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Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda3The 10 Best Trucks and SUVs for Outdoor Adventures
We’ve compiled a list of the ten best trucks and SUVs for outdoor adventures that you can buy today and they’re all proven off-road performers
Get to the Great Outdoors and Back Again
People are flocking to the great outdoors in droves these days and they need solid transportation to get them there and back. To that end, we’ve compiled this list of ten proven off-road performers that can do the job better than the rest.
You’ll find some that can rock crawl, some that can double as prerunners, and others that can handle the gnarliest trails while providing serene comfort to their passengers. Here’s a look at the top ten best cars for outdoor adventures.
Jeep Wrangler
No list of outdoor adventure vehicles could be complete without mention of the Jeep Wrangler. In many ways, it popularized the activity and continues to be a shining example of not messing up a good thing.
The Wrangler now offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain or a big HEMI V8 version and everything in between. It’s also one of, if not the most, customizable vehicle here with an aftermarket that offers everything from body kits to overlanding goodies and more. If there’s a downside to the Wrangler it’s that most don’t feel great to drive on everyday roads.
Ford Bronco
If we’re talking off-road then the Ford Bronco also needs to be in the conversation. It returned from oblivion a few years back and is already putting heat on Jeep for the outright off-road vehicle crown.
Ford offers it with a choice of three different engines including a Bronco Raptor version with 400 hp. Much like the Wrangler, aftermarket supporters provide a bevy of excellent upgrades for the Bronco that enable it to be even more capable than it is in factory form.
Unlike the Wrangler, the Ford feels right at home on the road too with a bit better balance between on and off-road performance.
Toyota 4Runner
If there’s one vehicle here that blends much of the benefit of the Bronco and Wrangler into a single SUV it might be the Toyota 4Runner. While Toyota’s most notable off-roader isn’t particularly modular like the two above mentioned SUVs, it’s quieter inside and almost as customizable.
Toyota offers the current 4Runner with tried and true 4.0-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission. It’s one of the oldest vehicles in this list, in terms of platform, but it’s undeniably one of the most reliable too.
GMC Canyon
We’ve talked about the new GMC Canyon quite a bit and that’s for good reason. Despite a relatively high starting price, it’s a phenomenal vehicle for those who plan to go off-road and into the wilderness regularly. It blends four or five-passenger seating with high-end luxury materials and outstanding off-road capability.
On top of that, it has a bed in the back and a 7,700-pound maximum towing capacity. While it doesn’t have the large aftermarket presence of the Jeep or the Ford, GMC will sell it to you complete with most of the gear you’d buy anyway like rock sliders, under-body trail cameras, and integrated recovery points.
Land Rover Defender
The base end of the luxury off-road outdoor adventure SUV class really begins with the Land Rover Defender. It’s unquestionably luxurious and it’s also unquestionably capable. The base engine produces some 296 hp and in its most brutal form, the Defender can tow up to 8,200 pounds. That’s outstanding and makes it one of the most balanced of this bunch. The interior is sleek, modern, and incredibly comfortable. If there’s anything we’d knock it’s the lack of truly advanced driver aids.
Mercedes Benz G-Class
On the high end of the luxury scale is the Mercedes Benz G-Class. It’s as luxurious as one could ask for and surprisingly, it’s just about as capable as anything else here too. Sure, it’ll cost a small fortune, but for some, price isn’t a factor, and for them, the G-Class is the ultimate outdoor toy.
Just like the Jeep it has a storied history of off-roading. In a move that makes it objectively better to own, it has some of the best driver aids in this bunch and perhaps the most advanced infotainment technology too.
Lexus GX460
Those who want the same hardcore reliability of the Toyota 4Runner in a posher package should look at the Lexus GX460. It uses a 4.6-liter V8 and a six-speed automatic and features an awesome suspension setup that soaks up bumps and bruises while helping this large SUV handle everyday on-road driving like a pro.
The Lexus GX460 very quiet and composed despite its size. It’s not as modern inside as the Land Rover or the Mercedes but it offers a nice balance of features including a small but functional third row.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
In years past we’d never have included the Grand Cherokee in this list. Jeep never really emphasized its off-road chops but now it’s pretty close to matching the Land Rover Defender in terms of comfort and capability.
Two and three-row variants are available and Jeep will even include a display screen on the front passenger dashboard for those that want it. Just like its Wrangler sibling, the Grand Cherokee is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Ford F-150 Raptor
On the other end of the fuel economy spectrum, the Ford F-150 Raptor drinks fuel almost as quickly as our tenth entry coming up. In exchange for that thirst, drivers get at least 450 hp on tap and an incredible suspension. Raptor owners will have no problem hitting off-road trails, especially those in desert or sand at high speeds.
RAM 1500 TRX
If there’s anything here that’s going to go down in record books it’s the RAM 1500 TRX. It features a supercharged 702 hp HEMI V8 and a plush interior. It’s wildly quick, surprisingly nimble, and sounds like a monster. There’s an available 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a heads-up display, a wireless charging pad, and more for those who want them.
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