The SUV cars are in demand after the COVID pandemic. People worldwide are eager to enjoy their lives more than before and are no longer confined to their houses, opting instead for more outdoor activities, especially off-road driving.
SUV on Demand:
Now, years after quarantines and hangout shutdowns are a memory, overlanding and off-roading are just as popular as ever. However, if you are going to head into the wilderness with enough room for some friends to tag along, you will want an SUV that is up to the task.
Here, I am going to discuss some SUV car models that can suit the lifestyle people want to lead in 2025.
1. 2025 Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon SUV Car:
Price: $75,100
Overall Ranking: 7.0/10
The Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon is a luxury midsize SUV. The Grenadier’s on-road livability is low, and pricing is high, but it offers a fascinating package. The blend of live-axle, full-time four-wheel-drive ruggedness with a silky, if slow. BMW-sourced straight six and Nappa-leather-clad Recaro seats will satisfy those who want something more striking and luxurious than a Wrangler, while not compromising an ounce of off-road capability.
Pros & Cons of Ineos Grenadier Station Wagon SUV Car:
Pros:
- Extremely capable off-road
- Well-built and durable interior
Cons:
- Slower than most rivals
- Worst-in-class fuel economy
- Few driver-assistance features
- Frustrating infotainment system
What is New for 2025?
- No major changes
Features:
- Seating capacity : Seats 5
- Fuel Economy:14-15 City / 14-15 Hwy
- Drive: 4WD
- Power: 282 horsepower
2. 2025 Toyota Sequoia:
Price: $62,425
Overall Ranking: 7.7/10
The Toyota Sequoia is a rare example of a true three-row SUV that retains excellent off-road competency. While it is usually difficult to get a vehicle of this size and weight to perform well on loose dirt, the TRD Pro trim of the Sequoia – which features 33-inch all-terrain tires and Fox off-road shocks – can take seven passengers very deep into the wilderness.
The standard hybrid drivetrain’s 583 pound-feet of torque and solid rear axle mean that every Sequoia is competent off-road, as well, especially when optioned with four-wheel drive. A major downside of the Sequoia is its high price of entry.
base MSRP is $62,425, with a $3,000 upcharge to equip four-wheel drive.
Pros:
- Muscular, fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain
- Good off-road capability
- Long list of standard features
Cons:
- Slightly unrefined handling
- Cramped third row
- Less cargo space than rivals
What is New for 2025?
- 1794 trim debuts
- Standard massaging front seats on Platinum, 1794 and Capstone trims
Features:
- Seating capacity: Seats 7 – 8
- Fuel Economy:19-21 City / 22-24 Hwy
- Drive: 4WD, RWD
- Power: 437 horsepower
3. 2025 Jeep Wrangler:
Price: $32,095
Overall Ranking: 8.0/10
The Jeep Wrangler is one of very few modern vehicles that you could conquer virtually any trail in America with, without needing to equip a single option. It offers two solid axles, a cloth top, removable doors, true four-wheel-drive with low-range gearing, skid plates, and tow hooks as standard equipment. A six-speed manual transmission is even standard, for the truck purists. It is also one of the only two-door SUVs left on the U.S. market, for those who prize breakover angles over backseat passengers.
The Jeep just gets continually better off-road with further options; the Rubicon trim ($46,955) is the one to get if you want to … well, cross the Rubicon straight off the dealer lot.
Pros:
- Excellent off-roading machine
- User-friendly infotainment system
- Stout optional powertrains
Cons:
- Unrefined handling and ride quality on pavement
- Dismal gas mileage
What’s New for 2025:
- Standard power windows and door locks
- Available active cabin ventilation
- Rubicon 392 discontinued
- Wrangler 392 Final Edition debuts
Features:
- Seating capacity: Seats 4 – 5
- Fuel Economy: 20 City / 23Hwy
- Drive: 4WD,
- Power: 285-horsepower V6 engine
4. 2025 Land Rover Defender:
Price: $56,900
Overall Ranking: 8.2/10
The Land Rover’s development dates back to shortly after the Second World War, to be a virtually indestructible and competent agricultural truck that could still handle daily-driver duty. 76 years later, its spiritual descendant, the Land Rover Defender, offers luxury that was unimaginable during its farm-truck days – but still retains the off-road capabilities of its predecessors.
