10 4x4 Crossovers That Perform Well Off Road

2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness ・ Photo by Subaru

Crossovers are the car that can do it all. They combine the looks and interior space of an SUV with the comfort and fuel efficiency of a regular car. But while most crossovers are available with all-wheel drive, they’re typically limited in their off-road performance. 

Some crossovers go the extra mile, though — augmenting their errand-running expertise with 4x4-style capability. Today, we’ve rounded up 10 crossovers that perform well off road. We’ve picked a variety of sizes and market segments. Keep reading to learn about the models we chose, which we’ve sorted by base price.  

1. 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact crossover, competing in a market segment where most competitors are uncommonly light-duty even for car-based SUVs — little more than raised hatchbacks. A number of models don’t even have all-wheel drive as an option. 

The Crosstrek is different. It’s also a raised hatchback (a lifted version of the Subaru Impreza), but it brings off-road chops to the table. AWD is standard on the $22,245 base model, and it’s a solid system: Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive. You also get a generous 8.7 inches of ground clearance. We’d upgrade to the Sport model ($26,495) for hill-descent control, Subaru’s X-Mode settings, and a more powerful engine, but any Crosstrek is ready to power through messy terrain. And it’s comfortable to drive on the road, too. 

Photo by Subaru

2. 2021 Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover that’s built to not merely survive off road, but to go there to play. That’s less true if you get the base model at $22,850, but any Renegade is capable once you’ve chosen a 4x4 Renegade (starting at $24,985). 

The real off-road wizard of the Renegade lineup is the Trailhawk model, which is priced from $29,675. It has hill-descent control, additional Selec-Terrain driving modes, a low-range setting, and the ability to ford 19 inches of water. This endearing little box also looks the part, and its high roof also improves its cargo capacity — while doing no favors to its gas mileage, though. The Renegade isn’t our favorite crossover for on-road use, but if we’re going off road, we’d pick the Jeep. You can also get similar benefits along with a roomier rear seat and a more conventional design from the Jeep Compass, which is also available in Trailhawk form. 

Photo by Jeep

3. 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan is best known for its huge interior — it’s a compact crossover that fits a third-row seat — and moderately sporty on-road handling. But with its available 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and hill-descent control, the Tiguan has proven unexpectedly adept off road as well. 

This isn’t a crossover you’d buy for thrills or an off-road “cool factor.” But if you want a spacious, comfortable, and affordable everyday vehicle that also has additional capability, the Tiguan is an option to consider. Be aware of its mediocre gas mileage, though. Prices start at $25,245, while the cheapest AWD model costs $26,545. 

Photo by Volkswagen

4. 2021 Toyota RAV4

Unlike the Tiguan, the Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover that wears its capability on its sleeve. The latest generation received more aggressive styling, with an upright front end and squared-off wheel wells. 

And it’s not all show. If you choose the more off-road-focused Adventure model or the even-more-so TRD Off Road, the RAV4 is ready for, well, off-road adventures. They add a more sophisticated AWD system with more off-road driving modes and torque vectoring, while the TRD goes further with suspension upgrades and off-road tires. The RAV4 is also comfortable in everyday use, but it’s a little more expensive than most of its competitors, and we don’t love its noisy four-cylinder engine. The RAV4 starts at $26,350, the cheapest AWD model costs $27,750, the Adventure starts at $33,455, and the TRD Off Road starts at $36,080. 

Photo by Toyota

5. 2022 Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback looks like a station wagon but is more capable than most SUV-looking crossovers. With its standard symmetrical AWD, X-Mode settings, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the mid-size Outback is ready to tackle tough terrain even in its base $26,945 form. 

The real Outback for off-roaders is the new Wilderness model. Priced from $36,995, this well-equipped trim level brings a powerful turbocharged engine as well as the best off-roading gear: a skid plate, a 9.5-inch ground clearance, additional X-Mode settings, and off-road tires. Whichever you choose, you get a magnificently comfortable, civilized, and economical crossover for everyday use that can also make short work of mud, snow, and more. For a more SUV-like aesthetic at a similar price, you can also shop the compact Subaru Forester; it will get its own Wilderness model soon, too. 

