Best off-road vehicles 2026: six real 4x4s compared by clearance and angles
Most SUVs sold today are road cars with a raised ride height. A real off-road vehicle is judged by different numbers: ground clearance, the depth of water it can wade through, and the approach, departure and ramp angles that decide whether it clears a rock or a crest. The six 4x4s below all have permanent or selectable all-wheel drive and at least 205 mm of clearance. Five are on sale new in Europe in 2026, and the small Suzuki Jimny is a strong used buy.
Quick picks
- Best all-rounder: Land Rover Defender 110 – 850 mm wading depth and 3,500 kg towing.
- Toughest for the long haul: Toyota Land Cruiser – 3,500 kg towing and 31° approach angle.
- Best for rock crawling: Ford Bronco Badlands – 40.6° approach angle and 261 mm clearance.
- Deepest wading: Land Rover Discovery – 900 mm and up to 283 mm clearance.
- Best small 4x4: Suzuki Jimny – 3,645 mm long and 1,165 kg.
All figures in the table are manufacturer values listed by ADAC, Germany's motoring club, for the named versions. Ground clearance is the maximum figure; models with air suspension reach it only in the raised setting.
| Model (version) | Ground clearance | Wading depth | Approach / departure | Braked towing | List price from, Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Defender 110 (D250 S) | 218 mm | 850 mm | – | 3,500 kg | €78,400 (2025) |
| Toyota Land Cruiser (2.8 D-4D Mild-Hybrid) | 205 mm | 700 mm | 31.0° / 22.0° | 3,500 kg | €84,750 (2026) |
| Ford Bronco (2.7 EcoBoost Badlands) | 261 mm | 800 mm | 40.6° / 33.3° | 1,000 kg | €69,950 (2023) |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (2.0 T-GDI Rubicon) | 252 mm | 762 mm | 36.0° / 31.4° | 2,495 kg | €72,900 (2024) |
| Land Rover Discovery (D250 S AWD) | 283 mm | 900 mm | – | 3,500 kg | €78,600 (2026) |
| Suzuki Jimny (1.5 Comfort+ ALLGRIP, used) | 205 mm | – | – | 1,300 kg | €20,373 (2019, new) |
A dash means ADAC lists no figure. Need a 4x4 that carries a tonne in the back? The Ford Ranger pickup page covers its off-road Raptor version.
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1. Land Rover Defender L663
Best all-rounder
- Production years
- 2020–present
- Body type
- SUV
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybrid
- Power output
- 147–467 kW (200–635 PS)
The second-generation Defender combines serious off-road ability with the newest five-star Euro NCAP rating in this list, from 2020. In 110 form with the D250 diesel it has 183 kW (249 PS), 570 Nm, an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. ADAC lists 218 mm of ground clearance, 850 mm of wading depth and a 3,500 kg braked towing limit. The 786-litre boot suits expedition gear. Shorter 90 and longer 130 bodies are offered too. The drawbacks: 8.5 l/100 km WLTP and a starting price of €78,400.
Pros
- 850 mm wading depth
- 3,500 kg braked towing
- Five-star Euro NCAP (2020)
Cons
- ��78,400 and 8.5 l/100 km WLTP
Spec sheet: Land Rover Defender L663 5.0 l P525 V8 386 kW (525 PS)
Full review: Land Rover Defender L663 -
2. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J250
Toughest for the long haul
- Production years
- 2024–present
- Body type
- SUV
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
The J250 Land Cruiser reached Germany in November 2024 with a 2.8-litre diesel, now a mild hybrid with 151 kW (205 PS) and 500 Nm. ADAC lists 205 mm of ground clearance, a 31-degree approach angle and 700 mm of wading depth. It may tow 3,500 kg braked and has a 742-litre boot. Toyota covers it for three years or 100,000 km, with no mileage limit in the first year. The drawbacks: it is slow, at 12.3 s to 100 km/h, uses 10.6 l/100 km WLTP and starts at €84,750.
Full review: Toyota Land Cruiser Prado J250Pros
- 3,500 kg braked towing
- 31-degree approach angle
- 742-litre boot
Cons
- 10.6 l/100 km WLTP and 12.3 s to 100 km/h
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3. Ford Bronco
Best for rock crawling
- Production years
- 2020–present
- Body type
- Convertible, SUV
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Power output
- 224–312 kW (305–424 PS)
The revived Bronco has been sold in Germany since March 2023, with a 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6, a ten-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. In Badlands form ADAC lists the best geometry in this list: a 40.6-degree approach angle, 33.3 degrees at the rear, a 23.6-degree ramp angle and 261 mm of clearance. It can wade through 800 mm of water and reaches 100 km/h in 7.2 s. The drawbacks: it uses 12.7 l/100 km WLTP, the most here, and may tow only 1,000 kg braked. The Badlands costs from €69,950.
