker wants. The same source goes on to note that over half of A6 Allroad owners reported an issue with their cars in a given year.
22 Volvo XC70
A 4x4 is usually going to endure more wear and tear over time than the usual FWD or RWD. Although they’re intended for off-roading, all that journeying off trail can eventually take a toll. Volvo’s XC70 found itself on Warranty Direct’s ranking of least reliable cars in a study back in 2010.
According to New Atlas, the XC70 landed in the tenth position with an average repair cost of what amounts to $568.36 about 12 years ago. That’s a hefty price to pay in the long run.
21 Mahindra Thar
It’s too bad the Mahindra Thar falls short. It’s such a good looking 4x4, how could anyone turn down a ride in one? As soon as they get inside though, they’ll start to realize what went wrong.
According to Car Magazine, the inside is uncomfortable and crudely designed. Even parts of the dashboard aren’t visible from the driver’s seat. When certain design features fail to meet basic expectations, it can be hard to enjoy even the excitement something like off-roading has to offer.
20 Jeep Wagoneer
Just because it’s a Jeep doesn’t make it an off-roading champion. Some of the most important parts to a 4x4 are its engine and suspension. Sadly for the 1963-1965 IFS Wagoneer, it lacked quality in both. Four Wheeler Network points out that Jeep tried something new with the suspension that had consequences when off-roading.
While there’s nothing wrong with trying something new, what can be a problem are when tires toe in or out as a result of the suspension.
19 Mercedes G-Wagon
A four-wheel drive vehicle also needs to handle well on the road. While it’s not expected to drive on a street as well as it does off-road, it’s important getting to those dirt roads competently.
The earlier Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons struggled on ordinary roads. Unsealed 4x4 reports that the G-Wagon’s sluggish speed didn’t help either, making them look more like a construction loader cruising down the road than it does an SUV. At least Mercedes-Benz upped their game on the later models.
18 BMW X5
When someone buys a 4x4, they expect something in return: a vehicle capable of off-roading that's built reliably. The BMW X5 isn’t one known for standing the test of time though, if a survey of owners is any evidence.
According to New Atlas, in a survey conducted by Warranty Direct in 2010, the BMW X5 placed third for being the most unreliable 4x4 on the market at that time. Buyers should beware the BMW X5, unless they don’t mind paying extra in the long run for repairs.
17 Land Rover Range Rover
Although the Land Rover Range Rover is a reputable car today, past surveys paint another story. New Atlas reports that the Range Rover placed sixth for the most unreliable 4x4 SUVs in 2010. The survey also details their average repair cost coming in at about $653.21 back then.
If that report is true, it couldn’t have made Range Rover owners very happy back in the day. It just goes to show however, that even a survey like this may have little bearing on an automobile in the long run.
16 Chevrolet Blazer
Automakers live with a lot of pressure to deliver appealing and safe vehicles. We don’t envy the business they’re in where they’re forced to please customers. Then again, a 4x4 like the Chevrolet Blazer makes one consider whether safety was even a factor during their production?
According to Unsealed 4x4, the Blazer wasn’t always safe on conventional roads due to their mere two-meter width, which left little space on the sides of lanes. Owners were hard pressed to even drive these to a location fit for off-roading.
15 Suzuki Samurai
Here’s a 4x4 with a name inspired by the iconic warriors from Japan that it’s unable to live up to. The Samurai has split owners for years. According to Four Wheeler Network, it’s not a bad off-roader despite reports they’re susceptible to tipping over.
The real problem here is the perception many have of it. With such a polarizing reputation, many are going to judge Samurai owners for choosing a 4x4 that stylistically is smaller and less rugged.
14 Lada Niva
The Lada Niva looks like a capable 4x4 on the outside but offers something else in return. While not visible on the surface, it’s supposedly riddled with mechanical issues.
Unsealed 4x4 reports that upon driving the Lada Niva, the interior will start to sound unstable. They reported lots of rattles and questionable engine noises that would have anyone worried. It’s not exactly the most assuring feeling for a Niva driver and passengers to experience while embarking on a long off-roading tour.
13 Volvo XC90
Volvo didn’t look real great coming off of Warranty Direct’s survey conducted back in 2010. The XC70 wasn’t the only vehicle from Volvo to appear on the list; the XC90 found a spot higher on the list, making it even more unreliable than the XC70 according to owners.
New Atlas reports that the XC90 racked up an average repair amount comparable to $691.85 back in 2010. The initial cost of the vehicle along with any subsequent repair charges sure made this a pricey 4x4 to maintain.
12 Daihatsu Feroza
Daihatsu is a long-running Japanese automaker who introduced the Feroza. Some of the features on the surface look really cool. Take the shock absorbers, for example, which Unsealed 4x4 details had three different settings.
Drivers could switch from a smoother setting to one that’s firmer, which affects the Feroza’s handling depending on the configuration. The same source notes though that it didn’t really work as well as advertised. While the idea behind the Feroza looked good on paper, the execution didn’t live up to it.
11 Jeep CJ-5
Jeeps excel at off-roading—at least most of them anyway. The CJ-5 is a different story. According to Four Wheeler Network, some of the parts weren’t the highest of quality, including the axle shafts that easily broke.
It’s not a good sign when a car that’s made for off-roading has faulty parts. The V8 engine was one of the few bright spots to this machine. There’s no guarantee man will win against nature should someone ever go off-roading in a CJ-5.
10 Holden Jackaroo
A name that’s sure to bring a grin from ear to ear is the Holden Jackaroo. Not only does it sound funny to say, but it also has a reputation for being more ho-hum than it does exhilarating drivers.
Unsealed 4x4 reports that they used lots of plastic to outfit the Jackaroo, which isn’t the best kind of material for an off-roading vehicle. Although Holden improved on the Jackaroo over time, it failed to satisfy owners when it comes to driving off the beaten path.
9 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has been a bestselling SUV for years. With decent fuel economy and a positive driving experience, it’s easy to see why so many competitors struggle to one-up this Honda darling.
As a 4x4 though, it certainly fails to deliver. Many are willing to accept this considering the CR-V has plenty of uses, none of which are off-roading. As long as owners stick with the traditional 2WD models, they’ll keep critics off their backs. The 4x4 version is a different story.
8 Jeep CJ-8
The Jeep CJ lineup gets a bad rap that many believe is well deserved. While the CJ-7 has its perks and fans to back it up, it’s hard to find as much love for the CJ-8. One of its supposed flaws has to do with its fuel economy.
According to Unsealed 4x4, the diesel version requires more fill ups compared with other competitive models out there. While it’s not exactly a dig on its off-roading capabilities, it can affect the quality of driving nonetheless.
7 Land Rover Discovery
Land Rover Discovery is still around today, which goes to show that not even a negative survey released in 2010 could hurt its image. Those who bought one eight years ago though were in for a rude discovery.
According to New Atlas, in a survey by Warranty Direct, the Discovery managed to get as low as seventh on a list of unreliable 4x4 SUVs. The survey goes on to detail that the average repair cost came out to the equivalent of $536.13 back when owners participated in the survey.
6 Toyota Land Cruiser Bundera
Toyota Land Cruisers have a lasting reputation for being solid 4x4s. Toyota has been making them forever and gathered fans along the way for this remarkable lineup. What Land Cruisers prove though is that even the best experience rough patches.
The Bundera was a special version with a different kind of suspension. Unsealed 4x4 reports that due to the suspension, the Bundera was hard to handle. Not only do Land Cruiser fans look down on the Bundera, but 4x4 enthusiasts at large.