Best 4x4 SUVs

This is most frequently exhibited in popular vehicle segments such as full-size trucks and three-row SUVs. Every year, you can find a new “best-in-class cargo space” or “best-in-class towing.” But this one-upping also extends to more specialized vehicles, such as the 2023 Ford Bronco. The trail-ready SUV is specifically designed to take on the Jeep Wrangler, and the rivalry has already produced some fantastic results.

The Bronco is offered in some terrific trims, such as the Badlands and Sasquatch versions. And then to raise the bar, Jeep responded with the Wrangler Rubicon 392—powered by a Hemi V8. Well, the inevitable has happened, and Ford has unleashed a Raptor variant of the Bronco. This new range-topping trim is the most powerful and capable version of the Bronco, but is it worth its high price tag?

Jeep is digging deep into its back catalog for new models. The Stellantis brand (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) recently resurrected the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck, and now it’s bringing back another name from the past—the Wagoneer.

The Jeep Wagoneer was one of the original American SUVs and boasted a 28-year production run, spanning 1963 to 1991. It’s a tough act to follow, then, as demonstrated by Jeep’s last attempt at a full-size SUV, the ill-fated Commander.

The Wagoneer returns not just as a new SUV, but as a sub-brand that sits atop the rest of the Jeep lineup in size, price, and prestige. For the 2022 model year, Jeep is launching both the standard Wagoneer and a more luxurious Grand Wagoneer (covered in a separate review). As the lower-tier model, the standard Wagoneer targets full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia.

The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer launches in Series II and Series III trim levels, with a base Wagoneer Series I model scheduled to join the lineup at a later date. Our test vehicle was a Wagoneer Series II, which is the de facto base model until the Series I arrives.

This two-row midsize SUV is designed for traveling almost anywhere at almost any time. It shares its platform with the rugged Toyota 4Runner SUV and Tacoma pickup truck, and is equipped with a turbocharged hybrid powertrain better at supplying power than efficiency. Additionally, it is more affordable than it has been in the past, but still commands a premium over its primary rivals. The 2025 Land Cruiser is almost unchanged following its 2024 redesign, which introduced the current 250-series model (known as the Land Cruiser Prado overseas) to the United States.

Verdict: There is a lot to like about the Land Cruiser, especially if you don’t care about fuel economy. Our test vehicle averaged 15.7 mpg, falling well short of expectations. That thirst for fuel easily ranks as the worst thing about this SUV. Also, we recommend upgrading from the base 1958 trim level.

The everyman’s version of the Infiniti QX80, Nissan’s full-size SUV gets an expanded range for 2025. It’s still offered in familiar SV, SL, and Platinum trims, but Platinum Reserve has joined the roster and so, for the first time ever, has PRO-4X. We tested both new trims on a first drive program hosted by the automaker in Franklin, Tennessee.

Verdict: Nissan has undeniably improved the Armada with this new generation, and the PRO-4X and the Platinum Reserve trim levels both bring something new to the table. The PRO-4X adds just enough adventure-ready content to make it worth a look to shoppers who may not have considered it before, while the Platinum Reserve challenges the value of stepping up to an Infiniti.

The Enclave kicks off its third generation, benefitting from Buick’s slick new design language and a host of feature updates. The three-row SUV gets a full redesign, a new powertrain, and tons of tech and safety features that are standard across all three trim levels.

Verdict: Like any vehicle, the new Enclave has its strengths and weaknesses. We think Buick was strategic in its approach to these, focusing its efforts on the areas Enclave shoppers most likely prioritize.

No longer General Motors' exclusive truck-only brand now that Buick has gone all-in on SUVs, GMC nevertheless holds a unique position in the automaker's product portfolio. Offering a lineup of "Professional Grade" trucks and SUVs with premium features, enhanced capabilities, and unique exterior and interior designs, GMC toes the line between Chevrolet and Cadillac.

Redesigned for the 2021 model year, the Yukon full-size SUV gets a standard 12-inch driver information center and enhanced connectivity for 2022, among other changes. The 2022 GMC Yukon is available in four trim levels: SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali.

