Most of us were confined to our homes for a long time due to the coronavirus pandemic, and as a result of that, a growing lifestyle trend has emerged. People now step out of the urban jungle every once in a while to reconnect with nature and explore the wild outdoors. They call it overlanding, where people travel to remote places to go off-roading and camping.
Now, in order to do such an activity, first, you'll need a capable 4x4 that could reliably take on the roughest trails, and at the same time, has enough space to pack camping equipment. Luckily, there are a lot of rugged off-road vehicles to choose from, and these JDM examples are affordable enough to not break the bank.
10 Suzuki Samurai/Jimny
As we all know, the new Suzuki Jimny is currently not being sold in the USA, and Americans might think they'd be missing out on the cute little off-roader that could, but we're glad to say the older Samurai is just as capable as the new one.
Whereas heavier 4x4s have a tendency to dig into soft mud and get stuck, the Jimny's lightweight construction gives enough flotation to clear obstacles and perform better than more expensive off-road vehicles when on the trail.
9 Toyota Land Cruiser
This list would not be complete without ever mentioning Japan's legendary off-roader — the Toyota Land Cruiser. For the past 70 years, Toyota's rough-and-tumble SUV has survived the test of time, and even the toughest of conditions.
In its later generations, the Land Cruiser remained a rugged and capable off-roader, and added a host of safety and luxury features to remain relevant in the ever-changing world of automobiles.
8 Nissan Xterra
Based on the Frontier pickup truck, the Nissan Xterra was designed to tackle harsh environments where there are no roads. Quite simply, in a world where modern SUVs have become car-like, the Xterra stays as a no-nonsense, rugged off-road SUV.
The second-generation model packed a 4.0-liter V6 engine that produced 265 hp, giving the Xterra plenty of climbing power. It is also equipped with a rear-locking differential for increased off-road performance. Now that Nissan has discontinued the model, the Xterra could prove to be a future collectible, considering its abilities for a serious 4x4 machine.
7 Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux has gained a reputation for being a workhorse that would simply perform wherever you put it. TopGear even calls it the "indestructible pickup truck".
Second to the Land Cruiser, the Hilux is one of Toyota's icons of reliability, and has proven its durability on the farm, on the trail, and even in warzones.
6 Mitsubishi Pajero
The Dakar rally is one of the most grueling off-road races in the world, but the Mitsubishi Pajero has proven over the years that it could survive the Sahara desert and claimed the victory a record 12 times.
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To add to its legendary durability, it's also a capable 4x4 that could take on any kind of terrain. Later models featured the Super Select 4WD system that lets you go from 2WD to 4WD even at speeds over 40 mph, and has locking center differentials in both high and low range for maximum traction on loose surfaces.
5 Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma is one of the best-selling pick-up trucks in North America, and Donut Media even calls it as "America's favorite off-roader".
A lot of enthusiasts choose the Tacoma as their go-to overlanding vehicle due to the fact that it has a great bed capacity to put in camping equipment, and has plenty of aftermarket parts to increase the truck's already impressive off-road capability.
4 Isuzu Trooper
Perhaps one of the least talked about 4x4s on this list, the Isuzu Trooper is a vintage off-roader that was built on a traditional ladder frame chassis fitted with a front torsion bar suspension and a rear live-axle leaf spring setup.
It also has a traditional two-speed transfer case with High and Low gears for maximum torque, which is needed for overcoming obstacles while out in the trail.
3 Nissan Patrol GQ
Nissan's Patrol SUV is quite simply the equivalent of Toyota's Land Cruiser when it comes to ruggedness, durability and off-road capability, while having the advantage of being cheaper to acquire than the iconic Toyota 4x4.
In particular, the GQ chassis shares a lot of similarities with the 80-series Toyota Land Cruiser, as it features a live axle with coil spring suspension setup, and is also powered by a 4.2-liter straight six diesel engine called the TD42. Furthermore, top-spec models of the GQ get a factory-installed rear differential locks for increased traction on the beaten path.
2 Mitsubishi Delica
Imagine the Mitsubishi Pajero as a people mover, and you'd get exactly what the Mitsubishi Delica is. Built using the underpinnings of its legendary SUV brother, the Delica is in a class of its own in being an off-road minivan.
It's a unique 4x4 that simply performs its duties well as an everyday car and as a weekend off-roader. Back then, it was only exclusive to Japan, but now that it's more than 25 years old, the Delica can now be legally imported to the USA.
1 Toyota FJ Cruiser
The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a classic case of old meets new, as the SUV borrowed its running gear from the Land Cruiser Prado, but shared the same design cues with the 1960s Land Cruiser 40 series.
When you look at it, it's safe to say that it started the trend of retro-looking off-roaders with modern technologies and features, as seen on the new Ford Bronco and the Suzuki Jimny, which is well-received by enthusiasts today. Clearly, the FJ Cruiser was a 4x4 that was well ahead of its time.