As a gearhead, one of the best feelings while behind the wheel of a car is to be able to venture off the beaten path, off the tarmac in your powerful SUV. There is no doubt that blazing through the tarmac on the interstate, hearing your V8 or V12 Roar is inarguably a great feeling, but having the confidence to take your vehicle off the asphalt onto any trail or terrain that pleases your eye is an experience bar none.
It is what off-roading vehicles promise us that allures those inclined towards adventure-active, adventurous activities where you tear through mud and gravel to get wherever you want to be. Thus, the combination of four-wheel-drive and high ground clearance becomes one with a remarkably powerful appeal.
We can imagine bringing off-roading SUVs with us for hiking, skiing, Overlanding, surfing, or wherever we go, and in 2022, we can also bring home some remarkably capable SUVs without digging a trench in our pockets that even the SUV won't be able to cross. Here are some of the best off-roading vehicles you can buy for under $30,000.
10 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 ($27,000)
While the Chevy Colorado is quite adept when it comes to handling on-road and also offers a decent car-like experience, it also shines when the road runs out. On-road driving credentials aside, the Colorado is quite eager to leave the pavement and conquer terrains no ordinary car would ever see.
Little differentiates 2015, 2016, and 2017 models apart from the eight-speed transmission Chevy outfitted for the 2017 models. For serious off-roaders, the ZL1 package on the Chevy Colorado is the best option to go with, which offered specially-calibrated twin-tube off-road suspension and a G80 automatic locking rear differential. The 2016 Chevy Colorado ZL1 should be available on the used car market for around $27,000.
9 2018 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X King Cab ($25,000)
Sure, the current generation Nissan is the only one made exclusively for the American market, but that doesn't take away from the capabilities of the last generation models, which also happen to be the ones you can bring home for under $30,000.
The new 2022 Frontier only offers 4x4 after you cross the $31k mark, which would still pale in comparison to a 2016 Frontier PRO-4X King Cab in off-road capabilities. While being a remarkably capable off-roader, it also outdid its rivals in engine torque and response. A quick look at the market could even get you a Pro-4X model under this list's cutoff, and there simply couldn't be a better deal.
8 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road ($28,000)
The Toyota Tacoma has always been a famously reliable and long-lasting truck, rife with capabilities. It has always inspired confidence in the drivers, who knew they could conquer any terrain the trail threw at them. The Japanese giant redesigned the Tacoma for the 2016 model year, with fresh looks and more new features to make it the new perfect package.
The Tacoma's TRD Off-Road trim remains a serious off-roader—one that invokes boundless confidence in its driver even when faced with worsening trails or weather conditions. There could be no destination that the Tacoma couldn't get you to, and for the average going rate of $28,000, is a great off-roading pickup.
7 2019 Jeep Cherokee Overland 4WD ($29,000)
With how quickly and largely the compact SUV segment has been expanding, the Jeep Cherokee has remained the king of the hill when it comes to off-roading abilities. The V6 engine option was the best for both on-road acceleration and off-road exploration.
Jeep had been quite generous in endowing the Cherokee with its approach and departure angles. It was also the Overland 4WD variant that shined the best when it came to off-roading, and came equipped with Jeep’s 3.2L 271-hp V6 engine. Along with that, the adjustable traction control system available even in its 2018 and 2019 avatars for just under $30,000 makes the Jeep Cherokee a great choice for all-terrain enthusiasts.
6 2022 Ford Bronco Sport Base ($29,000)
If you feel like you simply do not want to bring home a used car, we wouldn’t blame you for it. Nevertheless, the new Ford Bronco Sport would emerge as perhaps the best and the only viable option for you in the off-roading department.
The Bronco Sport rightly earns its ‘Baby Bronco’ moniker, as 4x4 comes standard across all of its four trims, and the base variant starts at $27,415. With a removable top and doors, the Bronco offers a two-speed transfer case in the base variant itself, making it a remarkably capable off-roader in this price segment, with the added novelty of being brand-new.
5 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro 4X ($25,000)
The Nissan Xterra, while sounding so very cool, shared a truck body frame, much like its cousin the Frontier. It is, without a doubt, an awfully capable off-roader, and its Pro-X 4WD variant, to this day, is remembered fondly for its extra-terrain adeptness.
It is certainly more comfortable off the asphalt than on it, but if you’re reading this list, that’s what you’re here for, anyway. With a locking rear differential, transfer case skid plates, fuel tank, Bilstein shocks, roof-mounted lights, and off-road tires on 16-inch wheels, the Pro 4X is the Xterra model for the off-roading enthusiast, and at an average going rate of $25,000 on the pre-owned market, is just a no-brainer.
4 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport $29,000
Truth be told, the Jeep Wrangler is one of, if not the best off-roader the world has ever seen. To this day, it isn’t a reach to say that the Wrangler remains the king of unpaved America. With each Wrangler coming off the assembly line with 4x4 and a removable top, the car has simply become a way of life rather than just an off-roader.
In the 2018 model year, while the Rubicon still isn’t available under the $30,000 mark, the Unlimited Sport variant provides enthusiasts with the world-class Jeep Wrangler 4-Wheel-Drive capabilities for just under $30,000 and still looks just as amazing as it did on launch, especially in red.
3 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor $27,000
The Ford F-Series is the most sold vehicle across America, and the F-150 shines as one of the most iconic and important vehicles in automotive history. Ford’s pickup truck has a special SVT Raptor variant that is completely focused on off-road shenanigans, and it surely knows how to do its job well.
Outfitted with a 6.2-L V8 monstrosity of an engine under the hood, the 2013 Raptor roars and handles great on the road as well, preventing it from becoming too much of a bore on the paved path. You could find a 2013, 2014, or even a 2015 SVT Raptor for between $26,000 and $29,000 on the market, and any Raptor is a good bargain. Here's a 2014 F-150 Raptor model going for $29,000 that we were able to find.
2 2015 Toyota 4Runner $28,000
The Toyota 4Runner has been the go-to choice for plenty of off-road enthusiasts for quite some time now, and it enjoys that position because of its capability, reliability, and athletic design which remains appealing from all angles. While you would be hard-pressed to find even a 2017 4Runner in its TRD Off-Road variant under $30,000 despite being half a decade old now, the 2015 4Runner Trail Premium then comes as the obvious choice for under $28,000.
Moreover, who knows, if luck is on your side, you might even be able to get a 2016 4Runner 4WD trim for that price, or a few added bucks. Nevertheless, the 4Runner is trail-rated, tough, and provides a confidence-inducing ride height, stance, and road (trail) presence. Clearly, a 4Runner is an amazing choice for off-roading enthusiasts who want a no-nonsense vehicle that simply trumps all terrains.
1 2017 Ram 1500 SLT $27,000
The Ram 1500 SLT combines a durable, half-ton pickup with an off-road vehicle, and flexes its prowess in both departments. Strong, large, and confident, the 1500 truck isn’t just capable of playing around in mud and gravel but also towing any other, lesser vehicle that gets stuck in them.
The 2017 Ram 1500 SLT was the last model of the previous generation and thus won’t feel too devoid of interior comforts or features. At around $27,000 to $29,000, you would be getting a great deal on either a 1500 SLT or Laramie Crew Cab, which are both great off the beaten path.