Tough on Terrain, Easy on Your Wallet: Budget Off-Road SUVs That Crush It

Yahoo

05-06-2025

Over the past few decades, the auto industry has steadily blurred the definition of what an SUV really is. What once described large, rugged vehicles built for tough terrain now includes everything from compact crossovers to lifted hatchbacks.
Today, some so-called SUVs start around $20,000 and don't even come with all-wheel drive, making them better suited for school drop-offs than off-road adventures. If you're looking for something more capable, a vehicle that can actually handle trails, snow, and rough terrain, then you're in the right place.
We chose these SUVs based on their price first and foremost. If it's brand new, we've chosen the trim level that fits within this budget, and the prices are correct at the time of publication. If it's used, we reference the market valuation website Classic.com for the current value.
As for the off-road capability, we use the opinions and experience of professional automotive journalists who have driven these SUVs and tested them in the right conditions. Wherever we mention stats, such as ground clearance, etc., they are the official figures claimed by the automakers. So, what kind of SUV can you buy for $40,000 or less and not have to worry about road conditions? Let's see…
Easily one of the most obvious choices. The Wrangler is one of America's favorite off-roader SUVs, and despite all the jokes and stereotypes surrounding both it and the Jeep brand as a whole, it still has some good value to bring.
Available as a three-door or five-door, the Wrangler is a genuinely capable off-roader right from the factory. The latest one is offered with 35" tires, giving it an almost ridiculous 13" ground clearance. You can also get the 2025 Wrangler as a plug-in hybrid, and it's even possible to spec it with an optional winch. For $40,000, you'll have to settle for a base Sport if you want four doors, but if you're fine with a two-door, add $190 to the budget, and you'll have a more specced-out Willys.
We'd love to include the 2025 4Runner in this roundup, but sadly, that car starts from $40,000. Instead, the fifth-generation 4Runner will have to do. Actually, that doesn't sound right. The fifth-generation 4Runner will most certainly do. Launched in 2010 and staying in production for a decade and a half, the fifth-generation 4Runner was one of the last truly old-school SUVs on the market. While everyone transitioned to hybrids and smaller engines, the 4Runner was chugging away with a big 4.0-liter V6 and a five-speed automatic, as reported by TrueCar.
YouTuber Doug DeMuro also demonstrated how old school it was in his review, including the persistent use of a regular key. Classic.com places the fifth-gen 4Runner at around $33,000. You might need to go for a higher mileage example, but this is a Toyota SUV, so that shouldn't be much of a problem.
Easily one of the greatest comebacks in automotive history. After decades of consideration and teasing, Ford finally brought back the Bronco in 2020 as a proper competitor to the Jeep Wrangler. If you want a brand-new Bronco, the basic ones start from just under $40,000.
It's a better idea to go through the classifieds for certified pre-owned or leftover inventory. Even though Classic.com values the Bronco at around $70,000, if you dig past all the hideous, modified examples, you could get a Bronco with the Sasquatch package for around $36,000. You definitely want the Sasquatch because that's the one with the locking diffs, larger tires, and beadlock wheels. That's not to say the regular Bronco isn't capable enough already, as Elana Scherr of Car and Driver discovered.
The Mercedes G-Class guarantees off-road ability in the same way that a sunny day guarantees a blue sky. Starting its life as a military vehicle, the G-Wagen has become one of the most iconic and notoriously capable off-roaders of all time. It oozes cool factor from every angle, and that has meant, among other things, sky-high values.
Obviously, $40,000 is nowhere near enough for a brand-new Rodeo Drive spec G-Class. For this kind of money, you'll be looking at an imported W463 G Wagen, meaning anything from the early '90s until about 2000 or so. Although they have less tech than the newest ones, Jonathan Bryce of Autocar reports that they still have a decent amount of creature comforts and some pretty unstoppable diesel engines. Many of them are now legal to import to the States. Even though Classic values the diesel G-Wagens of this vintage at around $45,000, some are going for $35,000 or even around $25,000.
This is the Toyota SUV that was gone too soon, and it needs to be brought back. The FJ Cruiser was a tribute band to the original FJ40 Land Cruiser, hence the name, and it was a more fun way to have an off-roader SUV.
Everything about this thing oozes style and character, from the half-size rear doors to the general shape and the trio (yes, really) of windshield wipers. It's also tough and durable on the inside, the powertrains are reliable, as Vlad Radu of Autoevolution reports, and the styling is not just for show: it's genuinely capable. For $40,000, you might get lucky and find one of the Trail Team's versions. If you want to play it safe, Classic places the regular FJ Cruisers at around $28,000 on average, and for closer to $40,000, you'll have a mint condition one with low miles. This also means that the FJ Cruiser doesn't really do depreciation.
