6 Great SUVs On and Off Road

Toyota 4Runner
Like the Nissan Xterra, the Toyota 4Runner manages to provide a smooth ride in daily driving while continuing to deliver the same stellar off-road prowess for which this SUV is known. In most standard configurations, the 4Runner is comfortable and practical with an overall design still intended to traverse just about any terrain. Those looking for the ultimate off-roading SUV, though, should check out the all-new 2015 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, which adds beefed-up suspension, tires and brings a unique, retro styling to the table. If the TRD Pro is a little too much, the 4Runner Trail is more than capable when the pavement ends with unique features such as Crawl Control (a low-speed, off-roading cruise control) and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which is Toyota’s fancy way of saying disconnecting stabilizer bars. The Toyota 4Runner starts in the same low-$30,000 price range as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer, but the all-new 4Runner TRD Pro has intentions and a price that are more in line with a fully loaded Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Subaru Outback
Impossible to define as either an SUV or a crossover, the 2015 Subaru Outback is just a jacked-up station wagon that has no problem acting as a grocery getter or as a mode of transportation over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. Better yet, it might be one of the most affordable family style off-roaders with a price starting at under $25,000. In this price range, you can get a two-door Wrangler or a number of soft-roading SUVs, but Subaru has ensured that its go-anywhere station wagon delivers a balance of comfort and ruggedness. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system comes standard on the Outback as well as Hill Descent Control and X-Mode, which adjusts engine power, transmission ratio and Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) to optimize off-road performance. Like the Xterra, the new Outback is one of few off-road-ready vehicles you can still get with a manual transmission.

There are definitely other vehicles that can make the list. Feel free to add your favorite SUV with great on- and off-road qualities to the comment section.