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The Best Off-Road Cars

Prepare for an off-road adventure like never before as we dive into the world of rugged capability and performance. In this blog, we will share our top contenders for the title of the best off-road vehicle.

The Best Off-Road Cars

Amber Khan

Published: 21 November 2019

Updated: 11 December 2023

Read time: 6 minutes

Whilst a compact hatchback is great for nipping around the city and swanky saloons are great for family road trips, you’re going to need a car with a little more brawn if you’re planning to go off-road.

What makes the best off-road cars? Well, you’ll need plenty of ground clearance to cope with rough terrain, as well as four-wheel drive, a decent amount of grunt, and plenty of room for all your off-road gear.

To make sure you’re well-equipped when you decide to cross the boundaries of the road, we’ve listed some of the best off-road cars available at JCT600.

Mercedes-Benz GLA - £37,635

Thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the GLA is one of the most capable and best off-road SUVs in the UK. It’s far from short on ability and has a sporty edge too, with an eye-catching exterior design and a premium interior – just as you’d expect from any Merc.

The GLA rides slightly higher than its A-Class sibling thanks to off-road suspension. There is also plenty of protective cladding to make sure you’re ready for whatever the trails throw at you. Family picnics just became a lot more fun!

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 183mm
  • Approach Angle: 16 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 22 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 15 degrees

Audi Q5 - £46,785

At first glance, you may think that the Q5 isn’t much of a hardcore off-roader, but thanks to Audi’s legendary Quattro system, it’s more than comfortable holding its own when you leave the tarmac behind.

As a premium SUV, the Q5 dazzles with its all-wheel-drive system and offers excellent grip in dry and damp conditions. You’ll also get a choice of two impressive engines – a 2.0-litre diesel or a 2.0-litre petrol. Regardless of which you choose, you’ll be able to enjoy enough power to glide through a sludgy farm track or wet field.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 200mm
  • Approach Angle: 25 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 27 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 17 degrees

Land Rover Discovery - £60,540

Land Rover cites its Discovery 5 model as their most versatile SUV yet and has the features to back up those claims. With seating for up to seven, ample boot space, and an absolutely top-notch cabin, it’s easily one of the best off-road SUVs in the UK market for big families who favour luxury.

As a brand renowned for crafting high-quality off-road vehicles, all of Land Rover’s off-road wizardry is available on the Discovery, so you can put that reputation to the test.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 283mm
  • Approach Angle: 34 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 30 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 28 degrees

Volkswagen Touareg - £67,780

VW’s SUV range is full of models packed with useful features and a design which oozes confidence. Enter the Touareg – the family’s biggest sibling – which fully embodies this vision.

The cutting-edge 4MOTION all-wheel-drive ensures this large SUV is still impressively nimble over rugged terrain, and with six individual driving modes, you can adapt to your surroundings. For a little extra height, the air suspension allows the Touareg to be boosted up to 258mm of ground clearance, so you can effortlessly glide over jagged and uneven tracks.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 258mm
  • Approach Angle: 23 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 17 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 13 degrees

Porsche Cayenne - POA

Famous for towing a 285-ton Airbus, the Cayenne’s drive-power speaks for itself. On the inside, the vehicle’s infotainment system reveals Sport and Sport+ modes for when you’re on the road, and for off it, match your terrain with programmes for tackling Gravel, Mud, Sand, and Rocks.

You can also uncouple the Cayenne’s anti-roll bars in extreme off-road situations, for when you want to take advantage of its incredible rock-mounting capability and embrace its full 340PS of power - which also boasts a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 268mm
  • Approach Angle: 29 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 26 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 24 degrees

Jaguar I-PACE - ~£30,000

The I-Pace is one of the best electric off-road SUVs you’ll find on the market today and you can pick one up from our selection of used cars here at JCT600.

Since its unveiling in 2018, the I-PACE has won over 90 global awards, including the prestigious 2019 World Car of the Year just one year later, and has grabbed the attention of the tech press as well as the motor press.

The I-PACE has a low grip mode as well as Adaptive Surface Response, which tunes motor and brake settings in poor traction conditions, and you can rest assured that the vehicle’s batteries are totally protected against whatever water you’ll come up against. Thanks to one motor on each axle, Jaguar’s EV has amazing four-wheel traction to help you tackle terrain in all weather.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 198mm
  • Approach Angle: 16 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 32 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 15 degrees

Range Rover - £103,720

The Range Rover is perhaps the original luxury off-roader and still leads the way when it comes to mud-plugging in extravagant comfort.

Equipped with Land Rover’s latest and greatest all-wheel drive system, as well as their most advanced all-terrain systems, the Range Rover is virtually unstoppable. A twin-speed transfer box gives you precise control over power and speed in situations where it’s most important, plus Hill Descent Control makes tackling steep downhills easier and safer than ever.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 297mm
  • Approach Angle: 35 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 29 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 28 degrees

Bentley Bentayga - POA

Not all SUVs are created equal, and the Bentayga’s high luxury and effortless power really make it stand out as a special kind of off-road vehicle. Powered by Bentley’s legendary W12 engine, the Bentayga has no problem with on-road speed and refinement. The power and torque of its 12-cylinder engine also make the Bentayga a commanding vehicle off-road.

Its engine and gearbox have been designed to operate in all off-road conditions, and once you’ve climbed to the top of that hill, the Bentayga’s boot-mounted ‘Event Seat’ means you can enjoy a front-row seat to that incredible view.

Key Features

  • Ground Clearance: 233mm
  • Approach Angle: 25 degrees
  • Departure Angle: 25 degrees
  • Breakover Angle: 22 degrees

Get The Best Off-Road SUVs in The UK at JCT600

Whether you need a vehicle which is capable of handling the harsh winter weather or you’re planning a trek into the wilderness, why not do it in style? At JCT600 we stock some of the best SUVs available now, with a selection of both new and used vehicles to choose from.

To stay in the loop with the latest vehicle and industry updates, head over to our news page.

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Representative finance example: Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

Representative APR%
9.90% APR 		 First Payment
£249.71		 46 Monthly
payments of
£249.71		 Optional final
payment
£9,090.00		 On the road
price
£20,000.00		 Term of
agreement
48 months		 Customer deposit
£4,000.00
Amount of credit
£16,000.00		 Cost of credit
£4,826.37		 Annual mileage
5,000		 Excess mileage
8.4p		 Total amount
payable
£24,836.37		 Fixed rate of
interest
9.90%		  
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