I want to get into off-roading and would like a vehicle that costs less than $20,000, one that I can still use as my daily driver. Do I really need a four-wheel drive vehicle? What should I be looking at? – Jim, Nanaimo, B.C.
With all the off-road vehicle options – and opinions – out there, it’s easy to get stuck while trying to decide.
We went to an unlikely local expert – the sharply-suited security guy in this writer’s apartment building who tells stories about rambling up old logging roads and abandoned ski hills around Squamish, B.C.
“Not everybody has a 4x4 – I’ve actually seen somebody out there in a Prius with skid plates on the bottom,” he said. “I’ve got a Ford F-150 with just two-wheel drive, but with a higher stock height – and I’ve only been stuck a couple of times.”
Will two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive be enough? It depends on where you’ll be going – a bumpy gravel road or steep, rocky inclines.
Outside magazine, Popular Mechanics, Jalopnik and Consumer Reports all list the Toyota 4Runner and the Jeep Wrangler among top picks for off-roading.
Others – either standard models or special off-road editions – get mentioned, too: the Subaru XV Crosstrek; Toyota Tacoma, Land Cruiser and Sequoia; Nissan Frontier and Xterra; Ford Raptor and Super Duty; the Chevy Colorado Z-71; Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ram 1500.
It’s easy to get mired in technicalities. Jalopnik’s David Tracey says you’ll need enough ground clearance and a longer wheelbase to help clear steep slopes. He also mentions wheel articulation – which allows the vehicle keep all four tires in contact with the ground.
“Many people in the off-road world prefer a solid axle to independent suspension, as it tends to provide more wheel articulation, especially when the sway bar is disconnected,” he writes. “Independent suspension setups have CV joints with exposed rubber boots that can get torn or damaged.”
The bottom line, experts say, is to find something reliable and durable that fits where you’re planning to go.
Here are some of the highs and lows of the two biggest off-road contenders in your price range:
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
The Rubicon is Wrangler’s dedicated off-road model, and we’re not talking a few potholes and a little mud. It’s named after Colorado’s Rubicon Trail – Google it and you’ll see images of Jeeps on their sides in rocky crevasses – and enthusiasts talk about it as the ultimate off-road 4x4.
A new Rubicon starts at $41,895 – about $15,000 more than the base model. So, to find one for less than $20,000 you’ll be looking for a 2009 or earlier model. Add more cash for the four-door unlimited – you’ll gain size and lose agility.
The Rubicon has heavy-duty axles, electronically locking front and rear differentials, a Rock-Trac transfer case with extra-low gearing.
The Wrangler in any style – even the base – has serious off-road street cred, but some say you’re sacrificing driveability and acceleration on the road.
Edmunds said the 3.8-litre, 202-horsepower V-6 “has respectable low-end torque but quickly runs out of breath and is thus completely gutless on the highway and when trying to accelerate quickly.”
The interior is basic and has hard plastics that aren’t afraid of a little, or a lot of, mud and gravel.
Consumer Reports says the predicted used-car reliability for the 2009 or earlier Wrangler is below average.
Toyota 4Runner
The 4Runner is more practical as a daily commuter and it’s reported to be a lot more reliable. New, the 4Runner starts at $44,090. So, for less than $20,000, you’ll likely find something from 2009 or earlier – that’s before the 2010 redesign. That’s a good thing, said Consumer Reports, which called the redesign “a step backward.”
The 4Runner has been around since 1984, when SUVs were designed for serious off-roading – and not just hauling your family to the mall. That heritage still shows, but it works as a commuter and smaller family hauler, too, Edmunds said.
The 4Runner comes with a 4.0-litre V-6. A 4.7-litre V-8 is optional. With both engines, you can get either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
In 2009, there was a trail edition package that added a locking rear differential, traction control and water-resistant seats.
But its off-road leanings show inside, which is more basic than other SUVs, like the Highlander, Edmunds said. Consumer Reports gives the 4Runner excellent predicted used car reliability.
Editor's note: When first posted, this story stated that the Rubicon trail was in Colorado. The Rubicon trail is in California.