Another off-roader SUV that disappeared from the market a little bit too soon. The Xterra was, ostensibly, an SUV version of the Frontier pickup truck. It aimed to offer genuine capability in a smaller footprint and at a more affordable price.
As Zach Bowman of MotorTrend reported, it doesn't really drive like a bulky lifted car on the road, but when duty calls, the Xterra will respond every time. The second-generation Xterra received some nicer off-road hardware, including, as Ron Kiino of C&D reported, a proper locking rear differential. The first-generation cars had a rear LSD, but they were still plenty capable. Classic places both generations of the Xterra at around $13,000 on average, and that kind of money is plenty enough for a well-kept example with the off-roading upgrades.
The third-gen Montero, known as the Pajero or Shogun in other markets, blends comfort and off-road performance with a surprising amount of refinement. While earlier Monteros were more utilitarian, this version embraced modern comforts without sacrificing its serious 4WD chops.
With a unibody chassis and fully independent suspension, it may not be a rock crawler like a Wrangler, but it's extremely capable on rough trails. Most examples fall in the $6,000–$12,000 range, depending on condition, so you've got room in the budget for tires and a mild lift.
Some of you may not know, but throughout most of the world, Toyota offers a smaller version of the Land Cruiser called the Land Cruiser Prado. That's essentially what the 250 Series is now, and Gero Lilleike of Cars.co.za confirms it still carries that same Prado name overseas. Technically, there was a way to have a Prado in North America, too, but it had a Lexus badge instead of a Toyota one.
The GX first came to North America in 2002, but we're focusing on the second-generation J150 here. The Lexus GX enjoyed V8 power in the States, which its overseas counterpart couldn't brag about. While it did focus a lot on luxury, Jason Fogelson of Forbes reported that the J150 GX has permanent 4WD and a standard locking center diff, which made overlanding as easy as pie. According to Classic, second-generation GX models go for around $27,000 on average.
GM doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation for off-roaders, but the original TrailBlazer is a dark horse. It came with a robust 4.2-liter inline-6 making 275 horsepower, solid towing capability, and optional 4WD with low range.
The platform was shared with the GMC Envoy and a few others, but the TrailBlazer stood out for its rugged utility. It's not the flashiest SUV out there, but with used prices starting at just a couple of thousand dollars, according to Kelley Blue Book, it's a dirt-cheap ticket to your favorite trailhead.
If you're looking for a full-size SUV that combines comfort with genuine off-road chops, the Z71 trim of the Chevrolet Tahoe is a solid pick. Available across multiple generations, the Z71 package added off-road suspension, skid plates, beefier tires, and a locking rear differential, features that helped transform the Tahoe from suburban hauler to backcountry bruiser.
Despite its size, the Tahoe Z71 is surprisingly capable off-road, especially when paired with the 5.3-liter V8 engine. Parts availability is excellent, reliability is solid, and there's plenty of space for gear or passengers. J.D. Power lists average values for 2004 Z71 models around $4,225–$9,500, making them a budget-friendly way to explore the wild without sacrificing daily drivability.
Isuzu pulled out of the U.S. market a long time ago. The Japanese automaker did not leave without a bang, however. The VehiCROSS is one of the strangest, most admirable SUVs to emerge in the late 90s and the early 2000s.
It was offered exclusively with three doors and had some truly ridiculous (in a good way) styling, the most notable aspect being the massive tires. As Frank Markus of Car and Driver reported, the VehiCROSS had beefy drivetrain components designed not just to go off-road but to go off-road fast. In that regard, the VehiCROSS and its Baja capabilities were way ahead of their time. You won't be surprised to hear that this is a very rare vehicle, but Classic claims that the average value hovers around $11,000, though nicer examples are closer to $20,000.
Sometimes, having an off-roader that works most of the time is no fun. The Land Rover LR3, or the Discovery 3, as it was called in the rest of the world, is something like a more utilitarian Range Rover with three-row seating. Land Rover doesn't skip out when it comes to off-roading, and the LR3 is no exception.
Mack Hogan of Road and Track absolutely loved his time off-roading a mostly stock LR3. It's an immensely capable SUV while also being luxurious, full of charm, and offering some exciting powertrains. Classic.com places the LR3 at around $13,000 on average, though you want to avoid the four-figure, high-mileage examples for optimal results. You should also avoid the TMU (total mileage unknown) stuff and anything without proper maintenance and records. One Reddit user confirms that proper maintenance is a top priority for these cars.
