4 Rugged Car Brands That'll Hold Up Against All Terrains
Many car brands now offer rugged and durable vehicles to appeal to those seeking some adventure. And some even offer that at a low price — perfect for any budget.
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Here's a look at four of the most rugged brands to consider if you want to drive in some exciting terrains.
If you're looking for a rugged car that'll hold up for your daily commute and your off-road adventures, check out Ford. It's a brand known for making vehicles that are durable and fun to drive.
Specifically, according to Edmunds, you may want to check out the Ford Bronco Sport Sasquatch. It's a compact SUV that's rugged, dependable and spacious. Edmunds claimed this car has 'genuine off-road capability and everyday usability.'
The Sasquatch package is available with the Outer Banks and Badlands trim levels. For a 2025 model, the Outer Banks and Badlands trims start at $35,459 and $38,818, respectively, per Edmunds.
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It's probably no surprise that Jeep makes the list of rugged car brands. After all, its Wrangler is a fan favorite for durability and drivability. According to its website, the Jeep Wrangler has strength and power in hard-to-reach terrains. A 2025 Jeep Wrangler has a starting MSRP of $32,690.
Jeep is a brand to consider for your next vehicle if you're looking for one that'll hold up for years and offer versatility for everyday driving and off-road excitement.
According to IMG Licensing, 'rugged individualism' is one of the hallmarks of Dodge's brand.
Drivers looking for a car with off-road capabilities can consider the Dodge Ram. Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM points to the Power Wagon and Rebel specifically. A 2025 Power Wagon starts at $72,140, while a 2025 Rebel has a starting MSRP of $68,940.
When it comes to reliable trucks and SUVs, it may be tough to beat those from GMC. That's probably particularly true if you want to take your vehicle in rugged terrain.
Some GMC vehicles to consider for rugged reliability include the Sierra, Yukon and Canyon. A 2025 GMC Sierra has a starting MSRP of $66,800, and a 2025 Yukon has a starting MSRP of $67,200. A 2025 Canyon comes in much lower, with a starting MSRP of $38,400.
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Sources
Edmunds, 'Off-Road Buyers Guide: Which Hardcore SUV Is Right for You?'
Edmunds, '2025 Ford Bronco Sport.'
Jeep, 'Jeep Wrangler.'
IMG Licensing, 'Dodge.'
Humes Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, 'Top Ram Truck Off-Roading Models.'
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Rugged Car Brands That'll Hold Up Against All Terrains
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USA Today
20 hours ago
- USA Today
Want to buy an electric car or truck? What to know before tax credits expire Sept. 30
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Car and Driver
2 days ago
- Car and Driver
2026 Jeep Wagoneer S Review, Pricing, and Specs
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They produce a combined output of 500 horsepower and 524 pound-feet of torque in standard trim, or 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet if you opt for the Propulsion Boost package. All-wheel drive is standard. Performance is lively, and Jeep's Selec-Terrain traction management system provides five distinct driving modes: Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow, and Sand. We weren't impressed with how the Wagoneer S drove when we got behind the wheel, as it has a choppy ride, an overly sensitive throttle pedal, long stopping distances, and poorly calibrated regenerative braking settings that feel grabby. 0–60-MPH Times C/D 60-mph Test: 3.4 seconds (600 hp powertrain) In Comparison: Jeep's plug-in-hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe needed 5.3 seconds to reach 60 mph. The 615-hp Chevrolet Blazer EV SS jumped to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. View Exterior Photos Marc Urbano | Car and Driver Towing and Payload Capacity The Jeep Wagoneer S EV is rated to tow a maximum of 3500 pounds. That's significantly less than the 6000-pound rating for the 2024 Grand Cherokee 4xe hybrid and the 6200-pound rating for the regular Grand Cherokee. The 2024 Chevy Blazer EV RS with rear-wheel drive is rated at 3500 pounds. Range, Charging, and Battery Life C/D Range Test: 280 miles (600 hp) 280 miles (600 hp) EPA EV Range: 294 miles In our 75-mph highway range test, a Wagoneer Launch Edition achieved 280 miles, a very good result relative to its EPA range. It uses a 400-volt electric architecture, and its 94-kWh battery pack is capable of charging from 20 to 80 percent in a claimed 23 minutes on a DC fast-charger. Level 2 charging on a 240-volt circuit should take the battery from 5 to 80 percent in roughly seven hours. That same 5-80 percent recharge on a typical 110-volt household circuit would likely take up to 53 hours. Bonus: Every Wagoneer S includes a 48-amp Level 2 home charger or the equivalent in public charging credits. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe EPA City Rating: 100 MPGe 100 MPGe EPA Highway Rating: 85 MPGe The EPA hasn't released any fuel-economy information for the 2026 Wagoneer S yet, but the ratings cited here, for the 2025 model, should remain unchanged. MPGe stands for miles per gallon of gas equivalent, an EPA metric that estimates PHEV and EV vehicle fuel efficiency. For more information about the Wagoneer S's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo First Row: Though the Wagoneer S is considerably smaller than the current gas-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer that it shares its name with, it borrows many of those models' trademark interior design elements. The twin-spoke, flat-bottomed wheel utilizes a new anti-microbial vinyl wrap, and heated-and-cooled seats with faux-leather upholstery are standard. Second Row: The second row is adequately roomy for adults, and offers standard heated-and-cooled outboard seats standard. Cargo Capacity: The Wagoneer S has a small 3-cubic-foot frunk (front trunk) and 30 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row—61 cubes with it folded—slightly less cargo room than in the back of a Grand Cherokee. View Interior Photos Marc Urbano | Car and Driver Infotainment and Connectivity Infotainment: 12.3-inch touchscreen 12.3-inch touchscreen Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Audio System: 9-speaker Alpine stereo (standard), 19-speaker McIntosh stereo (optional) Along with 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, the Wagoneer S has a 10.3-inch lower touchscreen for comfort functions and offers an available 10.3-inch passenger screen with HDMI connectivity. A 10.0-inch head-up display is also offered. