The Best Used Off-Road Trucks and SUVs: Hit the Trails for Less

The models on this list balance capability and reliability.

Off-roading often doesn’t come cheap. For one, the new trucks and SUVs popularly used for rock crawling and trail running have gotten expensive. The 2026 Toyota 4Runner now begins at just over $43,000, the 2026 Jeep Wrangler two-door is more than $38,000 to start, and the more popular four-door Wrangler variant checks in at just south of $42,000. With that type of pricing, many grassroots enthusiasts won’t have quite as much cash left over for the upgrades and customizations they may want to make to their new rigs.

That’s why shopping for a used, off-road-capable model makes more sense than ever. With depreciation on your side, you’ll save tens of thousands of dollars up front in some cases. That gives you more leeway to go shopping for beefier tires, an upgraded suspension, and all the accessories you need to make your build just right for your purposes.

For this list of the best used off-road trucks and SUVs, we looked at a variety of models that are popular platforms for heading onto the trails. Our picks range from traditional body-on-frame SUVs to beefy midsize trucks, taking reliability and on-trail capability into account. Keep reading to see if your favorite model made the cut.

About MotorTrend's methodology: We consider many of the same factors in our new car rankings system. Our research focused on 3–5-year-old vehicles, which means we chose vehicles from the 2022–2024 model years. We use data from the residual value experts at Black Book to start

2022 Chevrolet Colorado

Pros: One of the most affordable used off-road-ready trucks you can find is the Chevrolet Colorado. The Colorado is one of our favorite trucks, new or used, and has a smooth ride, good handling, and models well-suited for their purposes. Look for LT and Z71 trims equipped with the Trail Boss package for off-road upgrades, such as a 1.0-inch suspension-leveling kit, front and mid-vehicle skidplates, and 17-inch ZR2 accessory wheels in black. If you can swing it, the higher-spec Colorado ZR2 is an all-conquering off-road pickup.

Cons: The last-generation Colorado never had an amazing interior. The materials were cheap and old when new, so just imagine what they’re like after a few years of hard work. If you’re considering a four-cylinder model for its frugality, don’t. The fuel savings aren’t drastic enough to warrant the lower output.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $16,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 20/30 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 483 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 6.4 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2022 Chevrolet Colorado

2022–2023 Ford Ranger

Pros: The final two model years of the prior-generation Ford Ranger are great choices for off-road enthusiasts. Although they were offered with just one powertrain, it’s a good one. The standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is smooth and torquey with strong towing capabilities. No Raptor variant existed for the Ranger before its current iteration, but a Tremor model was great for off-road use with fatter tires, better shock absorbers, and new rear springs.

Cons: Non-Tremor versions of the Ranger exhibit an unsettled ride at times. The cabin is somewhat cramped, and the infotainment system was outdated even when new.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $20,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 21/26 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 414 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 6.8 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2023 Ford Ranger

2022–2024 Toyota Tacoma

Pros: One of the most popular pickup trucks in the United States, the Toyota Tacoma has a well-earned reputation for go-anywhere capability. That’s especially true of the midsize truck’s off-road TRD models. Toyota finally redesigned the Tacoma for 2024 with modern exterior bodywork, an available hybrid powertrain, and a dizzying range of variants. That’s good news for off-road enthusiasts; many of the current Tacoma’s trims are aimed at trail running and rock crawling.

Cons: We weren’t fond of the last-generation Toyota Tacoma’s stiff ride, cramped interior, and poorly tuned transmission. The ergonomics aren’t for everyone, and the straight-legged driving position is aggravating. As for the current iteration of Toyota’s midsize truck, the base engine only makes 228 hp. Its second row continues to feel cramped compared to rivals.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $20,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 20/23 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 443 miles

0-60 MPH Acceleration: 7.7 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma

2022–2024 Jeep Wrangler

Pros: No list of the best used off-road vehicles would be complete without representation by venerable Jeep Wrangler, the benchmark for rock crawling. Jeeps have exceptional long-term value, making them a smart choice even as a used vehicle. If you can spring for it, the awesome, V-8 powered Wrangler 392 is hilariously fun to drive in all situations. What’s more, it’s just as capable as the rest of the Wrangler lineup.

Cons: Skip any of the Wrangler’s 4xe variants, as the plug-in hybrid model has proven less reliable than its gas-only counterparts, and it has been recalled due to potential battery fire issues. Then there are downsides that apply more generally to the Wrangler, namely that its on-road driving manners are sloppy, and the ride is stiff.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $21,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 22/29 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 538 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 6.6 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2024 Jeep Wrangler

2022 GMC Canyon

Pros: Sharing almost everything with the mechanically similar Chevrolet Colorado, the GMC Canyon is yet another midsize pickup that makes for a great off-road rig. That’s particularly true of AT4 models, which are slightly less extreme than the Colorado ZR2 but still perform deftly on the trail. The Canyon’s V-6 delivers stout performance, and the stock suspension’s ride quality is good for a truck.

Cons: The Canyon’s cabin quality isn’t much of an improvement over that of the Colorado, and we aren’t fans of the GMC’s eight-speed automatic transmission, either, because of its reluctance to downshift.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $22,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 20/30 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 483 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 6.8 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2022 GMC Canyon

2022–2024 Jeep Gladiator

Pros: The Jeep Gladiator is anomaly; it’s a pickup truck designed from the ground up with off-roading as its primary purpose. Its rugged styling cops the Wrangler’s handsome looks, and its capability on the trail is just as robust. Its bed is small for a midsize truck, but the cabin is spacious.

Cons: Like the Wrangler, the Gladiator isn’t great to drive on the road, thanks to a rough ride and vague steering. Towing with a Gladiator is also far from optimal; we’ve experienced issues with the truck maintaining speed during gearchanges while hauling.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $23,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 22/28 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 418 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 8.2 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator

2022–2024 Toyota 4Runner

Pros: Even though the Toyota 4Runner was outdated at the end of its previous-generation run, there’s no denying that the body-on-frame SUV continues to look cool to this day. It has the off-road chops to match, too. As an excellent value with the added bonus of solid reliability, it’s easy to see why so many off-road enthusiasts have flocked to the 4Runner over the years.

Cons: The 4Runner has a rugged feel to it, but that comes at the detriment of its on-road manners. It isn’t very refined from a ride and handling standpoint, fuel economy is poor, and acceleration isn’t very impressive, either.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $28,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 16/19 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 391 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 7.9 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2024 Toyota 4Runner

2022–2023 Lexus GX

Pros: Rounding out the list of best used off-road vehicles as the priciest and most upscale option is the prior generation Lexus GX. Despite the fancy badge on the grille, the GX has legitimate off-road abilities and sophisticated tech. Lexus finally modernized the GX’s infotainment for 2022, making the final two model years before it was revised even more desirable.

Cons: There’s no getting around the GX’s thirsty V-8 engine. Although appointments inside the cabin are sumptuous, its cabin offers limited passenger and cargo space. As the final two models of the last-generation GX’s production run of more than a decade, this SUV’s driver aids are out of date.

Specs:

Approximate Price: From $42,000

Fuel Economy: Up to 15/19 mpg city/highway

Driving Range: Up to 368 miles

0–60 MPH Acceleration: 7.5 seconds

Read Our Experts’ Review of the 2023 Lexus GX