Despite the bro-truck reputation, the H3 is more than just a mall crawler fashion statement. It's the most normal-sized Hummer and shares underpinnings with the Chevy Colorado. The H3 has full-time 4WD with optional rear locking diff and serious ground clearance (up to 9.7"), and steep approach/departure angles.
It's also one of the few Hummers you can buy for less than $20K and not feel guilty about modifying. If you're looking for a solid trail SUV with plenty of presence, the H3 is an excellent choice.
Despite Jeep's somewhat bad reputation in the automotive world, the XJ Cherokee is one of the automaker's greatest hits. Launched at the very end of the 1980s, this boxy workhorse introduced something to the SUV world that would become the gold standard: unibody construction.
The XJ Cherokee was one of the first production SUVs to use a unibody instead of body-on-frame, something that Jerrod Jones of MotorTrend covers in great detail. That didn't mean the XJ Cherokee was not capable of off-roading, even if it did require a few small modifications. What's more, you could have it with Jeep's 4.0-liter inline-6, an engine one Reddit user claims is quite literally unstoppable. According to Classic, on average, XJ Cherokees are going for around $13,000, though the nicely kept examples are closer to $20,000.
One of a handful of Suzuki models that Americans fondly remember. Also briefly known as the Geo Tracker, the Suzuki Sidekick was the North American version of the Vitara/Escudo, and it was a pretty big change of pace for the SUV market at the time. David Tracy of the Autopian makes it clear that this is not an SUV we should mock based on appearances.
The Sidekick stood out due to its comparatively small dimensions, and it was jam-packed with personality. It looks cool even today. When it comes to SUVs, Suzuki tends to focus on off-road capability, and the Sidekick is no exception. It's a fun way to go further off-road than any vehicle this size has any right to do, and you won't have to part ways with a ton of cash. Considering that these go for $8,000 on average, according to Classic, it's an affordable way to venture off-road.
The Grand Vitara is one of the most overlooked modern compact SUVs with legitimate off-road capability. Unlike most of its crossover competitors, it used a ladder-frame-on-unibody design with a real low-range transfer case.
This was a decent off-road SUV straight off the showroom floor, and with modest mods like all-terrain tires and a slight lift, it becomes a surprisingly competent trail runner. Best of all, you can scoop one up for around $8,000, leaving plenty of headroom in your budget for personalization.
Before the Explorer became a mall crawler, the early models were proper off-road rigs. The first-gen Explorer shared much of its DNA with the rugged Ranger pickup, including a solid rear axle, body-on-frame construction, and a torque-rich 4.0-liter V6. With the optional 4WD system and available 5-speed manual, these SUVs could hold their own on rocky trails.
They're not as refined as newer models, but they're easy to maintain and built to take a beating. Best of all, you can find clean examples for well under $5,000, leaving plenty of room in the budget for upgrades.
The Liberty may not have the legendary status of the Wrangler, but the Renegade trim brought legit off-road cred to Jeep's smaller SUV. It featured skid plates, a locking center differential, and beefier suspension components, plus the boxy styling and roof lights gave it a trail-ready attitude.
Under the hood was a 3.7-liter V6 paired with a proper 4WD system. It's not as hardcore as a Wrangler, but it'll get you down a muddy trail without breaking a sweat. According to Kelley Blue Book, used prices hover around $3,000–$6,000, making it one of the cheapest ways into the Jeep lifestyle.
Before the Durango went full soccer-mom SUV, the first-generation model was a decent off-roader. Built on a modified Dakota pickup chassis, it came with V8 power, optional 4WD with a low-range transfer case, and seating for up to seven. It wasn't luxurious, but it was rugged and full of attitude.
You can find one of these listed for around $5,000–$7,000, depending on mileage and condition, which makes it one of the most affordable ways to obtain V8-powered off-road capability.
One of the most badge-engineered cars in history, the Isuzu Rodeo was marketed under about a dozen other brands and model names. The Rodeo is somewhat of a cult classic SUV nowadays, and it's a pretty interesting off-roader.
Christian Hazel of MotorTrend singles out the Rodeo as a great first off-roader since it doesn't lose all talent when it's on the pavement. It's decently drivable on the road, but when you want to go off-roading, you won't have a hard time. The most desirable Rodeos use the 3.2-liter V6, and Classic places the average value at around $8,000. You might have to pay a little bit more for the nicest ones, though.
Many off-road SUVs come with a hefty price tag, and even then, they often need expensive modifications to handle serious terrain. Between upgrades, lift kits, and aftermarket gear, costs can climb quickly.
But the models featured here prove you don't need to break the bank to get true off-road capability. With a budget of around $40,000, you can find an SUV that's ready for adventure straight from the factory, no major upgrades required. Just a sense of direction and a willingness to explore.