When sitting behind the wheel of modern SUVs and pickup trucks, traversing off-road obstacles feels like child's play. Everything inside them is so serene and sumptuous that it is hard to believe outside the vehicle there are rocks, mud -even streams or dunes to overcome. That's how a decent and reliable SUV/truck should be, and the dirt and dust outside would be the least concern when the driver and passengers are in safety and comfort inside the cabin.
Nowadays, it is the best time to be an off-road adventurer. There are dozens of all-new models from various brands and manufacturers all around the world. However, many off-road enthusiasts prefer classic models to new models for their off-road journeys. This might be because of the higher affordability of the old SUVs and pickup trucks and also due to their lower repair costs. The following is a list consist of 5 brand new and 5 classic SUVs and pickup trucks that would suit the idea of a good time splashing inside the mud.
10 2020 Land Rover Defender
The 2020 Land Rover Defender conquers almost every surface on which it is driven: rocks, river beds, mud, water, and soft sand, and it is noble on the pavement, too. The inside is designed in 21st-century style, although not luxury. Instead, the driver faces a tough, rubber-like coating on the dashboard, heavy-duty floor mats, and lots of exposed screws and rivets everywhere.
The Defender is a long-wheelbase, practical vehicle with outstanding capability. In its back, you can find 34 cubic feet of expandable space that grows to 79 cubes with folded rear seats. The 2,000 pounds of the payload is quite astonishing.
9 1991 Land Rover Defender
The 1991 Land Rover Defender is best described as the king of off-road. It has lots of pulling power that indeed turns heads when driven on the road. You will not have to bother when it breaks, because a lot of its parts can be repaired without having to refer to the garage. But the downside is its unimpressive fuel economy, lack of comfort, and low speed.
However, the 1991 Land Rover Defender has a robust framework. After having an accident, you can walk safely out of it! Moreover, it will get you through floodwater, snow, and rough lands.
8 2020 Nissan Titan Pro 4X
The 2020 Nissan Titan has returned with refreshed and emboldened styling. Now, no one can call it a derivative anymore. Nissan has done some serious work to be able to re-introduce it into the half-ton class. It proves that Nissan folks have heard the brand’s loyal customers and did their best to retain an exceptional value while improving its competitiveness.
To make the Titan PRO-4X standing apart from the rest of the crowd, they have painted its grille with a matte black and added some other features, including tailgate applique, unique wheels, and Lava Red accents on the blacked-out Nissan badging.
7 1988 Nissan Patrol Y60
The GQ, also known as the Y60 by Nissan, was a severe heavy-duty off-roader launched in 1988. Nissan aimed at introducing a direct rival to Toyota’s Land Cruiser, which was the top-selling four-wheel drive at the time.
Big and bulky around the town, it's designed for use in rough environments or generally wherever there's a need for a rugged vehicle to get the work done. For example, it would be typically used by mining companies, loggers, or the like. The 1988 Nissan Patrol is available in three body styles: the short wheelbase hardtop, long-wheelbase Wagon, and Cab Chassis.
6 2020 Jeep Gladiator
The 2020 Jeep Gladiator is a pickup truck with a comfortable interior, excellent towing abilities, and legendary off-road prowess. It has been more than 20 years since the last time Jeep offered a pickup, but the history of its truck lineage dates back to the 1940s.
The 2020 Gladiator resembles its Wrangler model. The hardtop and doors are removable, and it has two rows of adult-friendly seats. There are few mistakes with this vehicle, except the below-average safety and its V6 engine. Still, altogether it is a great pickup even for daily use.
5 1987 Jeep Wrangler
Back in 1987, times were changing for the iconic Jeep CJ. The long-lasting and favorite Jeep discontinued and replaced by Jeep Wrangler. In terms of style, both vehicles were similar, but the Wrangler was a completely open-top off-roader based on the Cherokee platform. It proved itself as a qualified representative and carried the Jeep lineage of the CJ.
The model came with two four and six-cylinder engines matched with either a standard five-speed manual or an optional automatic transmission. Since safety concerns were severe, a lower center of gravity, improved road handling characteristics, better steering, and a more durable roll cage were employed.
4 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser
The 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser has a nostalgic appearance and cumbersome driving character for a model in the luxury large SUV class. Toyota had last redesigned it for 2008, and its next-generation is said to debut soon.
The Land Cruiser has excellent off-road abilities, solid reliability rating, and plenty of standard and optional features inside. Although, it must be admitted that many rivals have smoother handling, roomier interior, and more spacious cargo section. Under the hood of this four-wheel-drive Toyota, there is a powerful V8 engine, and you can be sure of lots of power output.
3 1979 Toyota Hilux 4x4
The old-school Hilux is about function, not exterior appearance. Compared with modern vehicles, it has some shortcomings; for the most part, leisure and 4×4 were not going together. But back in 1979, it was quite advanced, as millions of units of it were sold around the globe.
The 4WD ability of Hilux 4×4 stands as the holy grail of all its siblings. For sure, the reputation of the first 4WD Hilux ever cemented the popularity and status of the current model and made it possible for the Hilux legend to continue.
2 2020 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2020 stands near the top of the luxury large SUV class. With a sumptuous cabin and comfortable seats that offer off-road mastery and brutish engines, it rides smoothly on most surfaces. Inside its spacious cabin, you can find an array of modern tech, safety, and comfort features.
Of course, the only concern with this model is its high base price compared with many rivals in luxury large SUV category luxury. Although it’s one of the best off-road SUVs you can find, there are a few shortcomings as well, such as a small cargo capacity and poor fuel economy estimates.
1 1993 Mercedes-Benz G-Class W461
In 1970, the late Shah of Iran, who was a significant stakeholder of Mercedes-Benz, suggested a military SUV to them to build. This gave way to iconic Class-G, as we know today.
With a recognizable brick design, vehicles in this class were more comfortable to manufacture. Other features of this design were exposed door hinges and the overall shape looking as if it was built from flat sheets of metal, hence having a sturdy and rough appearance. The new G-Class chassis-code W461 came along in 1990 with new engines and more modern technologies installed on it.