SUVs are some of the most popular new cars to buy, with the market consistently growing every year. They can trace their roots back to the off-road vehicles of old when customers wanted something capable on any terrain but still good for driving on the road too. There's plenty of SUVs out there that still fit that bill, like Jeeps and Land Rovers.
But, because most SUV buyers will only ever drive their vehicles around the suburbs, many have lost the all-terrain chops they used to have. This is an issue that stretches right from the cheapest to the most expensive SUVs, and the worst models aren't always the ones that the average buyer might think. Let's take a look at ten of the most useless SUVs for off-road driving that are on the market in 2021.
10 Audi RSQ8
It's not the worst offender out of the super-SUV segment, but the RSQ8 is a long way from being any good on trails. It's related to the Lamborghini Urus, a car that's a deceptively fierce track beast. It shares many of the same underpinnings, so it's no surprise that it's more at home on the 'Ring than the rocks.
If nothing else, it's way too powerful to be any good off-road, at least with its stock tires. There's nearly 600 hp to play with, which is great for drag races but in the slightest bit of mud or ice, those tires will lose grip almost immediately.
9 VW ID4
The ID4 has been hailed as a make-or-break moment for VW's electric range, as it's designed to be their most mass-market EV so far. In fact, the ID range has even been called as important as the Beetle and the Golf.
One sector that the car won't appeal to is anyone looking for a trail-ready vehicle, as the ID4's modular architecture is shared with the smaller ID3. That means the ID4 will have about the same all-terrain capability as the average road-going EV: not much at all.
8 Cadillac Escalade
No typical buyers of the new Caddy Escalade will ever want to take their car off-road, which is mostly why the brand never bothered to add any serious all-terrain features. Although, one reviewer at The Fast Lane did decide to brave a trail in one.
The car didn't do too badly at first, especially given it was on stock tires and rims. But, after a short time, TFL said it's starting to smell [...] like tire and torque converter in here", a sure sign that the car wouldn't last much longer. It might be capable enough to get over the odd rock, but it seems like many of the components in the Caddy aren't tough enough for prolonged off-road use.
7 BMW X3
The BMW X3 doesn't look like it's going to be good off-road, and well, it isn't. It's designed for commuters and small families focused more on gas mileage than trail conquering.
It's not like small SUVs can't be good off-road, as the Suzuki Jimny and Ford Bronco are both very capable despite their size. But, BMW has never really ventured into making mass-market all-terrain vehicles, and even if they did, the little X3 would be a strange place to start.
6 Hyundai Tucson
A strong seller for years, lots of people buy Tucsons for a reason. They're affordable, spacious and reliable too. They're most popular with families who need room and practicality but on a budget.
All those reasons that families love them are the exact same ones why the Tucson is no good off-road. Components designed for on-road comfort won't be strong enough to survive harsh terrain, and low ground clearance means the car will quickly get stuck on rocks and ruts.
5 Porsche Cayenne
Buying a $100,000 luxury SUV doesn't necessarily mean having to compromise on off-road ability, as cars like the Range Rover and Mercedes G Class prove. But, the Porsche Cayenne is very much an SUV for the asphalt, and it's useless at anything else.
Porsche's driving setup for the Cayenne makes for a surprisingly quick machine on the road, especially in higher spec. The adaptive suspension keeps body roll to a minimum and sticky low-profile tires mean there's heaps of grip. Unfortunately, those features mean on anything other than the tarmac the car will suffer.
4 Rolls-Royce Cullinan
With an SUV that costs as much as a house, there might be an expectation that the Rolls-Royce Cullinan will be good at everything. But, it's essentially a higher-riding version of Rolls' sedans and keeps many of the same driving characteristics.
It's big, lumbering, and designed for maximum comfort when going over the odd pothole, but mud and gravel will quickly stop it in its tracks. Not to mention, just getting a scratch on one of the Cullinan's alloys will likely do thousands of dollars worth of damage.
3 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Stelvio has been generally a big success for Alfa Romeo, proving to be a relatively strong seller. It's related to the Maserati Levante, both of which are no good for the dirt.
Most buyers of these cars would never even think about taking their cars off the roads, but those who do will quickly come unstuck. As Top Gear said in their review, the Stelvio is good for "a gravel driveway at a push."
2 Ford Explorer
Out of all the options in this list, the Ford Explorer may well be the best bet to take on dirt tracks, at least for a short time. It's designed to be able to traverse light gravel and mud, but without modifications, it'll crumble at anything tougher.
As the Explorer is such a popular model, there's a lot of aftermarket parts that can be fitted to enhance the car's all-terrain chops. But, from the factory, taking the Explorer on a trail is likely to result in embarrassment, a tow, and a broken car.
1 Volvo XC90
Volvos are best known for safety, but in recent years they've won critical acclaim for their sleek designs and sharp handling. The XC90 is the biggest of Volvo's SUV range, and given that it hails from the snow-ravaged lands of Sweden, some might assume it's good for all terrains.
It's definitely not, as the car is built to be smooth and comfortable on the road at the expense of anything off-road. It's a similar setup to many luxury SUVs, but even so, it's a bit disappointing given Volvo's experience with making tough, rugged cars.