One of the most common misconceptions about off-roading is that the barrier for entry is too high.
Many of us have always wanted to get into it as a hobby or purchase a 4×4 vehicle to help in our careers, but have been put off by the thought of having to spend multiple tens of thousands on an off-road behemoth. But there are dozens of perfectly respectable 4x4s available to those who want to dip their toes in the water.
Here are five 4×4 vehicles you’ll typically be able to find second-hand for under £5,000 (sometimes even under £3,000 – if they’ve got over 100,000 miles on the clock) that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend for first-time and experienced off-roaders.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 90 and 95 Series (AKA Colorado)
The Prado carved out an important niche for itself in the market when it first debuted back in 1996 thanks to its practical nature. Indeed, it works just as well as a family car as it does a heavy-duty off-roader. Toyota is a brand synonymous with the pinnacle of Japanese engineering and while the model did receive a minor makeover in 2000, it remained largely unchanged, until it was retired from production around 2002.
This means that the earlier models you’ll want to be looking at for affordability will still give you more than enough bang for your buck.
Jeep Cherokee KJ
Jeep is perhaps the first name that comes to mind when most of us hear the words “four-wheel-drive” so it would be churlish of us not to include one of their motors on this list. Manufactured between 2001 and 2007, the Cherokee KJ series was available in sport, limited and renegade editions and the choice of either a 2.5-litre, 2.4-litre or mighty 3.7-litre engine.
The sturdy build quality and classic angular design has meant that the Cherokee still holds sway as one of the most desirable affordable 4×4 rigs.
Suzuki SJ & Samurai
Suzuki is a brand that has always screamed affordable and unpretentious and that’s exactly what can also be said of its SJ and Samurai 4×4 series.
Produced between the early 80s and 1997, these are lightweight but surprisingly durable vehicles with bags of character and loads of upgrade potential. They were ubiquitous in the 80s but are difficult to find today in roadworthy condition. However, this only means you might be able to pick up a ‘fixer-upper’ for a bargain.
Mitsubishi Shogun
The Shogun was manufactured between 2007 and 2019 and represents a vehicle that, on paper at least, gives the much more expensive Land Rover Discovery a run for its money. It’s a deceptively rugged hard-worker that can tow heavy loads with ease and conquer terrain that would faze more modern rivals.
It also boasts a spacious cabin with up to seven seats. It might look a little dated but the performance for price value here is undeniable.
Nissan Pathfinder
Let’s end our roll call of affordable off-roaders with a bit of a hidden gem. The Pathfinder, manufactured between 2005 and 2013, is the kind of 4×4 you think of when you picture the archetypal off-roader and with good reason. It’s marketed as something of a more affordable version of the Land Rover Discovery but it’s so much more than that.
It’s not particularly sophisticated or attractive but a full set of low-range gears and a lockable differential make it impressive on the rough stuff even without upgrades. With a few modifications, however, you’ll have a real workhorse on your hands.
Image: novak.elcic / Shutterstock.com
