Random Best Off-Road Vehicles (25 items)

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  (#18) Jeep Comanche

  • Chrysler, Jeep, American Motors

  Jeep has a long history of building heavy-duty, compact, off-road capable trucks. From the original Willys Jeep 4x4 Truck, to the super-cool Scrambler, to the Gladiator (the classic and modern versions), there aren’t any wrong choices. However, the Comanche stands out for its iconic 1980’s personality, exceptional workhorse capabilities, and user-friendly design. The Comanche, or MJ, is a truck version of the Cherokee with a brilliant, unique body/frame known as a “uniframe.” The cab is a unibody, and the bed is a frame-on-body, which provides better support for the cargo box. This means the humble Comanche is capable of hauling much more than other trucks its size - perfect for loading up with all your gear, spare tires, and fuel, and hitting the trails.
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  (#8) Land Rover Defender

  • Land Rover

  The Defender seamlessly blends on-road comfort with off-roading capabilities, thanks to its roots in the original Land Rover models. Those rugged vehicles were perfect as off-road rescue and post-office vehicles, but lacking in the luxuries department. Over the years, they added various quality-of-life upgrades, such as expanded drivetrain options, transmissions with synchros for smoother operation, more comfortable interiors, and coil-spring suspensions in place of leaf springs. By 1990, the Defender brand was officially in place, representing the combination of Land Rover’s indominable off-roading prowess with comfort, style, and luxury.
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  (#15) Toyota Hilux

  • Toyota

  The T100 represents Baja 1000 style off-roading royalty. Since 1972, Toyota has been testing its trucks on that rugged racetrack between Tijuna and La Paz, Mexico. Time and again, their trucks like the T100 have come in first in their class. Its wide stance and bulletproof reliability make it a favorite of off-roaders all over the world.
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  (#12) Chevrolet C/K

  • General Motors, Chevrolet

  It’s true these trucks were never formally offered with an off-road drivetrain. However, these rugged workhorses are easy to modify, as their design allows them to easily accommodate custom suspensions, lifts, and bigger tires without much fuss. For those who like to leave things stock, the K-Series trucks came standard with bulletproof gearboxes, and solid axles in the front and rear. This makes them more than capable of tackling most tasks without aftermarket additions.
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  (#14) Jeep CJ

  • Jeep

  This car is widely considered to be the forefather of recreational off-road vehicles. The first CJ was launched in 1944, as a way to meet the growing demand for civilian 4x4’s. They were basically modified versions of the “scout” cars commissioned by the US military for WWII. These SUV’s were bulletproof, but incredibly utilitarian. The 3A was the first CJ to feature “luxuries” such as extra leg and headroom, leakproof connections between the canvas roof and side doors, and additional seat padding. The 3B further revolutionized the market with the introduction of the F-Head Hurricane engine, whose novel inlet-over-exhaust design allowed for higher compression ratios and improved flow. These designs set the stage for Jeep style SUV’s for years to come, including the Land Rover brand, and iconic Toyota Land Cruiser.
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  (#25) Volkswagen Beetle

  • Volkswagen

  The iconic and versatile Beetle lends itself well to off-roading applications. They are simple to work on, and easily accommodate upgraded suspensions, bigger tires, and aftermarket engines. Plus, sticking with air-cooled motors means less maintenance and fluids while out on the trails. It’s no wonder so many have been converted into Baja Bugs - they will run just about anywhere, can take quite a beating, and keep on going.

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