10 Most Capable SUVs

The most capable SUVs today offer plenty of rugged performance, often backed by off-road suspensions, trail-friendly tire-and-wheel packages, and aggressive yet functional design modifications. But even if you never leave the paved path, that kind of gear can provide extra confidence during extreme-weather travel. 

The latest body-on-frame SUVs, however, are nearly as refined as they are rugged. For car buyers, that means these SUVs blend capability and comfort, including climate-controlled leather seating and advanced infotainment and safety technologies.

The most capable of the most capable SUVs is no doubt the 2017 Jeep Wrangler, and the most capable version of that vehicle is the Rubicon trim. Here, owners can take advantage of Jeep’s Rock-Trac two-speed transfer case, electric locking differentials (front and rear,) and a disconnecting front sway bar. With that, the Wrangler’s front wheels can move more than otherwise, which is ideal for rock crawling.

It’s also worth noting that even though both the front and back wheels are wrapped in standard 32-inch tires, for a nice lift, the Wrangler actually has nimble dimensions and isn’t much longer than a 2017 Honda Fit. That allows the Wrangler to handle smaller trails that bigger SUVs can't.

The Jeep Wrangler is only a two-door vehicle, and that can be a bit tight if you’re planning on using it as a daily driver—especially if you have a family. The 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has four doors and joins the two-door version in leading the most capable SUVs with a Rubicon edition of its own. To be more specific, the Wrangler Unlimited is about 185 inches long, which makes it the size of a typical compact crossover. However, keep in mind that along with much more off-road expertise than a typical compact crossover, the Wrangler also serves up more cargo space than a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox.

A premium pick among the industry’s most capable SUVs, the 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser lets you go off-road while enjoying heated and ventilated front seats, semi-aniline perforated-leather trim, a heated and leather-trimmed steering wheel, and an Entune infotainment system with navigation, a nine-inch touchscreen, and a 14-speaker JBL audio system. 

To be clear, the Land Cruiser was engineered for off-road use, complete with a standard full-time four-wheel-drive system, a Torsen limited-slip locking differential, a two-speed transfer case, and the automaker’s “Kinetic Dynamic” suspension. Toyota also takes care of on-road driving with standard safety measures such as adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a rearview camera, automatic high beams, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection.

Toyota’s most capable SUV contenders also include the 2018 Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner isn’t exactly a small vehicle, as its 190-inch length gives it the same footprint as a typical midsize sedan, yet that’s also a foot or so longer than the full-size sport-utilities. As a result, the 4Runner needs less room to maneuver when the going gets tough. Of course, for maximum maneuverability, customers are urged to check out the TRD Pro Series.

The TRD edition of the 4Runner has been tuned up by Toyota Racing Development and comes standard with high-capability TRD suspension components, 17-inch TRD alloy wheels wrapped in Nitto Terra Grappler tires, and a part-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case and Toyota’s Active Traction Control.

The third of Toyota’s most capable SUVs on this list is the brand’s full-size three-row entry, the 2017 Toyota Sequoia. Bolstered by a suspension that provides “outstanding wheel articulation off-road,” the Sequoia also can be ordered with a Multi-Model four-wheel-drive setup, a Torsen limited-slip center differential, and a two-speed transfer case.

The Platinum trim builds on that capability with a rear air suspension that improves on-road comfort and helps the Sequoia maintain the optimum position when pulling a heavy load. On the topic of heavy loads, the Sequoia can leverage its standard 5.7-liter V8 engine for 381 horsepower, 401 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 7,300-lb. towing limit.

Technically, Chevy also has two of the industry’s most capable SUVs, since both the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban are now at dealerships. We’re focusing on the former, both for its slightly more agile dimensions and to offer customers an additional choice of brands. 

In the Tahoe, the most trail-ready trim level is the 1LT, as it’s the only one available with the four-wheel drive and a dedicated off-road package. In this bundle, Chevy combines a Z71 off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, a two-speed transfer case, recovery hooks, an updated rear axle, and skid plates (to protect the bottom of the Tahoe from rocks and other debris.) Hill-descent control and a high-capacity air cleaner are standard as well.

The 2018 Ford Expedition makes the list as it showcases cutting-edge features thanks to a comprehensive and tech-focused makeover. Features include a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, wireless charging, Bang & Olufsen audio, and a wide range of safety technologies. 

The company hasnt' forgotten about the Expedition’s core customers who demand a sport-utility vehicle that lives up to its name. For those folks, Ford supplies an FX4 off-road performance package with the XLT trim. Included are trail-tuned shock absorbers, an electronic limited-slip differential, protective skid plates, a 375-horsepower EcoBoost engine, and ControlTrac four-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the Expedition is capable of towing up to 9,300 lbs.

Although it’s not often considered one of the industry’s most capable SUVs, the 2018 Lexus GX probably should be. Despite its well-earned luxury credentials, the GX also provides standard off-road hardware like a full-time four-wheel drive system, a sophisticated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension, a Torsen limited-slip center differential, and a two-speed transfer case with a dedicated low gear and crawl control.

Designed for extreme trail conditions, crawl control automatically keeps the vehicle moving, slowly but surely, so that the driver can concentrate on steering. Other tech resources on board to help the driver range from active traction control to safety measures such as adaptive cruise control, a pre-collision system, a drowsy-driver alert, lane-departure alert, and a rearview camera.

The all-new 2017 Nissan Armada, is a vehicle based on one of the most capable SUVs on the global scene: the full-size Nissan Patrol that’s been an International suv icon since 1951. Carrying on the Patrol’s legacy, the 2017 Armada offers an All-Mode four-wheel-drive system, an electronically controlled part-time transfer case, and a low-gear crawl ratio of 2.70:1. 

The Armada also checks in with a standard V8 engine that produces 390 horsepower and 394 lb.-ft. of torque, which is enough output to support an 8,500-lb. maximum tow rating. Supporting the Armada’s modern-day appeal are safety technologies like predictive forward collision warning, backup-collision intervention, and a surround-view monitor with Nissan’s Moving Object Detection.

If any of our most capable SUVs can match up with the Wrangler, it’s the 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, particularly in its new G550 4X42 trim. Positioned as “the most capable G-Class ever,” this model sports 17-inches of ground clearance, three locking differentials, high-performance portal axles, and a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 that’s good for a whopping 416 horsepower and 450 lb.-ft. of torque.

Prefer an SUV that’s capable of 0-60 times of just 5.3 seconds? The G-Class has a model that can do that, too. It’s the Mercedes-AMG G65 that rocks a handcrafted 6.0-liter biturbo V12. Place that engine under the G-Class hood and you can benefit from 621 horsepower and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. Neither model is as affordable as the Jeep, though, with both priced well north of $200,000.