It might not be the most luxurious of SUVs, nor the most refined. But the Toyota 4Runner stands out in its class as one of the last family SUVs to be properly rugged, in an era where the term "soft-roader" now applies to the majority of the segment. The 2022 model continues to be very capable on all terrains, and it still comes with Toyota's unrivaled reputation for build quality.
It's not without its faults, of course. It's not the most fuel-efficient car in its segment and its interior is a serious weak spot, with a dated cabin and scratchy materials. Despite all that, we'd still pick the 4Runner over any of these SUVs, as it's just a more capable package overall. The TRD Off-Road trim stands out as the best value with a starting price of $42,000, but really any trim of the new 4Runner is a solid choice.
10 Honda Passport Touring
Starting off with a Japanese competitor, the Honda Passport Touring is a very competent SUV. It's spacious, its V6 engine is plenty powerful enough, and it's priced similarly to the 4Runner, starting at $40,905.
But, despite the Passport's dirt-ready looks and press shots showing it off-road, this just isn't an off-road SUV. It's a good option for families who will only ever take their kids to the mall, but the average 4Runner buyer will demand more than that.
9 Land Rover Discovery
Like nearly all of the products from the Land Rover brand, the Discovery is very capable off the tarmac, but unlike some, it's quite a decent highway driver too. It won't be anywhere near as luxurious as, say, a Range Rover, but it's positioned as a halfway house between a luxury SUV and an old-school off-roader.
Like the 4Runner, it's also aimed at families, so on paper, it sounds like a strong contender. Unfortunately, Land Rover's reputation for unreliability precedes them, and the Disco is no different. The brand consistently ranks among the worst of any for breakdowns and issues, so it's impossible to recommend one over the sturdy 4Runner.
8 Toyota Highlander
Toyota's other family SUV offering, the 2022 Highlander, offers a lot of innovations to make it the most efficient and practical version yet. But, the main reason the 4Runner is a better choice is that the Highlander is no good off-road, despite having a very similar asking price of $41,000 for a mid-spec Hybrid model.
Its lack of all-terrain capability would be perfectly acceptable if it handled better on the road. But, unfortunately, the Highlander feels very dull and unengaging on asphalt. It lacks the charisma of the 4Runner, and it doesn't really offer many extras in return.
7 Jaguar F-Pace
Anyone looking for luxury over functionality could definitely consider a Jaguar F-Pace. It's crammed full of premium materials and technology that outclasses the 4Runner, but it suffers from several of the same problems its rivals do.
For starters, it's expensive, costing at least $60,260. That's nearly 1.5x more expensive than a 4Runner, and it won't be reliable either. Like sister brand Land Rover, Jaguar is consistently rated among the worst manufacturers for reliability. So, as an everyday driver, it's still better value to get the 4Runner even if it's less luxurious.
6 Jeep Grand Cherokee
There's a big customer base in America that won't hear a bad thing said about Jeeps, but look a little closer and their limitations become clear. The Grand Cherokee is not only expensive for what buyers get, but it suffers from a mixed reputation on reliability too.
Some owners report having no trouble with their Grand Cherokees at all, whereas some have stories of persistent issues and dealers refusing to fix the Jeep's complicated systems. The GC might be both premium and off-road capable, but for a hassle-free driving experience every time, the 4Runner still wins.
5 Jeep Wrangler
The Wrangler is an unusual SUV in that it sits alone in its target audience. Really, the only thing a Wrangler is good for is going off-road, as on-road it offers a loud, unrefined drive and limited convenience features.
Of course, as an off-road car, it's basically unbeatable, especially since there's such a thriving aftermarket scene that can add even more trail capability. The trouble is, most SUV buyers will want to use their cars both on and off-road, and the 4Runner still offers a better all-around package in that respect.
4 Lexus GX 460
It's essentially a fancy Toyota, but the extra features really do make a difference on the Lexus GX 460. It feels more smooth to drive on the road than a 4Runner, but only by a small margin. It still lags behind many other luxury SUV offerings, both in ride quality and cabin design.
It's also more expensive, with the Luxury trim starting at $64,515. That's just too much money for what's offered, especially since buyers can get a much cheaper off-road SUV in the form of the 4Runner.
3 BMW X3
Despite its reputation as a "soft-roader", the BMW X3 is actually more capable off-road than many buyers might think. GQ Magazine proved as much when they took one on a trek through the Sahara desert. It's also luxurious, with one of the best interiors in its class.
So why does it lose against the 4Runner? Well, it all comes down to long-term running costs and depreciation. Premium SUVs like the X3 are some of the fastest depreciating cars on the market, and as they get older, costly servicing issues may start to stack up. In comparison to the 4Runner, which holds its value well, the X3 will be a lot more of a drain on its owner's wallet.
2 Acura MDX
The Acura MDX is a great choice for a family-hauling SUV, and it offers enough room and practicality as well as luxury features. It's been redesigned and improved for 2022, and it's now a more attractive all-around package than ever.
The issue comes with the ruggedness of the MDX: despite the durable Honda underpinnings, the MDX is not going to withstand much off-tarmac driving. That's a bit of a deal-breaker, especially since there's still plenty of SUVs out there that manage to be capable both on and off the road.
1 Nissan Pathfinder
One of the key parts of buying an off-road SUV is that it has to feel like one to drive. The Nissan Pathfinder stumbles at this hurdle, as when drivers get in, they get the overwhelming feeling that this is a minivan in disguise. Yes, it's fairly off-road capable, although nowhere near as good as 4Runner.
Yes, it can also tow, with a decent capacity. But the way the Pathfinder drives, feels, and even looks inside all screams minivan. The 4Runner may not be the absolute perfect package, but it never makes a claim to be anything it isn't. The Pathfinder in comparison just seems like it's trying too hard to compete with the properly rugged SUVs.