10 Fun to Drive SUVs

Our list of fun to drive SUVs includes 4x4s that are best-suited for both on-road and off-road adventure. Truth be told, too many off-road-oriented SUVs are purchased by folks that never stray from the beaten path. The Jeep Wrangler is a case-in-point, extremely fun to drive off-road, but it lacks the on-road refinement that we’ve come to expect from a well-mannered crossover.

Finding the best solution for your daily commute takes a gut check and that’s best done with a series of lengthy test drives. We’ve avoided the luxury brands and lean towards the more affordable entries in our list, but have included two notable exceptions, purely in the name of fun.

The Jeep Wrangler is the most off-road-capable 4x4 sold in America, with the most comprehensive aftermarket support in the industry. Only one engine is offered in the Wrangler: a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The Pentastar is mated to a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. The base Wrangler Sport 4x4’s MSRP starts at $23,995, with a canvas top. The trail-rated Willys Wheeler edition (shown above) rides on beefy 32-inch BFGoodrich KM Mud-Terrain T/A tires and is equipped with rock rails to ward off the nasty stuff. Fuel economy has always been the Wrangler’s Achilles heel, and the 2016 is no different, with an EPA rating of 17 city/21 highway with the 6-speed manual.

The Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4x4 is well-mannered on road and fun to drive off-road, with a Selec-Terrain Traction Management System that provides Active Drive Low and Rock Mode to crawl through the tough stuff. The 180-horsepower 2.4-liter Tigershark 4-cylinder engine and 9-speed automatic are EPA-rated at 21 city/29 highway miles per gallon. Don’t let anyone call this a Barbie Jeep. The Trailhawk trim level is trail rated, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, along with skid plate protection for the front suspension, transfer case, transmission, and fuel tank. On a tight budget? The base Renegade Sport 4x4 starts at $19,995 MSRP, with a 1.4-liter turbo and 6-speed manual transmission.

The FIAT 500X crossover is built alongside the Jeep Renegade in Melfi, Italy, and rides on the same underpinnings. The 500X presents a compelling alternative to the boxy Renegade, with a rally car-inspired exterior and a distinctive interior. The base 500X Pop has a starting MSRP of $20,000 equipped with front-wheel drive, a 160-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter MultiAir 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission. To gain all-wheel drive, you’ll need to step up to the Easy ($24,630 with AWD), Trekking, Lounge or Trekking Plus trim levels. All 500X AWD models are equipped with a 180-horsepower 2.4-liter Tigershark inline-4 and a 9-speed automatic transmission. While the Jeep Renegade is selling well, the 500X hasn’t taken off. This may present opportunities for negotiation at the dealership.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT will pin you back in the seat like no other SUV on the planet, with a roaring 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that pumps out a very healthy 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 MPH happens in less than five seconds, with a launch mode enabled quarter-mile elapsed time in the mid-thirteens and a top speed of 160 MPH. The all-wheel drive system provides sport track, snow, tow, and eco modes, while the valet mode prevents parking attendants from having too much fun. Needless to say, the Grand Cherokee SRT carries a big ticket. While the base Grand Cherokee has a starting MSRP of $30,295, the Grand Cherokee SRT starts at $66,795.

The Mazda CX-3 is one of the most precise handling subcompact crossovers on the market. While not intended for heavy-duty off-road use, it’s extremely fun to drive over most road surfaces. All CX-3s are equipped with a 2.0-liter Skyactiv 4-cylinder engine that delivers 146 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The EPA rates the CX-3 at 29 city/34 highway miles per gallon with front-wheel drive and 27 city/32 highway with all-wheel drive. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the 2016 Mazda CX-3 as a Top Safety Pick+ when equipped with the optional front crash prevention system.

The fun-to-drive Mazda CX-5 is widely heralded for its excellent on-road handling characteristics and is fun to drive on snowy roads when equipped with all-wheel drive. The CX-5 is available with a 6-speed manual transmission, but only in the base Sport trim level, with front-wheel drive and a 2.0-liter Skyactiv 4-cylinder engine that produces 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The AWD CX-5 Touring and Grand Touring models are exclusively fitted with a 6-speed automatic transmission, mated to a 2.5-liter Skyactiv four that delivers 184 horspower and 185 pound-feet of torque. The manual CX-5 Sport delivers an admirable EPA-estimated 26 city/35 highway, while the AWD Touring and Grand Touring are rated at 24/30.

The Subaru Forester 2.0XT is a stealthy fun to drive SUV, with a potent 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine under the hood. The horizontally-opposed turbo four is mated to a Lineartronic CVT transmission and produces 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA fuel economy rating of 23 city/27 highway miles per gallon. Subaru’s legendary symmetrical all-wheel drive system puts the power to the corners. The IIHS rates the 2016 Subaru Forester as a Top Safety Pick+ when equipped with the optional front crash prevention system. Subaru’s optional EyeSight safety technology includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keep, and pre-collision braking.

The Nissan Juke is one of the tiniest entries on our list of fun to drive SUVs, but it’s a hoot to hoon, with crisp handling and a responsive turbocharged engine. The Nismo RS marks the top of the Juke lineup, with engine, transmission, suspension, steering, and brake upgrades over the lesser trim levels. The RS 1.6-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine produces a healthy 215 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque (up from 188/177) with front-wheel-drive and the six-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, all-wheel-drive (AWD) is only offered with the Xtronic CVT transmission and the engine is rated slightly lower, at 211 HP/184 lb.-ft. The Xtronic mimics conventional gearing and the steering wheel is equipped with paddle shifters. The Juke Nismo RS AWD includes dynamic torque vectoring for enhanced handling.

The legendary Toyota Land Cruiser’s full time 4-wheel drive technology and suspension system sets it apart from the crowd. The Land Cruiser’s advanced Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System adjusts resistance, reducing body lean on road, and wheel lift off road, while Crawl Control puts the machine in charge over the toughest trails. Descent and ascent are a cinch, with Downhill Assist and Hill Start Assist Control to ease through the steep stuff. Suffice to say, this is one of the most capable 4x4s available today. The Land Cruiser’s 5.7-liter V8 cranks out 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque and hits 90 percent of peak torque at 2200 RPM. While a new 8-speed automatic transmission improves fuel economy, this is still a thirsty beast, with an EPA rating of 13 city, 18 highway, 15 miles per gallon combined.

The Toyota 4Runner is a classic body-on-frame SUV with serious off-road capability. It’s a solid choice if you want to have fun when the road gets rough. The 4Runner’s 4.0-liter V6 produces 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, with an official EPA rating of 17 city/21 highway/18 combined for the 4x4. While the V6 delivers plenty of grunt, the 5-speed automatic is strictly old school. The truck is most at home off the beaten trail. The 4Runner TRD Pro includes part time all-wheel drive with active traction control and a locking rear differential, along with multi-terrain select and crawl control. There’s 9.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 33-degree approach angle eased by an aluminum front skid plate.