Land Rover Defender review - iconic 4x4 reinvented
Top 10 best 4x4s and off-roaders 2025
Nearly every car claims to be an SUV these days, but you’ll want one of these 4x4s if you plan to head off-road
Small, mid-size or large – SUVs seem to be everywhere in 2025, but they’re not all created equal. Most are simply jacked-up hatchbacks best suited to school runs or motorway cruises, but buyers looking to tackle the trickiest of off-road routes will want one of these serious 4x4s.
The best 4x4s stand apart from typical SUVs with a rugged build, dependable engine and the capability to head off the beaten track. You may think that every high-riding, chunky-looking SUV will tick all of those boxes, but looks can be deceiving. You’ll find that many are based on two-wheel drive family cars, meaning they’re unlikely to cope much better than a regular Volkswagen Golf when you reach the rough stuff.
Four-wheel drive is an essential if you plan to tackle tricky terrain – it’s where ‘4x4s’ get their name from, after all. It provides greater traction on loose surfaces, but also provides extra security in wet and slippery conditions on-road. The added traction of four-wheel drive makes many 4x4s a great option for towing, too.
The best 4x4s on sale today
We’ve picked out the best 4x4 on sale now, prioritising their off-road ability, but also factoring in comfort, the on-road driving experience and cost. You might also want to check out our list of the best cars for winter. If you like the look of a 4x4 but probably won’t be heading off-road, check out our best family SUVs and best large SUVs.
- Priced from around £60,000
“Core to the Defender’s appeal is, of course, its off-road ability, which very few SUVs can match. Although a true 4x4, it also works well as a family car and looks the part in the most upmarket environments.” Alastair Crooks, Senior News Reporter.
The original Defender was a motoring icon, so when it came time to replace it in 2019, Land Rover spent plenty of time to make sure the new model was a 4x4 worthy of the famous name. If you’re used to the spartan charm of the previous version, you’ll scarcely believe the amount of tech on board, making the Defender an undeniably upmarket SUV that’s perfectly at home on-road. It’s fitted with Land Rover’s latest Terrain Response system, which – combined with a 900mm wading depth and low-range gear ratios – makes the Defender practically unstoppable off-road, too.
One of the Defender’s key selling-points is the wide scope for customisation offered by Land Rover. Like the old car, you can choose from three-door ‘90’ and five-door ‘110’ and ‘130’ body styles. There’s a selection of punchy petrol and diesel engines, plus a 525bhp V8 version for those not worried about sky-high fuel prices. If you do want to keep running costs down, there’s also a plug-in hybrid option – it gets a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor producing a combined 298bhp, and can around 30 miles on electric power alone thanks to its 19.2kWh battery, meaning you could do a few trips around town per week without using any petrol at all.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter which bodystyle or engine you pick for the Defender. All are hugely capable off-road and sturdily built without compromising everyday usability – a combination that puts it at the top of this list.
Alternatively, you could consider the similarly-priced Land Rover Discovery below, which is nearly as capable off road but offers seating for seven.
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Find the latest new and used Land Rover Defender deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £78,000
“For those in the know about 4x4s, the Toyota Land Cruiser is seen as a dependable go-anywhere vehicle that offers fantastic off-road capability that many owners will hardly ever tap into.” Dean Gibson, Senior Test Editor.
The Toyota Land Cruiser is Japan’s solution for those who need a go-anywhere SUV and has long been a fierce rival of the Land Rover Defender. The latest model boasts all the off-roading talents of its predecessors, but a renewed focus on cabin quality, technology and refinement has made it a better road car than ever before.
The Land Cruiser wasn’t phased by any obstacle it came across during our in-depth test, with its computer-controlled four-wheel drive system keeping it firmly out of trouble. If the going gets particularly tough, the Land Cruiser’s locking differentials and disconnecting anti-roll bars can provide it with extra traction and dexterity over rocks and steep inclines. Like the Defender, it can tow up to the legal limit of 3,500kg, and its massive boot solidifies its place as one of the most practical cars on sale.
While the Land Cruiser makes for a great road car, the Defender still offers an edge of luxury that the Toyota can’t match. Plus, there’s only one engine to choose from – a 200bhp 2.8-litre diesel shared with the Hilux pick-up truck. At £78,000, the Land Cruiser is the more expensive of the two, as well.