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features The Wagoneer S features a host of standard safety and assistance features, including adaptive cruise with stopping, lane-keeping assistance, a 360-degree surround camera, and parking assist, just to name a few. Standard Safety Features: adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection, parking assist For information about the Wagoneer S's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Although the Wagoneer S is aimed at the premium end of the market, its standard warranty is typical, except for eight years or 100,000 miles of coverage for the battery. Limited Warranty: three years or 36,000 miles three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles five years or 60,000 miles Battery Warranty: eight years or 100,000 miles eight years or 100,000 miles Complimentary Maintenance: three years C/D Test Results and Specs We test hundreds of vehicles each year. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because the current model hasn't changed from when we last tested it. Specifications Specifications 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S Limited 4xe Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon PRICE Base/As Tested: $67,195/$74,290 POWERTRAIN Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 335 hp, 310 lb-ft Rear Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC, 335 hp, 310 lb-ft Combined Power: 600 hp Combined Torque: 617 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 94 kWh Onboard Charger: 11.0 kW Peak DC Fast-Charge Rate: 203 kW Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink Brakes, F/R: 13.9-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc Tires: Falken Ziex CT60 A/S 235/50R-20 104H M+S FOE DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 113.0 in Length: 192.4 in Width: 74.8 in Height: 64.8 in Passenger Volume, F/R: 52/47 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 61/31 ft3 Curb Weight: 5723 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 3.4 sec 100 mph: 7.6 sec 120 mph: 11.0 sec 1/4-Mile: 11.5 sec @ 123 mph Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.8 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.5 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 1.8 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 128 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 206 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 416 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.80 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 79 MPGe EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 93/100/85 MPGe Range: 294 mi C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
USA Today
2 days ago
- USA Today
Stellantis sued for wrongful death after worker killed at Toledo Jeep plant
The family of Antonio Gaston, a 53-year-old father of four who died on the assembly line in a Toledo Jeep factory in Ohio, is suing Stellantis — the parent company of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram — for his death. "There's so much heartbreak, losing my husband at work," Gaston's widow, Renita Shores-Gaston, told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I never expected him to go to work and not come home." In a lawsuit filed in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas on Monday, Aug. 11, Shores-Gaston said her husband's death is the fault of Stellantis, a supplier and several of Gaston's coworkers — who are unnamed in the suit — after they deliberately removed safety equipment in the plant. Shores-Gaston is seeking at least $25,000 in compensation, as well as punitive damages for Stellantis. According to the suit, Gaston died while tightening bolts on the chassis of a Jeep Gladiator as it rolled down the production line. Because pinch-point guards — safety devices that prevent a worker from getting their body trapped in machinery — along the conveyor belt were removed, Gaston got trapped beneath the chassis and dragged along as the conveyor belt moved forward, the suit says. He died from "crushing injuries to the torso," according to the coroner of Lucas County. In case you missed it: Stellantis CEO Filosa retains former role, will also lead North American operations Gaston had worked for Stellantis for 12 years and was a member of UAW Local 12 at the time of his death. Previously, he worked at the now-idled Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois. In 2021, when production at the plant paused, he was relocated to Toledo. As her voice shook, Renita Shores-Gaston said working on an assembly line shouldn't be a life-threatening job. "To lose your life for making a car, that just shouldn't be," Shores-Gaston said. In December 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined Stellantis following an investigation into Gaston's death. The federal agency said a conveyor belt at the Stellantis facility lacked adequate safety protections at pinch points where employees could be caught in moving parts. OSHA recommended a $16,131 fine for the "serious violation." Stellantis has the right to appeal fine recommendations made by the agency. According to OSHA's online database, the case remains open. To Shores-Gaston, there is no dollar amount that can make right her husband's death. But she sees $16,131 as a slap in the face. "How does that help anybody? How does that make a company want to do better when they're getting fined those small amounts?" she said. "That's like pennies on the ground, I feel like, for that type of company." Stellantis said the following in an emailed statement: "We extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Antonio Gaston. There is nothing we take more seriously than the safety of our employees. We don't comment on ongoing litigation." Gaston's death is not the only recent workplace death at a Stellantis facility to come under scrutiny. In April, Stellantis employee Ronald Adams died at the company's Dundee Engine Plant in Michigan. An investigation into Adams' death is ongoing. In a GoFundMe campaign, Tru Parham, a union steward at the Toledo assembly plant, wrote that Gaston — known as "Tone" on the shop floor — would be remembered fondly. "The memories we all have of 'Tone' are brightened by his permanent smile and joyous nature," Parham wrote. "We work to provide for our families and our fallen brother tragically didn't make it home to his." Similarly, Shores-Gaston said she will never forget her man. "He had the biggest smile, the brightest smile," she said. "He was going to dominate the room. His presence was always big enough." Liam Rappleye covers Stellantis and the UAW for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him: LRappleye@
