Best Off-Road Vehicles for 2023
These are the best off-road vehicles for each car category based on iSeeCars’ analysis of all vehicle models and their off-road capabilities.
Best Off-Road Vehicles by Vehicle Type
Demand for off-road vehicles has been climbing for decades as the popularity of trucks, SUVs, and nature-based adventures has grown. Pickup trucks and SUVs now account for nearly 75 percent of new vehicle market share, with SUVs alone responsible for more than half of all new vehicles sold.
Both of these vehicle types feature rugged styling and raised ground clearance, two common traits associated with off-road abilities. But serious off-road enthusiasts know it takes more than a boxy exterior and a few extra inches of ground clearance to make a capable off-roader.
The best off-road vehicles feature a long list of rock-crawling upgrades that ensure they won’t get damaged or stranded while venturing over hill and dale. We identified these features and combined them with ground clearance to rank the best off-road vehicles in 22 categories below.
To earn a spot on these lists a vehicle must have at least 6.5 inches of ground clearance, giving it a reasonable breakover angle to help avoid getting hung up when crossing sharp peaks. Approach and departure angles are also important to avoid getting stuck on uneven terrain, but those figures are rarely available beyond trucks and SUVs, and we wanted to identify the best off-road vehicles in all vehicle categories. Keep in mind that some vehicles utilize an air suspension, allowing them to change/elevate their ground clearance by one or more inches on demand.
Standard or optional all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive systems are also required to earn a spot on these lists. While an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive doesn’t guarantee a capable off-road vehicle, these systems, along with all-terrain tires, are the bare-minimum requirements for a vehicle to confidently transition from on-road to off-road capability.
Beyond sufficient ground clearance and an available four- or all-wheel drive system, we identified the 10 most important off-road features currently offered on modern vehicles. We then prioritized these features by how effective each one is at improving a vehicle’s off-road prowess. The availability of these items, listed below, as standard or optional equipment was combined with ground clearance to rank each vehicle in its respective segment.
- Two-Speed Transfer Case: Also known as a two-speed gearbox, this allows the vehicle to switch into a lower (or low-range) gear set for improved torque and pulling power, which can be extremely helpful when scaling or descending steep inclines
The most capable off-road vehicles leverage most or all of these off-road features. The Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, Ford F-150 Raptor, Ram 1500 TRX, and Toyota Tacoma and Tundra TRD Pro models each include nearly every feature listed above, either as standard or optional equipment. While those models are all trucks, off-road capable SUVs like the Land Rover Discovery, Nissan Armada and Toyota Land Cruiser, also provide many of these off-road technologies.
Beyond trucks and SUVs, you’ll find sedans, wagons, and even minivans listed below. While these models won’t include nearly as many of the off-road features discussed above they all offer at least 6.5 inches of ground clearance and some form of four- or all-wheel drive.
Best Off-Road SUVs
These are the best off-road SUVs based on iSeeCars’ analysis of their off-road specs and capabilities.
The best off-road subcompact SUV is the Jeep Compass (8.6 inches of ground clearance), with the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible being the best off-road luxury subcompact SUV (8.3 inches of ground clearance). The Jeep Wrangler ranks #1 for the best off-road small and compact SUVs (12.9 inches of ground clearance).
The best off-road luxury small and compact SUV is the Land Rover Defender (9 inches of ground clearance) and the best off-road midsize SUV is the Ford Bronco (13.1 inches of ground clearance). Topping the list for the best off-road luxury midsize SUVs is the Land Rover Discovery (11.1 inches of ground clearance), while the Ford Expedition ranks first for the best off-road large SUVs (10.6 inches of ground clearance).
The best off-road luxury large SUV is the Mercedes-Benz G-Class (10.5 inches of ground clearance), with the Subaru Outback being the best off-road crossover SUV (9.5 inches of ground clearance). The Land Rover Discovery ranks #1 for the best off-road luxury crossover SUVs (11.1 inches of ground clearance).
The best off-road three-row SUV is the Ford Expedition (10.6 inches of ground clearance) and the best off-road luxury three-row SUV is the Land Rover Discovery (11.1 inches of ground clearance). Topping the list for the best off-road hybrid SUVs is the Jeep Wrangler (Plug-in Hybrid) (11.2 inches of ground clearance), while the Volvo XC90 (Plug-in Hybrid) ranks first for the best off-road luxury hybrid SUVs (8.8 inches of ground clearance).
The best off-road plug-in hybrid SUV (PHEV) is the Jeep Wrangler (Plug-in Hybrid) (11.2 inches of ground clearance) and the best off-road luxury plug-in hybrid SUVs (PHEV) is the Volvo XC90 (Plug-in Hybrid) (8.8 inches of ground clearance). Topping the list for the best off-road electric SUVs is the Rivian R1S (8.8 inches of ground clearance), which is also the best off-road luxury electric SUV.
The popularity of SUVs has exploded over the past 20 years, giving them by far the largest market share in today’s new vehicle sales. While this growth has increased the percentage of new model year vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive systems, those features alone do not define off-road capability. Those drivetrains can add confidence in slippery or snowy on-road conditions, but serious off-roaders need a vehicle with a combination of sufficient ground clearance and dedicated off-road equipment.