If Toyota’s reputation for reliability and impressive 10-year warranty appeal, you could also consider the RAV4 hybrid. It won’t be nearly as capable off-road, but it’s cheaper, more efficient and can be had with four-wheel drive for the occasional muddy field.
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Find the latest new and used Toyota Land Cruiser deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £65,000
“If the Grenadier was rated solely on its off-road credentials, I’d give it five stars. I don’t think there’s another new car available that can match its off-road talents straight out of the box.” Dean Gibson, Senior Test Editor.
If you were disappointed when Land Rover discontinued the long-running classic Defender, then the Ineos Grenadier could be the off-roader for you. Heavily inspired by the original Land Rover, the Ineos Grenadier takes a more traditional, utilitarian approach which flies in the face of more high-tech, comfort-focused modern SUVs and 4x4s, including the latest Defender.
The Grenadier won’t be as comfortable as many more modern 4x4 SUV designs, although it’s not as bad to ride in as you might think. Obviously it’s designed with off-roading in mind first and foremost, however, and it’s incredibly capable as you’d expect from a spiritual successor to the classic discontinued Defender. Ineos also sells a pickup variant with five seats and a load bay at the back if you need the extra practicality.
Alternatives to the Ineos Grenadier include the Land Rover Defender and Toyota Land Cruiser above, but there’s always the left-field Jeep Wrangler, too.
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Find the latest new and used Ineos Grenadier deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £40,000
“Those used to the plush cabins or slick digital interfaces of European and Korean rivals won’t find those things here, but in their place is a pleasing ruggedness and dependability that Subaru’s traded on for generations.” Jordan Katsianis, Senior Staff Writer.
The Subaru Forester sits on the same underpinnings as the Subaru Impreza, meaning that it feels much more like a regular car to drive on-road than previous versions, as well as many of the other 4x4s on this list. It’s not as refined at speed as a Volkswagen Tiguan, but the Forester really shines when you take it off the beaten track. It has good ground clearance and multiple sophisticated off road settings, such as the Snow or Mud mode and a hill-descent control feature, along with a clever four-wheel drive system that comes as standard.
It’s not perfect, however – some may not be a fan of its conservative styling which makes it look fairly generic against other rivals, and despite a new hybrid powertrain, the Forester is still fairly expensive to run. Build quality is very good however and the interior is much nicer than that of the old model, plus its off-road capability means this family SUV is actually more rugged than its looks might suggest.
If you don’t need something quite as big as the Forester, you could consider the Subaru Crosstrek. It’s a four-wheel drive hatchback with the same engine and four-wheel drive system as the Forester.
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Find the latest new and used Subaru Forester deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £65,000
“The latest Land Rover Discovery is the most capable yet. It manages to blend the unrivalled off-road ability and toughness of the company's previous 4x4s with a considerably better on-road driving experience and greater efficiency.” Max Adams, Online Reviews Editor.
One of several Land Rovers on this list, the Discovery is one of the most capable vehicles on the planet and can cover all but the most inhospitable terrain while transporting up to seven occupants in comfort. With the most recent Defender proving itself as an incredibly capable offroader with more tech and luxury than before, the Discovery���s place in Land Rover’s range has been put somewhat in question, but it’s still one of the best 4x4s you can buy.
Land Rover’s Terrain Response system is set up for sand, mud, rocks and other landscapes, plus there’s sophisticated suspension and a wading depth of up to 900mm. It still has a mighty 3.5-tonne towing capacity, but the latest Discovery is a massive 450kg lighter than its predecessor. That weight saving helps both fuel-economy and on-road behaviour – both areas that the Discovery performs surprisingly well. Every engine has plenty of power, and most models have leather upholstery and high equipment levels.
The Discovery is priced similarly to the Defender, and if off-roading is your priority, we’d opt for the latter. But if you need a seven-seater with all-terrain capabilities, then the Disco’ will be your best option. There’s also the smaller Discovery Sport, which is cheaper but more suited to on-road driving.