Photo by Subaru

6. 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The Ford Bronco Sport looks like the off-road-ready Ford Bronco, a truck-based SUV that’s the Blue Oval’s answer to the Jeep Wrangler. Under the skin, the Bronco Sport has the same mechanical bits as the mild Ford Escape crossover. But Ford also provides additional capability to justify the boxy, rugged aesthetic. 

Every Bronco Sport has AWD and at least five off-road driving modes, starting with the base model at $27,215. It also has nimble on-road handling, though less rear-seat space and lower EPA fuel economy ratings than the Escape. For off-roading, the Badlands model ($32,820) is the way to go. It has the highest ground clearance (8.8 inches), all-terrain tires, skid plates, a torque-vectoring rear differential, two more off-road modes (including “rock crawl”), a forward-view camera, and the Trail Control system to maintain speed automatically off road.

Photo by Ford

7. 2021 Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep Cherokee is a classic off-roading name, but the latest model is a compact crossover. Still, like other Jeeps, it’s ready to go off road. That’s especially true if you pick its Trailhawk model, which provides a rear locker, a selectable rock mode, all-terrain tires, and an off-road suspension. 

Jeep also decided to sacrifice some cargo capacity to make room for hardier underbody mechanicals — a big difference from crossovers that push down their floors to grab every possible cubic foot of interior space. That reduced cargo room — along with a relatively high price and high fuel consumption for a compact crossover — make the Cherokee a mediocre choice based only on everyday sensibilities. But when capability matters, it leaves behind those competitors. And it’s also the only remaining compact crossover with an available V6 engine. Prices start at $27,890 for a front-drive Cherokee, $29,390 for the cheapest 4x4 model, and $36,500 for the Trailhawk. 

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

8. 2022 Nissan Pathfinder

If you want to go off road in a family-friendly crossover, the redesigned 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is ready for you. It’s not a rock-crawling champion, but its terrain-mode selector includes settings for snow, sand, and mud/ruts. Nissan has also upgraded the crossover’s all-wheel drive system this year, and it says a new transmission is better optimized for off-road capability. 

The main reasons to choose the Pathfinder are its spacious eight-passenger cabin, smooth ride, and nicely finished cabin. If those aren’t priorities, skip to a smaller, tougher crossover with more ground clearance, less bulk, and a lower price. But if you do want a three-row mid-size crossover, the Pathfinder is now ready to do better than most. It looks the part, too, with tougher styling than its predecessor. The Pathfinder is priced from $33,410, while all-wheel drive costs $1,900 extra. 

Photo by Nissan

9. 2022 Land Rover Discovery

When you want a luxury off-road crossover, many of the leading options come from Land Rover. The British carmaker has decades of off-road experience, and many of its recent models have adopted high-tech technology to tackle off-road terrain — rather than needing hardcore suspensions that would hurt on-road ride and handling. 

A top example is the mid-size Land Rover Discovery. It has a four-corner air suspension to raise the body over obstacles, full-time four-wheel drive as standard equipment, hill-descent control, a choice of driving modes, and the ability to drive through nearly 3 feet of water. Yet it’s also civilized and comfortable in everyday use, and it has three usable rows of seats. The Discovery starts at $53,900. 

Photo by Newspress USA

10. 2022 Porsche Cayenne

While nearly every luxury brand sells a crossover today, Porsche was unexpectedly one of the first nearly 20 years ago. And at that time, Porsche decided to offer outstanding off-road capability to prove the Cayenne’s bona fides. 

Modern tastes skewed toward the mid-size crossovers on-road talents, but Porsche hasn’t forgotten its early lessons. The Cayenne still has up to 9.4 inches of ground clearance, the ability to ford 20.4 inches of water, off-road driving modes, and available skid plates. And once you get back on smooth pavement, you’re treated to sports-car-like handling and acceleration. Prices start at $69,000. 

Photo by Porsche