4x4 Cars: The Best Off-Road Vehicles of 2025

Thanks to the heat that grips much of the peninsula, the desire to reach places far from the cities is increasing, even off-road . The selection of the most interesting off-road vehicles is not far from that of past years, as it is populated by iconic models more or less recently updated, in terms of mechanics and design. We will find them in the following articles, along with the few new electric or electrified models that are timidly appearing on the Italian automotive market . Many new and zero-emission off-road vehicles, such as the Jeep Recon 4xe or Rivian R2 , are in fact expected on the roads from 2026. The list does not include SUVs that do well off-road, such as the Suzuki Vitara , Dacia Duster or Jeep Avenger 4xe .

The Ich-X K2 , the five-seater off-roader from the brand that is part of the DR Automobiles group, is offered in a single, fully-equipped version with a removable roof. Measuring 4.64 meters long with a 2.74-meter wheelbase, it is available only with the 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine producing 162 hp and 380 Nm, with selectable all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The minimum ground clearance is 220 mm, while the wading depth is 50 cm. The characteristic angles are 37° for the approach angle, 31° for the departure angle, and 23° for the breakover angle. The Ich-X K2 starts at 51,500 euros.

Always considered as the accessible and unstoppable alternative to much more expensive competitors, the Suzuki Jimny Pro off-roader continues to be a pleasant anomaly even in 2025. European emissions regulations have imposed approved as an N1 truck , with a two-seater passenger compartment (or cab). The equipment is fully optional. The well-proven mechanical structure remains unchanged: a trellis frame and a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder in-line naturally aspirated engine with 102 hp and 130 Nm of maximum torque. Triple-arm rigid axle suspension with coil springs and generous approach (37°), departure (49°), and breakover (28°) angles. The length reaches 3,645 mm, the kerb weight is limited to 1,165 kg, while the trunk offers 863 liters of capacity. The Suzuki Jimny Pro is priced from 27,700 euros.

When talking about iconic off-road vehicles, it's impossible not to mention the Jeep Wrangler , the spiritual heir of the CJ Willys, which arrived in 1987 and has seen over 5 million production to date. In 2021, it ditched the petrol and diesel engines (available on the American market) in favor of the plug-in hybrid powertrain with 380 hp and 637 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. The electric range is approximately 50 km. Even while driving in zero-emission mode, it's possible to manage off-road systems such as the electronic front and rear differential locks and the Selec-Trac or Rock-Trac modes. The 25.3 cm of ground clearance allows for fording depths of 76 cm, while the approach angle is 36.6°, breakover angle 21.4° and departure angle 31.8°. The Jeep Wrangler starts at €66,900.

Also available in the Quartermaster pick-up variant, the Ineos Grenadier is one of the most important new off-road vehicles sold in Europe. Its dimensions are impressive: 4.89 metres long and 2.14 metres wide (including mirrors), with 264 mm of ground clearance and 80 cm of wading depth. The specific measurements of the Ineos Grenadier include an approach angle of 35.5˚, a breakover angle of 28.2˚ and a departure angle of 36.1˚. It is available with two petrol and diesel engines, both BMW 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines. The petrol engine delivers 286 hp and 450 Nm of torque, while the twin-turbo diesel engine generates 249 hp and 550 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, with a two-speed transfer case made by Tremec, and permanent all-wheel drive . Using the riding modes, you can select the one best suited to the situation at hand, including "ford" mode, which deactivates the cooling fan and monitors engine parameters. The Ineos Grenadier starts at €89,882.

In the latest generational leap, it has gained a more sophisticated look, but one that leaves the Land Rover Defender 's off-road vocation intact. It is available in three body variants : the short-wheelbase 90 ; the intermediate 110; and the long-wheelbase 130. The engine range is very broad, extending from the four-cylinder turbodiesel with 200 and 240 hp, to the 2.0-liter petrol with 300 hp, up to the plug-in hybrid units. The top of the range and off-road performance is reached by the Land Rover Defender Octa , powered by a 4.4-liter mild-hybrid V8 petrol engine, supercharged with two turbochargers for a power output of 635 hp and a torque of 750 Nm at 1,800 rpm. It claims a 38° approach angle, 28° breakover angle and 40° departure angle, combined with a fording capacity of 1 meter. The Land Rover Defender 90 starts at 65,000 euros.

The thirteenth generation Toyota Land Cruiser has abandoned the rounded lines of the past to embrace a square and muscular look, underlined by its impressive dimensions: a length of 4,925 mm , a cabin that can be configured with 5 or 7 seats, and a curb weight of over 2.3 tons. Toyota Land Cruiser claims a maximum ground clearance of 215 mm; approach angle of 32°; breakover angle of 25°; departure angle of 17°; lateral roll angle of 44°, and climbable angle of 42°. In Italy, it is available with a 2,755 cc four-cylinder in-line turbodiesel engine, capable of unleashing 204 hp and a maximum torque of 500 Nm available between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic with torque converter and low-range gears. The permanent all-wheel drive has a lockable center and rear differential, with the switches located on the center console next to the transmission lever.

Unmistakable lines in a style that has remained substantially unchanged since its debut in 1979 , even after the recent generational leap which has renewed, in particular, the engines of the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class . It is 4,825 mm long, 2,187 mm wide, 2,042 mm high, has a wheelbase of 2,890 mm, with a 640-litre boot. The entire range of internal combustion engines is supported by a 48 V mild hybrid system, which couples the combustion engine with a 20 hp and 200 Nm engine that provides additional thrust for short periods. Four engines are offered: the G 450 diesel, the G 500 petrol, the sporty G 63 AMG and the electric G 580 EQ . We'll focus on the first two here: the diesel version is equipped with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder in-line engine producing 367 hp and 750 Nm of torque, resulting in a claimed fuel consumption of 8.8 l/100 km; the petrol 500, on the other hand, ditches the V8 for a 3.0-liter six-cylinder twin-turbo in-line engine producing 449 hp and 560 Nm of torque, resulting in a fuel consumption of 11.1 l/100 km. All versions are mated to the usual nine-speed G-Tronic transmission. The Mercedes G-Class 's characteristic off-road angles are: an approach angle of 31°, a breakover angle of 26°, and a departure angle of 30°, with a wading capacity of 70 cm. Its price starts at €139,669 .