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Find the latest new and used Land Rover Discovery deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £19,000
“We tried the Duster 4x4 and were amazed at the obstacles it could conquer, even on road-biased all-season tyres.” Alex Ingram, Chief Road Tester.
As the most affordable car on this list by a big margin, the Dacia Duster misses out on some of the clever 4x4 tech that pricier off-roaders come equipped with, but don’t assume it lacks their all-terrain abilities. Sure, it can’t tackle slopes and rocks with the same ease as a Land Rover Defender, but it’s far more capable than any other SUV at this price point. Importantly though, when you’re not wading through fords or climbing grassy hills, the Duster is an excellent all-round family car. So much so, that we crowned it Carbuyer Car of the Year for 2025.
There are several engines to pick from in the Duster – including an efficient 1.6-litre hybrid – but it’s only the smaller 1.2-litre petrol engine that comes with four-wheel drive. That’s the model you’ll want to go for if you plan to head off-road, thanks to its added traction. You also get a selection of drive modes, including Snow, Mud/Sand and Off-Road to help tackle any difficult terrain that comes your way. Even on regular all-season tyres, we were mightily impressed by the Duster’s ability to take on tricky obstacles during our in-depth review.
Alternatives to the Duster include the mechanically-similar Renault Captur, although this model can’t be had with four-wheel drive. For more space, you can upgrade to the newly-released Dacia Bigster.
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Find the latest new and used Dacia Duster deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £106,000
“A focus on luxury, quality and on-board technology, plus the latest Land Rover engineering expertise, means the Range Rover feels supremely capable, whether on or off road.” Max Adams, Online Reviews Editor.
The Range Rover may now be a rival to opulent cars like the Mercedes S-Class and Bentley Bentayga, but it’s still one of the most capable off-roaders – even if many owners won’t leave the confines of a city in it. Those drivers will be pleased to know it's surprisingly nimble, thanks to clever rear-wheel steering, while its air-suspension and road monitoring camera make it one of the comfiest cars for motorway cruising.
But the Range Rover’s 4x4 tech is arguably just as impressive. It can practically drive itself off-road, using a myriad of sensors and computers to climb hills, traverse rocks and descend slippery slopes. Whether you’re navigating the Mojave desert or the M6, few cars will get you to your destination in as much comfort as the Range Rover.
There are reasonably sensible diesel engines (and a plug-in hybrid) and a couple of 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines that launch the Range Rover from 0-62mph in as little as 5.4 seconds. Like its Land Rover siblings elsewhere in this list, the Range Rover also impresses with a huge towing capacity, a plush interior and lots of high-end kit. An electric variant is on the way soon, too, promising to deliver the same go-anywhere abilities but with zero tailpipe emissions.
Many would argue that the Range Rover has no direct rivals, but luxury SUV buyers could also consider the Bentley Bentayga or BMW X7. The Range Rover Sport is a cheaper option – it’s more road-focused, but still more than capable at tackling rough stuff.
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Find the latest new and used Range Rover deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £29,000 (ex. VAT)
“Small refinements such as a larger load bed and a more high-tech interior have made the already-impressive Ranger package even better – it’s now a working vehicle that can almost be used every day like a family SUV.” Charlie Harvey, Content Editor.
The Ford Ranger is our favourite pickup truck, and the latest version is tough off-road and feels more refined than before. All Rangers get plenty of interior tech, feeling far more in-keeping with today’s family SUVs, rather than the utilitarian truck it used to be. That move upmarket hasn’t sacrificed the Ranger’s off-roading prowess, although it feels surprisingly good to drive on the road for a pickup of this size.
If you want the best of on-road performance and off-road ruggedness, you could be tempted by the hot Ranger Raptor. This sporty model gets a 3.0-litre V6 engine with 288bhp, along with a host of suspension upgrades designed to further boost its all-terrain capabilities. The sportiest drive mode stiffens up the suspension and means the large pickup feels more agile than you’d expect, while its off-road setting allows it to keep up with the aforementioned 4x4s when you head off the tarmac.
As fun as the Ranger is to play with on or off road, all its engines – even those in the more pedestrian models – are pretty thirsty, so it won’t be cheap to run, but all-in-all it’s a very impressive pickup.