After a very long 15 years, we finally got a new Toyota 4Runner with more capabilities, power, comfort, and technology. It's also more efficient thanks to a new hybrid option and more composed on pavement, but it remains a solid all-terrain vehicle to extend your adventures further.

Verdict: Toyota doesn't throw out the fomula with its newly redesigned 4Runner. Instead, the 2025 model keeps many of the features shoppers have loved for over a decade, while also adding a more contemporary selection of four-cylinder powertrains.

Redesigned in 2024, the 2025 Traverse gets a few additional changes. The base LS trim level disappears and the upscale High Country trim level is new. Chevrolet also makes the formerly optional Trailering Package standard equipment—so it’s easier to take advantage of the Traverse’s 5,000-pound towing capacity—and a new Sun and Wheel Package is available. Those updates broaden this Chevy’s appeal but do not address perceived quality issues related to the powertrain and interior materials.

Verdict: Chevy gets a lot of things right with the 2025 Traverse. However, there are head-scratchers related to quality and usability. From the unpleasant engine note and cheap interior plastics to the fussy wiper controls and aggravating third-row folding process, the Traverse regularly draws unfavorable attention to itself.

Given the brand’s war-fighting origins, the idea of a luxury Jeep seems a bit oxymoronic. But luxury SUVs that combine off-road capability with comfort and opulence are fairly common these days, and Jeep wants in on the action.

Resurrecting a name that dates back to 1984, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer is the automaker’s answer to the Cadillac Escalade, Infiniti QX80, and Lincoln Navigator. Like these rivals, the Wagoneer is a body-on-frame full-size SUV based on a more mainstream model. In this case, that’s the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer, which is also new for this model year (and is covered in a separate review).

Jeep considers the Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer to be components of a new sub-brand, sitting atop the rest of its lineup. In addition to the Wagoneer name and a basic platform, both models share exterior and interior styling and many tech features. So there’s less to differentiate a Grand Wagoneer from a Wagoneer than, say, a Lincoln Navigator from a Ford Expedition. The relationship might be more like that of the GMC Yukon to the Chevrolet Tahoe.

To see if the Grand Wagoneer justifies its “grand” nomenclature, we drove it back to back with a standard Wagoneer, navigating New York City streets and off-road trails. The Grand Wagoneer launches in Series I, Series II, Series III, and Obsidian trim levels. Our test vehicle was the midlevel Series II version.

You know what you’re getting with the Jeep Wrangler: Iconic looks and legendary off-road ability but an overall package somewhat out of step with the times. Even so, it’s a model that’s continually evolving and Jeep does its best to appeal to the broadest cross-section of customers possible. You can get a Wrangler with two-door or four-door body styles, and your choice between three engines and seven trim levels. This year, all 2025 Wrangler models have standard power windows and door locks, the V6/automatic drivetrain returns to the lineup, while new colors include ’41 (drab green), Mojito (bright green), and Joose (orange).

Verdict: Rough, raw, and unrefined, the 2025 Wrangler is made for adventure and getting dirty. The top comes off. The doors come off. There are drain holes in the floor so that you can hose it out. This Jeep can be unpleasant to drive daily, yet we love it just the same.

The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe arrives with a restyled front and rear, including new lighting signatures, and its available diesel engine has been upgraded for more horsepower and torque. However, most shoppers will recognize the new Tahoe for its improved interior and fancy touchscreen.

Verdict: Although the Tahoe receives only mild mechanical updates for the 2025 model year, its interior takes a healthy step forward. Its primary competitors–the Ford Expedition and the Jeep Wagoneer–no longer look or feel significantly nicer. An upgraded diesel engine also helps separate the Tahoe from the field, offering impressive fuel economy (for a vehicle of this size) and excellent performance.

The Chevy Suburban sees significant updates for the 2025 model year, but the most impactful are visible only from the inside. A new touchscreen interface joins a flashy driver information display, and together they solve one of our biggest gripes with the outgoing model. Beyond its tech update, the new Suburban features a refreshed exterior, new interior upgrades, and a revised diesel engine that is now available on the Z71 trim level.

Verdict: Z71 shoppers will love the newly available 3.0-liter diesel, but the majority of shoppers are going to want a new 2025 Suburban because of its impressive 17.7-inch touchscreen display.