Pros
- 40.6-degree approach angle
- 261 mm ground clearance
- 800 mm wading depth
Cons
- 12.7 l/100 km WLTP and 1,000 kg towing
Spec sheet: Ford Bronco 2.7 l EcoBoost V6 (4-door) 246 kW (334 PS)
Full review: Ford Bronco -
4. Jeep Wrangler IV JL
Best classic off-roader
- Production years
- 2018–present
- Body type
- Convertible, SUV
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel, Plug-in hybrid
- Power output
- 147–350 kW (200–476 PS)
The JL Wrangler has been built since 2018 and was updated in 2023. The Rubicon has a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with 200 kW (272 PS), an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. ADAC lists 252 mm of clearance, 36 and 31.4-degree approach and departure angles and 762 mm of wading depth. It may also tow 2,495 kg braked. The drawbacks: Euro NCAP gave the Wrangler only one star in 2018, it uses 11.9 l/100 km WLTP, and ADAC lists the current versions only until September 2026.
Pros
- 252 mm clearance and 36-degree approach angle
- 2,495 kg braked towing
- Eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive
Cons
- One-star Euro NCAP rating (2018)
Spec sheet: Jeep Wrangler IV JL Unlimited 2.2 MultiJet 147 kW (200 PS)
Full review: Jeep Wrangler IV JL -
5. Land Rover Discovery L462
Most comfortable off-roader
- Production years
- 2017–present
- Body type
- SUV
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel
- Power output
- 132–265 kW (179–360 PS)
The fifth Discovery is a seven-seat family SUV that still handles hard terrain. ADAC lists up to 283 mm of ground clearance, the most in this list, and the deepest wading depth at 900 mm. The D250 diesel mild hybrid produces 183 kW (249 PS) and 570 Nm and drives all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic. It may tow 3,500 kg braked, and the boot holds 986 litres. The updated car reached Germany in May 2026 from €78,600. The drawbacks: 8.5 l/100 km WLTP, and its Euro NCAP rating dates from 2017.
Full review: Land Rover Discovery L462Pros
- 900 mm wading depth
- Up to 283 mm clearance
- 986-litre boot and seven seats
Cons
- 2017 Euro NCAP rating
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6. Suzuki Jimny JB64/JB74
Best small 4x4
- Production years
- 2018–present
- Body type
- SUV
- Fuel
- Petrol, Diesel
The fourth-generation Jimny, launched in 2018, is the opposite of the big off-roaders here: 3,645 mm long and 1,165 kg. Its 1.5-litre petrol engine has 75 kW (102 PS) and 130 Nm, and ALLGRIP all-wheel drive is standard. ADAC lists 205 mm of ground clearance and a 1,300 kg braked towing limit. In Germany the four-seat passenger version cost from €20,373 in 2019, but ADAC lists it only until 2020, so most buyers now look for a used one. The drawbacks: an 85-litre boot with all seats up and three Euro NCAP stars.
Full review: Suzuki Jimny JB64/JB74Pros
- Compact 3,645 mm body
- Light at 1,165 kg
- 1,300 kg braked towing
Cons
- Three-star Euro NCAP (2018) and 85-litre boot
How we chose
Selection. The list covers off-road vehicles with all-wheel drive, at least 205 mm of ground clearance and a published model page on 1cars. Five are on sale new in Europe; the Suzuki Jimny is included as a used buy because ADAC lists the passenger version only until 2020 and a commercial version until 2024. The Dacia Duster 4x4 was considered but has no matching 1cars model page, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is covered on 1cars only by the earlier G 65 AMG.
Data sources. Ground clearance, wading depth, approach, departure and ramp angles, towing limits, kerb weights, consumption, warranty terms and German list prices come from the ADAC Autokatalog pages for the named versions (accessed October 2026). Euro NCAP stars come from ADAC or the 1cars catalogue. ADAC does not list low-range gearboxes or differential locks, so the text mentions them only where a version name confirms them.
Ranking. The order is editorial. It weighs off-road ability, towing, everyday usability, safety rating and price, and it is not a test score. Deeper data is on the 1cars pages for the Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler and Suzuki Jimny.
Frequently asked questions
Which off-road vehicle has the most ground clearance?
In this list the Land Rover Discovery, with up to 283 mm in its highest setting, according to ADAC. The Ford Bronco Badlands offers 261 mm and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 252 mm.
Which 4x4 can wade through the deepest water?
The Land Rover Discovery is rated at 900 mm and the Defender at 850 mm. The Ford Bronco manages 800 mm, the Jeep Wrangler 762 mm and the Toyota Land Cruiser 700 mm.
What do approach and departure angles mean?
They are the steepest slopes the front and rear of the car can meet without the bumper touching. The Ford Bronco Badlands leads this list with 40.6 degrees at the front and 33.3 at the rear; the Toyota Land Cruiser has 31 and 22 degrees.
Which off-roader is best for towing?
The Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery and Toyota Land Cruiser may each tow 3,500 kg braked. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is rated at 2,495 kg, while the Ford Bronco is limited to just 1,000 kg.
Are off-road vehicles safe on the road?
Results vary widely. The Defender earned five Euro NCAP stars in 2020, but the Jeep Wrangler received one star in 2018 and the Suzuki Jimny three stars, also in 2018.
