The 5 Best Off-Road Vehicles

As a mid-sized truck, the Chevy Colorado is not the strongest or best at towing heavy loads. But for running down a trail or driving in off-road conditions, there are few vehicles that can equal it. Built on a modified and nimbler chassis than the large full-sized Chevy Silverado, the Colorado is swift and agile. The body is much lighter than larger trucks and the Z71 package arms this truck with a hill descent control system, automatic locking rear differential, enhanced shocks and a loose suspension. Now available in a diesel powered version, the Chevy Colorado is ideal for camping and taking into the woods on light trails. If you want a workhorse hauling truck, then the Colorado may not be the best choice. But if you want to tow a couple of dirt bikes into the woods or throw some fishing rods and tackle in the back and head to the lake for the weekend, than this is your truck.

One of the SUVs most associated with off-road adventures, the Range Rover continues to remain an industry leader when it comes to driving off the beaten path. Don’t let the sleek design and luxury interior fool you. The flagship Land Rover vehicle was built with one purpose in mind – off-road driving. Fitted with an adjustable air suspension and a high-tech computer controlled "Terrain Response” system that adjusts the four-wheel drive to the road conditions, the Range Rover is fearless in any conditions – dirt, rock, gravel, sand, up hill and down. On wooded trails, the Range Rover can elevate on its springs and provide a foot of ground clearance. Did we mention that this vehicle is also capable of crossing water that is up to three feet deep? A five liter, supercharged V8 engine provides 510 horsepower that helps the Range Rover go from 0-to-60 miles an hour in five seconds flat. Luxury never looked so good.

For off-road driving and comfort, look no further than the Jeep Grand Cherokee – Overland model. Powerful 4×4 action in comfy leather seats never felt so good. A leather covered dashboard, heated front seats and an Alpine sound system mean you’ll be cruising through the woods in style. But make no mistake. This is still a vehicle meant for rugged roads and harsh terrain. Propelled by a 217 horsepower, V6 engine and 4×4 drive train, this is one SUV that can deliver in the difficult spots. The patented Active Drive II four-wheel drive system enables people to adjust to slick, sticky or deep mud conditions. It is designed to make it easy for the driver to adapt to any and all roads. Sleek and stylish, the Jeep Grand-Cherokee – Overland is like the SUV you drive to a wedding that is taking place on the side of a mountain at a wooded retreat.

One of the original off-road vehicles and still one that is closely associated with dirt roads and steep hill climbs, the Toyota Land Cruiser remains one of the most popular vehicles in this class. And while the Land Cruiser has been modified over the years to include more bells and whistles, this vehicle remains, at its core, an SUV built for slogging it out on broken rock roads and through mud pits. What truly sets the Toyota Land Cruiser apart is its huge 381 horsepower V8 engine, as well as its coiled solid axle rear suspension that enables this SUV to bounce over any surface. The suspension in this vehicle literally adjusts to off-road or city street driving conditions. As with the aforementioned 4Runner, Toyota’s Land Cruiser also comes with crawl control and brakes that automatically tighten on the outside wheel when taking a tight turn on a narrow trail. Not for everyone at a starting price of $80,000. But, if you can afford it, the Land Cruiser will not disappoint – in any environment.

The previously mentioned Raptor might be the fastest and nimblest truck that the Ford Motor Company makes, but for sheer power, hauling capability and off-road crawling ability, look no further than the Ford Super Duty pick-up truck. The "Big Bertha” of trucks, the Super Duty can haul a heavy payload over virtually any surface or terrain. The axles and suspension on this truck put it in a class of its own, and a diesel engine gives this monster some serious power and a mind inflaming 860 pounds of torque – more than enough to pull just about anything you can think of – a boat or a boat house. When it comes to four-wheel drive vehicles that are capable of taking any load over any terrain, the Ford Super Duty truck is number one. It really is "Built Ford Tough.”