Those are the two areas iSeeCars focused on when identifying the best off-road SUVs. Starting with a required ground clearance of 6.5 inches or better, and then evaluating which off-road features contribute most effectively to off-road prowess, SUVs in 18 categories below were ranked according to 10 factors. The weighting for these off-road features were prioritized as follows:
- Two-Speed Transfer Case: Also known as a two-speed gearbox, this allows the vehicle to switch into a lower (or low-range) gear set for improved torque and pulling power, which can be extremely helpful when scaling or descending steep inclines
Some of these off-road upgrades, like a winch, are still quite rare on factory models, with only the Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck offering one. Others, like a rear-axle locking differential or two-speed transfer case are available on many SUVs. Some obvious off-road features, like all-terrain tires or excellent approach angles and departure angles, weren’t included in the list of 10 features because they are so commonly found in vehicles designed for rock crawling.
We also didn’t focus on powertrain designs because they don’t have a direct correlation with off-road ability. Whether equipped with a small four-cylinder engine like the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, or a large V8 engine like the Nissan Armada or Toyota Land Cruiser, these elements don’t matter when adventuring off the beaten path.
Use the lists below to find the best off-road SUVs that meet your size and pricing requirements.
The Best Off-Road-Ready SUVs You Can Buy for 2023
The Ford Bronco offers up to 13.1 inches of ground clearance.
SUVs rule the automotive world. But not all of them can go anyplace in the world. That’s reserved for true off-roaders. Be it rock crawlers, desert pre-runners, or trail hounds, they all thrive where the pavement ends.
Here is Car and Driver‘s list of the best (every one of these SUVs is either a 10Best or Editor’s Choice winner) and most legit off-roaders available for 2023. These are serious trail-ready beasts with available low-range crawler gears that feed all four wheels, suspensions high enough to clear obstacles, and underbody plates that’ll protect the mechanical bits when you’re rock crawling.
Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban
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The full-size Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban SUVs are already reasonably capable off-road thanks to their body-on-frame construction and 8.0 inches of ground clearance with their standard coil springs. That said, if you really want to take one of these two big Chevy SUVs off-road, then your sights better be set on the Z71 trim. With a starting price of $66,195 for the Tahoe and $68,895 for the Suburban, the Z71 trim is not one for the budget-minded. That said, the extra coin nets buyers the likes of a trim-specific front fascia that improves the SUVs’ approach angle, a front skid plate, and a pair of big front-mounted tow hooks. An optional air suspension setup affords up to 10.0 inches of ground clearance.
Ford Bronco
Michael Simari | Car and Driver
Like Jeep’s Wrangler, the Ford Bronco aims to excel at two things: open-top driving and off-road shenanigans. Even the entry-level Bronco comes with a standard four-wheel-drive system and a two-speed transfer case. Of course, those looking for a little more gumption will want to add the Sasquatch package to their Bronco, which nets the two- or four-door SUV greater ground clearance, 35-inch tires, and more. Those with a taste (and bank account) for a mightier off-road tool will want to jump up to the top-of-the-line Bronco Raptor. The four-door-only high-performance model costs a whopping $85,375 but benefits from a trim-specific suspension tune, wider front and rear tracks, meaty 37-inch tires, a mighty 13.1 inches of ground clearance (nearly five inches more than the base model), and a 418-hp twin-turbo V-6 engine.
GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
GMC
If you’re above the bow-tie badge but need a full-size SUV with some off-road chops, then you may want to take a look at the higher-end GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. Like its Chevy Tahoe and Suburban cousins, the Yukon and Yukon XL offer a distinct off-road trim. Dubbed AT4, the trim adds kit such as a front fascia that improves the Yukon and Yukon XL’s front approach angle, a front skid plate, a pair of massive front-mounted tow hooks, and more.
Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L
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The two-row Jeep Grand Cherokee and three-row Grand Cherokee L combine the comfort of a luxury SUV with the off-road prowess of, well, a Jeep. Provided you opt for four-wheel drive that is—preferably Jeep’s Quadra-Trac II or Quadra-Drive II setups, both of which include a two-speed transfer case. If you want the most off-pavement capability, then your best bet is the Trailhawk trim. Limited to the two-row Grand Cherokee 4xe (that’s Jeep-speak for «plug-in hybrid»), the Trailhawk kit includes all-terrain tires, higher-mounted air intakes that help it ford up to 24 inches of water, and more.
Land Rover Range Rover
Land Rover
Here’s the lowdown: When British royalty need to get someplace, they often ride in a Range Rover. But luxury means nothing if it’s not backed up with ability. Every Range Rover has an adaptive all-wheel-drive system and adjustable air suspension, which help it conquer harsh conditions. It also has a two-speed transfer case, electronically locking differentials, hill-descent control, and a rear-wheel steering system. And it will look good doing it all. The Range Rover is available in two wheelbases and a mind-boggling range of trim levels with stand-alone options. If you’re royalty, this is what you drive (or are driven in)—anywhere you damned well please.
John Pearley Huffman has been writing about cars since 1990 and is getting okay at it. Besides Car and Driver, his work has appeared in the New York Times and more than 100 automotive publications and websites. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, he still lives near that campus with his wife and two children. He owns a pair of Toyota Tundras and two Siberian huskies. He used to have a Nova and a Camaro.
Yes, he’s still working on the 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo project car he started in high school, and no, it’s not for sale yet. Austin Irwin was born and raised in Michigan, and, despite getting shelled by hockey pucks during a not-so-successful goaltending career through high school and college, still has all of his teeth. He loves cars from the 1980s and Bleu, his Great Pyrenees, and is an active member of the Buffalo Wild Wings community. When Austin isn’t working on his own cars, he’s likely on the side of the highway helping someone else fix theirs.