Off-roading equipment has never been so plentiful as it is now. The question becomes what do you need and how much are you willing to pay for it. After all, the money you pay for an off-roading SUV could net you an amazing sports car.
Many brands are jumping into the off-roading/adventure SUV business (ABC News), and the marketplace is crowded with the return of such luxury liners as the Land Rover Defender. This year alone there were more off-road models added to the pile. Ford has introduced Timberline editions which turn the Explorer and Expedition into off-roading experts. Among Honda SUVs, not known for off-roading before now, there are Pilot Trailsport and Passport Trailsport editions.
The Must-Have Features for Off-Roading
Before you settle on a brand, you need to consider whether it has what you need for off-roading. Here's what you should know.
A Well-Equipped Build
A good off-roader has high ground clearance. The best have over 10 inches. The minimum should be 8 inches. It will have multiple skid plates for protection. Four-wheel drive is a must, although Honda's Intelligent All Wheel Drive is an example of a system that can go on the trail without heavy 4x4 equipment.
Terrain Management
Terrain management should be part of the package. Honda's iAWD includes sand and mud settings, and that's the minimum requirement these days for off-roading. Ford has GOAT, its Go-Over-Any-Terrain management system. This adds settings for the desert, for ruts, for mud, and other challenges.
For the most difficult terrain challenges, the vehicle should have crawl control. That system is on many Jeeps and Fords, although there are some variations. You'll also find it on off-roading models of favorite trucks.
Water Fording
Ideally the SUV would have the ability to ford through water. This means a waterproofed undercarriage. Be forewarned that this is not a priority on many vehicles claiming to be off-roaders.
Regular Off-Roading
If you are absolutely set on going off-roading every weekend, then you should look at the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. Until the Bronco arrived, the Wrangler was the only affordable SUV with enough equipment to make extreme off-roading safe. The Bronco is definitely challenging the Jeep dynasty (Bloomberg News). For one thing, it has the advanced off-roading equipment developed first for Ford trucks like the Raptor.
The basic Bronco is similar to the basic Wrangler Unlimited. Both have 4x4 drivetrains, terrain management features, skid plates, and off-roading capability. The Bronco Badlands challenges the Wrangler Rubicon for its off-roading crown. The only choice for high-speed off-roading, the Bronco Wildtrak is the first vehicle designed specifically for that activity.
When you step away from the Bronco and Wrangler, you may end up with an SUV that has off-roading features but really isn't tough enough for the trail. It's this difference that should be on the mind of anyone who feels ready to pay more for off-roading equipment. You need an SUV that is tough enough before it takes on the extra devices and additional skid plates.
A Mountain of Truck Choices
If you are looking for a truck, you've got more choices than ever before. The Ram PowerWagon is now challenged by the Ford F250 Tremor. The midsize truck world has the Chevrolet Colorado Z2, Toyota Tacoma TRD, and the Jeep Gladiator. The Ford Ranger, which has stayed out of this rivalry, is getting into it with its own Tremor package.
When it was introduced in 2008, the Ford Raptor was an anomaly (CNBC). It wasn't even expected to make it. Instead sales grew. With it, a lot of competition has emerged. There's the GMC AT4 series, the Ram Rebel and the Toyota Tundra TRD to name a few. For the 2021 model year, Ford introduced more competition for its own outsized F150 off-roader. The Raptor is now sharing the Ford trucks stable with a more regular-sized Tremor trio of F-150s.
Lower Priced Off-Roaders
A smaller off-roader is bound to have a lower price, better fuel economy and ultimately lower ownership costs. This can tempt you away from the Bronco or Wrangler to the Jeep Renegade 4x4 and the Bronco Sport. These have plenty of equipment, but you won't have as big a down payment.
Smaller than the Bronco, the Bronco Sport is still quite capable. It has a standard 4x4 and the GOAT modes. The Renegade Trailhawk and Bronco Sport Badlands definitely go head to head in off-roading capability.
What Does Off-roading Really Cost?
You can expect off-roading to drive up the price of any vehicle. You will pay $2,000 to $4,000 more for a model with 4x4 drive and a minimum of trail equipment. The price of an affordable SUV, such as the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, climbs from just over $33,000 to over $44,000 for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. This price jump is fairly typical for a family-sized SUV when off-roading capability is added. When you start looking at the top performers regardless of brand, you are looking at figures soaring over $60,000.
There are other costs, too. The insurance for an off-roader is likely to be higher. Fuel costs will be higher since 4x4 and AWD SUVs always have lower gas mileage. There's also the danger of ruining an expensive vehicle while on a trail.
To someone who craves adventure, it may be worth it to pay $11,000 to $30,000 more for the best off-roading equipment. For those who just want basic capability, it may be better to just spend what's needed to have four-wheel drive and some skid plates.
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