Whether it is for a lone drive on the seashores, desert trips with friends, or camping with family, there is always the need to feel safe, protected and well-equipped in your vehicle. Having a vehicle that can fulfill the aforementioned purposes gives you some sort of confidence as far as safety is concerned.
Adventurous people create perfect memories for themselves; memories that last a lifetime. Taking capable vehicles to where most people seldom visit (off-road) with a couple of like-minded friends or family is a thing you will forever cherish. The pandemic has made off-road activities even more popular because most public places are still closed down, heading off-road to have as much fun as you can have is a great alternative. The popularity of these activities have directly called for great improvements (more safety options and terrain-combating features) in these off-road vehicles. Thanks to the existence of off-roaders – vehicles specifically built to conquer all types of terrains – every off-road experience is guaranteed to be sensational and memorable.
Off-road cars serve their purpose on normal roads as well as the most unusual ground surface such as snow, dunes, ravines, swamps, rocky mountains, shorelines, etc. The vehicles are specifically engineered to stand up to any given obstacle that comes your way on any terrain. Their versatility is what makes most people opt for them as they know they can always count on them regardless of the destination. Today, pretty much every automaker in the world now offers a truck or SUV to cater to any off-road requirements, creating a wide range of options to choose from. There are so many of them to choose from that you’ll have a hard time choosing unless of course, you have a strong background idea of what you want.
From capability to luxury, durability and reliability, here are the top 10 best off-road vehicles (SUVs and Pickup Trucks) on the market in 2021.
1. 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser
If you love Toyota, then you should love the world famous Land Cruiser, one of the oldest Toyota models. The fact that Toyota continues to reintroduce this model every year is enough proof of how much people appreciate this 8-seater off-roader. The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser runs on a 5.7-litre V8 engine with 8-speed transmission to crank out 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. How is this off-road beast able to conquer difficult terrains? The SUV comes with powerful technologies like an Acoustic Control Induction System and Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with intelligence to maximize power. There’s a multi-terrain monitor feature in the vehicle to help you get through the uncertainties that come with off-road adventures. The starting MSRP for the 2021 Land Cruiser is $85,565 USD.
2. 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
After winning back-to-back Texas Award from the Texas Auto Writer Association for the Best Mid-Size Pickup Truck, it’s clearer why the 2021 Jeep Gladiator is regarded as one of the best in the industry. One of the vehicle’s most exciting features is the front and rear Tru-Lok Electronic Locking Differentials that aid power delivery to the wheels for maximum traction and balance on tough terrains. You can also lock the rear axle in 4HI Mode to improve performance whenever you’re on the dunes. Under the hood is a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that produces 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Starting MSRP for the 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon starts at $33,565 USD.
3. 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor
The Ford F-150 Raptor truck is back for the 2021 model year and has been built to thrive even on the toughest terrains. The truck comes with what Ford claims to be the largest ever shocks on Raptor, the Next Generation FOX shocks with Live Valve technology. With these shocks, you don’t have to worry about how tough the terrain is. The truck is also packed with the Terrain Management System with seven different modes; Off-Road, Baja, Slippery, Rock Crawl, Sport, Tow/Haul, and normal. These modes get you through the different conditions you’re likely to encounter when you’re on an off-road adventure. The truck will be up for purchase in the summer of 2021 and in our opinion, we think it is worth waiting for.
4. 2021 Ram 1500
The 2021 Ram 1500 is the perfect definition of a strong luxury truck but its off-road capabilities are why it’s featured on this list. The rugged truck is packed with advanced security features like the Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking, Pedestrian Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist and many more. To make sure all your off-road desires are perfectly fulfilled, the 2021 Ram 1500 comes with a powerful 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine with Class-Exclusive eTorque Mild Hybrid Technology that allows you to tow up to 12,750 pounds. The engine is also responsible for the production of 395 horsepower and 410lb-ft of torque. Pricing for the 2021 Ram 1500 starts at $32,795 USD.
5. 2021 Nissan Titan Lineup PRO-4X
The ground clearance and all-terrain tires featured on this powerful off-roader will allow you to take on different terrains no matter how tough they are. Being made solely for off-road purposes, the exterior has been designed such that your vehicle is protected from major damages, thanks to the steel skid plates. Under the hood of the 2021 Nissan Titan Lineup PRO-4X is 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 engine that produces best-in-class 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. To get your hands on this off-roader, you’ll have to part ways with at least $36,650 USD which is the starting MSRP.
6. 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392
Without doubts, Jeep is the longest-serving 4×4 SUV brand and year after year, the brand continues to manufacture some of the best SUVs in the industry. Although this powerful SUV with amazing off-road capability won’t be available until spring of 2021, we love that it’s coming with more power, thanks to the 6.4-litre V8 engine that is under the hood. The engine cranks out 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest SUVs on this list. MSRP starts at $28,475 USD.
7. 2021 Land Rover Defender 90
It doesn’t matter if your destination is the desert, the urban jungle, or perhaps you’re trying to take a trip to icy environments because you could catch some real fun there, you can always count on this Land Rover Defender. The vehicle’s natural capability to combat extreme terrains is the real reason why most people love it. Running under the hood is a V8 engine that produces 525 hp and 625 Nm of torque. Despite being packed with so many off-road features, the vehicle can still accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and has a top speed of 149 mph.
8. 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
Bigger, more spacious and more powerful off-road features, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is back to compete with some of the industry-leading off-road vehicles for the 2021 model year. The vehicle runs on a 2WD, 5.3-litre V8 engine that churns out 355hp @ 5600 rpm and 383lb-ft of torque @ 4100 rpm. The standard safety features include Automatic Emergency Braking System, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking and many more. Starting MSRP for the base trim of 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe starts at $49,600 USD.
9. 2021 GMC Sierra AT4
The 2021 GMC Sierra AT4 is an off-road truck that also comes in handy for entrepreneurs to take their businesses to a different level. You have two engine options and they are Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine and 6.2L V8 gas engine. What both engines guarantee you is an extraordinary performance thanks to the production of 460lb-ft of torque and 420 horsepower. You can tow up to up to 9.200 pounds and that’s to show how efficient and versatile this vehicle can be. It comes with a starting price of $53,700 USD for the base trim.
10. 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography
The Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography is so highly rated in the autos industry that it has to feature on this list for the second year running. Unarguably one of the most luxurious family off-road vehicles on the market, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover has always been synonymous with supreme refinement, capability and distinctive design cues such as its signature floating roofline, continuous waistline and lower accent graphic. The 2021 Range Rover Autobiography trim is powered by a 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 petrol engine which cranks out 518 horsepower and a maximum torque of 461 lb-ft with 8-Speed Automatic transmission. The SUV can also go from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. The SUV features top-notch technologies and delivers a great off-road experience, thanks to innovative features like the Terrain Response 2, Active Locking Rear Differential, All-Terrain Progress Control (ATPC), Premium LED Headlights with Signature DRL and Auto High Beam Assist (AHBA), Remote Intelligent Seat Fold, Four-Zone Climate Control, Surround Camera System, Blind Spot Assist, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Head-Up Display, Advanced Tow Assist, and many more. The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography costs a whopping $131,000 USD.