If you’re looking for even more refinement and a premium feel, Volkswagen’s Amarok pickup is heavily based on the Ranger, but adds a touch of class to the recipe, albeit at a higher price. There’s also the Toyota Hilux below, or the Isuzu D-Max.
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Find the latest new and used Ford deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £141,000
“The off-roading heritage of the Mercedes G-Class shines through, thanks to the standard fitment of various locking differentials that maximise traction in slippery conditions, and dedicated off-road driving modes to help you out in difficult terrain.” Alex Ingram, Chief Road Tester.
The original Mercedes G-Class was primarily designed as a military vehicle but became much more fashionable towards the end of its 37-year lifespan. Released in 2018, the new model still has the off-road ability that forged the reputation of the last one, even on massive gleaming alloy wheels. It has three locking differentials, a low-range gearbox for slow but steady off-road progress, and a greater maximum wading depth than the last model. The new one was designed to be much more spacious than its predecessor, and its interior is upmarket enough to rival the Range Rover and Bentley Bentayga.
It was facelifted for 2024, although you’ll struggle to spot any visual differences. In fact, the G-Class’s looks have hardly changed since the first model appeared back in 1979. For many buyers, the utilitarian styling is part of the charm, although a starting price of nearly £140,000 puts it out of the reach of all but the wealthiest of 4x4 fans. If you don’t fancy the V8 model with its rumbling soundtrack and side-exit exhausts, Mercedes sells a sensible diesel variant, as well as the electric G580 with EQ Technology.
We’d argue that your money is better spent on a Range Rover, but there are few cars on the road with the presence of the G-Class. You could also go for a V8-engined Defender Octa instead and still see plenty of change…
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Find the latest new and used Mercedes G-Class deals on our sister site Auto Express
- Priced from around £36,000 (ex. VAT)
“The Toyota Hilux is one of the most famous names in the pick-up world, and it’s earned this fame for being tough and reliable even in the harshest conditions on Earth.” Ellis Hyde, News Reporter.
If we asked you to think of the most rugged, bomb-proof vehicle on the road today, there’s a good chance the Toyota Hilux would come to mind. The Japanese pick-up truck has been around for decades and has proven itself as a dependable, capable off-road machine throughout its eight generations. The latest model, introduced in 2016, is just as rugged as before, but its on-road manners took a big leap forward. It’s now far more comfortable and refined day-to-day, although a traditional family SUV will still deliver a more relaxing driving experience.
Like many of the best 4x4s, the Hilux still uses an old-school ladder frame chassis, which offers good resilience to knocks and bangs off-road. But there’s nothing old-fashioned about the tech here – you get hill descent control, a tweaked stability control system and an easy-to-use low-range 4WD mode. There’s even a mild hybrid version of the tried-and-tested 2.8-litre diesel engine now, but don’t expect Prius-like efficiency. This version tops out at just 28mpg, which is about the same as the rest of the Hilux lineup.
The main alternative to the Hilux is the Ford Ranger above – we think it’s the better all-rounder, but the renowned dependability and class-leading warranty of the Toyota will win over many.
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Find the latest new and used Toyota deals on our sister site Auto Express
Best 4x4s and off-roaders price and score list
Below you’ll find a complete list of our top 10 best 4x4s and off-roaders, complete with their starting price and Carbuyer score.
| Best 4x4 ranking | Make and model | Priced from | Carbuyer rating (out of 5) |
| 1 | Land Rover Defender | £60,000 | 4.4 |
| 2 | Toyota Land Cruiser | £78,000 | 4.2 |
| 3 | Ineos Grenadier | £65,000 | 3.5 |
| 4 | Subaru Forester | £40,000 | 4.4 |
| 5 | Land Rover Discovery | £65,000 | 4.2 |
| 6 | Dacia Duster | £19,000 | 4.2 |
| 7 | Range Rover | £106,000 | 4.4 |
| 8 | Ford Ranger | £29,000 (ex. VAT) | 4.3 |
| 9 | Mercedes G-Class | £141,000 | 3.5 |
| 10 | Toyota Hilux | £36,000 (ex. VAT) | 3.7 |
Looking for a big car but planning to stay on-road? Read our list of the best SUVs…
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