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Compare the best used 4x4 cars

High quality used 4x4 cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 57,087 reviews
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.

Audi Q7

1. Audi Q7

8/10
Audi Q7 review
Battery range up to 34 miles
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.
Toyota Land Cruiser (2018-2024)

2. Toyota Land Cruiser

6/10
Toyota Land Cruiser (2018-2024) review
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.
Suzuki Jimny

3. Suzuki Jimny

6/10
Suzuki Jimny review
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.
Dacia Duster (2017-2024)

4. Dacia Duster

6/10
Dacia Duster (2017-2024) review
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.
Subaru Forester (2018-2021)

5. Subaru Forester

6/10
Subaru Forester (2018-2021) review
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.
Volvo V90 Cross Country

6. Volvo V90 Cross Country

7/10
Volvo V90 Cross Country review
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.
Fiat Panda 4x4

7. Fiat Panda 4x4

7/10
Fiat Panda 4x4 review
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.
Jeep Wrangler

8. Jeep Wrangler

5/10
Jeep Wrangler review
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.
Skoda Karoq

9. Skoda Karoq

9/10
Skoda Karoq review
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.
SsangYong Rexton

10. SsangYong Rexton

5/10
SsangYong Rexton review
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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Advice about used 4x4s

Used 4x4 car FAQs

As with any used car purchase, the main things to consider when you’re looking to buy a used 4x4 is whether or not the car’s service history is intact, and if everything is running as it should be. If that’s the case, then you should also consider just how much off-road capability you’d ideally like from your used 4x4. Many SUVs come with four-wheel-drive, but if you want a car that’s properly capable at tackling muddy fields and rocky tracks, you might want to go for a 4x4 that has a low-range gearbox and lockable differentials.

If crash-test safety ratings are important to you, then you probably want to avoid the likes of the Suzuki Jimny, Dacia Duster, Fiat Panda 4x4 and Jeep Wrangler as all scored pretty poorly in Euro NCAP testing. On the reliability front, Land Rovers have been known to perform pretty poorly, despite being otherwise excellent and extremely capable vehicles. You can see what brands perform well when it comes to reliability by checking out our guide on the most (and least) reliable second-hand cars.

If you want an extremely capable, well-equipped and luxurious 4x4 but can’t stretch to pay the full price for the likes of a new Range Rover or Land Rover Discovery, then buying used can be a very good option. Just know that servicing costs will still be high for these premium models, and reliability can be an issue. At the same time, if you just want a decently capable off-roader as a work vehicle and don’t really care about luxury items, then older versions of the Suzuki Jimny or the Dacia Duster are also good options.

It depends what you value most in a car. If you're looking to seriously off-road, then the Toyota Land Cruiser is very hard to beat. The Dacia Duster is unbeatable value, and the Audi Q7 is probably the finest all-rounder - but that does come at a cost, even on the used market.

You can't easily go wrong if you buy a used Toyota or Lexus 4x4. Not only are they legendarily well-built and reliable, but if it's under 10 years old you can even unlock proper manufacturer warranty cover simply by having it serviced at a main dealer.

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