Six rugged 4x4s fit for an army – and cost less than £5,000
But the recent news that Russia's beleaguered army is being forced to use civilian Lada Niva 4x4s in its war on Ukraine shows that the truth is anything but. Scoff all you like, Land Rover owners, but cars such as these are tough, rugged and long-lasting – which is perhaps why the Russian army has chosen to use them to fill some of the holes in its procurement.
Sadly, the nimble Niva is no longer available to buy new in the UK. But if you have £5,000 and need a vehicle that can easily go the distance off the beaten track, there are plenty of other options available. Here are six contenders – along with one model that might look tempting, but in reality is anything but.
Kia Sorento (2003-2009)
In later iterations the Sorento became more of a soft-roader, but this first-generation model is surprisingly capable in the rough thanks to its combination of old-fashioned body-on-frame construction, a low-range transfer case, a solid rear axle and, on pre-facelift models, even a limited-slip rear differential.
The Sorento isn't the last word in style, but it is widely credited as a reliable, sturdy beast and reasonably refined on the road, too. Inside it's plasticky, but is well equipped and, given that this is quite a large SUV, there's lots of space in the back and in the boot.
Price to pay: from £1,000
We found: 2005 2.5 CRDi XS, 80,000 miles, 10 months' MOT, £1,900
Watch out for: Fuel tank de-lamination causing engine cut-outs, rust on abused examples, transmission and flywheel issues on manual examples
Land Rover Discovery 3 (2004-2009)
The only reason the Disco 3 doesn't finish higher up on this list is its somewhat patchy reputation for reliability. But there are ways to mitigate this: buying the best you can. Making sure it's had lots of money spent on regular and preventative maintenance is no guarantee of dependability with these cars, but it gives you a fighting chance.
You should just about be able to find such a car for our budget – and if you get a good one, a Discovery 3 will take you pretty much everywhere you need to off-road (Jeremy Clarkson once drove one to the top of a Scottish mountain). What's more, it will do so in sublime comfort and with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a high-end luxury off-roader.
Price to pay: from £3,000
We found: 2009 Discovery 2.7 TD XS, 127,000 miles, full service history, £5,000
Watch out for: Snapped crankshafts, electrical glitches, smokey turbos, dodgy exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves, coolant in the gearbox oil, battery drains, leaky sunroofs, defunct air conditioning
Subaru Forester (2002-2008)
The second-generation Forester is a very useful off-roader as standard, with a selectable low-ratio gearbox and excellent views outwards, which makes it easy to position on tougher trails. But add some of the aftermarket modifications that are widely available – for example, a suspension lifting kit and a limited-slip rear differential – and it becomes an extremely capable machine.
Generally speaking, the Forester is a reliable buy at this budget, too, while it's just as capable on the road as off it. The interior is light and airy, while the vast boot means there's space for as much kit as you may need for your adventures.
Price to pay: from £1,500
We found: 2005 Forester 2.0 X, 95,000 miles, full service history, £2,495
Watch out for: Head gasket failure, rust on sills, strut top mounts, boot floors, defunct rear wipers, leaky rear differentials
Dacia Duster 4x4 (2010-2017)
Does any car in this list come anywhere near as close in ethos and feel to a Lada Niva than this? Choose a four-wheel-drive Duster in white with steel wheels and you'll get the best of bare-bones basic off-roading; a car that has everything you need and nothing you don't.
Well, perhaps not everything you need. A Duster doesn't quite have the axle articulation of a more serious 4x4, for example. But the fact that you can lock the centre differential makes it far more capable off-road than you might expect. Combined with its light weight and relatively compact dimensions, with the addition of specialist all-terrain tyres, it means there are places you can go in a Duster that are only usually accessible in much more serious machinery. And because the Duster is so simple, there isn't too much that can go wrong.
Price to pay: from £1,500
We found: 2013 Duster 1.5 DCi Ambiance 4WD, 81,000 miles, two owners, £3,971
Watch out for: Rust and leaks, particularly on early examples, rattly interior trim, tight-fisted owners who have skimped on proper maintenance
Mitsubishi Shogun (1999-2006)
Despite its age, this third-generation Shogun has held its value very well, while rarity means even older examples go for quite a bit – so stick to the charmingly truncated three-door model, which tends to be worth less, to get the best value for money.
On the road, the Shogun drives as you'd expect from an old-school 4x4 – somewhat lumpy, somewhat noisy and far from the last word in handling prowess. Off the beaten track, however, the Shogun has all the equipment you'll need to keep you moving – and shod with the right tyres, it's almost as indomitable as the much pricier Toyota Land Cruiser.
Price to pay: from £3,700
We found: 2003 3.2 DI-D Warrior, 94,000 miles, full service history, £4,799
Watch out for: non-functioning four-wheel drive modes (check them all), failing diesel fuel pumps due to moisture trapped by inner arches, failing dual-mass flywheels on manuals, sagging rear suspension
Suzuki Jimny (1998-2009)
Small but perfectly formed, the Jimny is still the ultimate go-anywhere vehicle for your £5,000 budget. Not only does its tiny size make it light, but it also boasts a low-range gearbox, while lockable differentials are widely available on the aftermarket if you decide to tackle even more strenuous off-roading.
What's more, the Jimny's reputation for reliability means it should never leave you stranded. And with a tiny yet torquey 1.3-litre engine (a 1.8 was available for a year, but is now vanishingly rare), it's even pretty economical. Sure, on the road the driving experience is a bit wayward – but off it, a well-tyred Jimny will get you to places most other 4x4s quail at.
Price to pay: from £2,500
We found: 2005 Jimny 1.3 JLX, 78,000 miles, full service history, £4,495
Watch out for: Noisy gearbox bearings, rusty suspension mounting points, boot floors and sills, wobbly steering above 50mph, water leaks
And the off-roader to avoid
Jeep Compass (2007-2015)
You might think that the Compass can plug mud with the best of them given it wears the renowned Jeep badge – but don't be fooled. This was Jeep dipping its toe into the soft-roader market and the result was a car that simply couldn't match the off-road abilities of its stablemate the Wrangler, or even a Cherokee.
The Compass isn't even that great on the road, either, and its cheap interior plastics feel anything but plush. That might be forgivable if it had some off-road chops – but it doesn't. So whatever you may need it for, this particular Jeep is best avoided.
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