Compare the best used 4x4 cars
High quality used 4x4 cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated July 01, 2024 by
Tom Wiltshire
Best used 4x4s of 2024
Gone are the days when 'SUV' and '4x4' were synonymous. Nowadays, an SUV is more like a tall hatchback or estate car, and not much good for venturing off the beaten track. If you do want a car that can tackle something a bit more taxing than a speed bump, you should look for a 4x4 - that is, a car that has four-wheel drive.
Looking to the used market can be an excellent route into 4x4 ownership without breaking the bank. We've rounded up some of the best used 4x4s you can currently buy. Not all are what you'd call hardcore off-roaders, but they do have four-wheel drive - and come with an extremely useful cost-saving over the equivalent new model. We've focused on cars that promise to be great used buys, with reasonable reliability records and lots of choice on the market. Our expert reviews team has driven all of these cars in the past, so we're confident you'll not only find them painless to own, but you'll love driving them too.
This generation of Audi Q7 was first launched in 2015 and (albeit with some significant updates) remains on sale now. It's such a good overall package that it's remained one of the best large SUVs you can buy even all these years on. The Q7 has been available with a huge array of engines over the years, but opt for one of the six-cylinder diesel variants and you won't go far wrong. All have a luxurious interior, loads of room inside, and Audi's legendary quattro all-wheel drive.
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You can't really go wrong with a Toyota Land Cruiser. It's a car with an almost legendary reliability record, now backed up by warranty cover that's available on used models up to ten years old which can be restored at any time, by any owner. That shows serious commitment from Toyota. The Land Cruiser itself is almost unparalleled off-road, with sturdy underpinnings and a beefy diesel engine - though it's not quite as comfortable a family SUV as some you might find.
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Don’t let the Jimny’s almost comical looks fool you: these little 4x4s will go further off-road than many larger alternatives are capable of. You can't buy a new one any more, but used you'll find both the Jimny SUV and the Commercial variant which does away with the rear seats to turn it into the world's most useless van. Not a vehicle you'll be buying for a long commute, then, but a genuinely fun little 4x4 that's actually a great city car as well as fantastic on the rough stuff.
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The Dacia Duster is among the best-value cars you can buy, new or used. Most models didn't have four-wheel drive, but it's always been available and there are plenty on the used market - usually paired up to a super-efficient 1.5-litre diesel engine. Four-wheel drive was usually only offered with the highest trim levels, too, so you get just about enough modern equipment - don't go expecting digital dashboards or panoramic roof, but air-con and smartphone connectivity are welcome additions. The Duster's also surprisingly capable off-road.
While it might not have the hardcore set-ups you’d find in a Jeep Wrangler or Mercedes G-Class, the Subaru Forester is still a properly capable off-roader. It has plenty of passenger space too, and feels exceptionally well-built. It’s not great to drive on the road, though, and it gets through petrol at a fairly alarming rate too.
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Who said that a 4x4 had to be a bulked up, steroidal SUV? The Volvo V90 Cross Country is an altogether classier proposition, taking the long, low Volvo V90 estate and jacking it up with bigger wheels, higher suspension and some chunky body cladding. The result is a car that is much nicer to drive than most SUVs, being lower and sleeker, but still has some of the benefits that come with improved ground clearance and a higher seating position. All V90 CCs have four-wheel drive, and there are petrol, diesel and hybrid engine options available.
The Fiat Panda 4x4 is about as cheap and cheerful as it gets when it comes to used 4x4 cars. It’s almost comically underpowered, and even the most recent used examples feel seriously dated on the inside, but they’re surprisingly good at tackling the mucky stuff, and are really quite fun to drive around town. The Panda's also surprisingly practical for such a small car - in its native Italy, it's rated to seat about fourteen passengers, though in the UK four adults and a decent amount of luggage are more comfortable.
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The Jeep Wrangler is capable of tackling some of the most hardcore off-road environments imaginable, but all that ability comes at the expense of on-road comfort. It’s also pretty cramped on the inside, and it comes with a poor 1-star safety rating as well.
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The Karoq may look like another soft-roading crossover, but if you opt for the Scout model you get four-wheel drive and a surprising amount of prowess on the rough stuff. Better yet, you get a car that's fantastic for family life, good to drive and efficient especially when fitted with a diesel engine. The Karoq's packed with clever features, too, from the umbrella in the door and the ice scraper in the fuel flap to special headrests with wings to allow rear passengers to get some sleep.
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The SsangYong Rexton might not be all that great to drive around town or on the motorway, but this Korean 4x4 is still very good at making progress off the beaten track. They’re relatively affordable, very spacious on the inside, and can tow a lot too.
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