The feature list of the 2025 Defender is packed with standard off-road capability, including hill descent control and four-wheel drive with a transfer case and low-range gearing. Air suspension that offers up to almost three feet of water-fording depth is a standalone option ($1,600). Like the Wrangler, the Defender also offers two- and four-door variants.
Pros:
- Excellent performance on- and off-road
- Smooth handling
- Impressive tech and safety features
- Adult-friendly seating in all rows
Cons:
- Poor fuel economy
- So-so cargo capacity
- Subpar interior for a luxury vehicle
What’s New for 2025:
- New range-topping Octa trim
- Carpathian Edition trim discontinued
Features:
• Seating capacity: Seats 5 – 8
• Fuel Economy: 18 City / 20Hwy
• Drive: 4WD,
• Power: 296 – 518 horsepower
5. 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser:
Price: $56,700
Overall Ranking: 8.3/10
The Toyota Land Cruiser revives one of the brand’s most iconic nameplates and brings with it the Land Cruiser’s beloved rugged, off-road abilities. Theis Toyota is a body-on-frame SUV like virtually every other vehicle on this list, but it errs more on the side of providing passengers with on-road comfort than enabling extreme escapades. It provides standard four-wheel drive paired with a hybrid drivetrain that offers excellent fuel economy for rugged off-roaders, at 22/25 mpg city/highway.
For buyers that desire more comfort than other vehicles on this list and only need two rows of seating, the Land Cruiser offers a compelling blend of off- and on-road competence.
Pros:
- Great off-road capability
- Very good fuel economy for the class
- Spacious, comfortable interior
Cons:
- Cheap-feeling cabin in base model
- No third row
What’s New for 2025:
- First Edition trim discontinued
- Enhanced driver-assistance tech
Features:
- Seating capacity: Seats 5
- Fuel Economy: 22 City / 25Hwy
- Drive: 4WD,
- Power: 296 – 518 horsepower
6. 2025 GMC Hummer EV SUV:
Price: $96,550
Overall Ranking: 8.4/10
The GMC Hummer EV SUV is an outlandish machine, with a gargantuan attitude to match its ridiculous proportions. It’s not all looks, though. On wide trails, it is one of the most competent EV off-roaders on the market, with incredibly well-tuned single-pedal driving for even the most delicate slickrock crawls.
The Extreme Off-Road package further transforms the Hummer EV into an off-road behemoth, with all-terrain tires, locking front and rear “differentials,” full underbody armoring, and even cameras for the undercarriage for extremely delicate rock-crawling maneuvers. Adaptive air suspension and four-wheel steering, as well as two electric motors providing four-wheel drive, are standard equipment.
Pros:
- Stupefying acceleration
- Exceptional off-road ability
- Roomy, comfortable interior with removable roof panels
- Loaded with cool features
Cons:
- Pricey
- Voracious appetite for electricity
- Mixed-bag cabin quality
What’s New for 2025:
• No major changes
Features:
• Seating capacity: Seats 5
• Fuel Economy: EPA-estimated range of up to 315 miles on a full charge in 2X trim
• Drive: 4WD,
• Power: 625 hp with dual motors and 830 hp with Tri motor.
7.2025 Ford Bronco:
Price: $38,995
Overall Ranking: 8.4/10
The Ford Bronco is a revival of one of Ford’s most iconic vehicles, and the 2025 model offers incredible off-road capabilities. Low-range gearing and four-wheel drive are standard, as are hill-descent assist and tow hooks. The Sasquatch package ($8,460) offers gargantuan ground clearance, locking differentials, 35-inch mud tires, and a variety of off-roading goodies that ensure that the Bronco can get basically anywhere in America that it’s possible to maneuver a truck.
The Bronco also offers the powerful Raptor trim, which turns the SUV into, essentially, a Baja-runner. Fox Live Valve dampers, 37-inch tires, and steel undercarriage armoring offer unparalleled high-speed off-road performance. Just be prepared to pay: the Bronco Raptor starts at $90,035.
Pros:
- Trail-ready toughness
- Capable engine lineup
- Roomy, comfortable front seats
- Excellent cargo space in four-door model
Cons:
- Noticeable brake dive during hard stops
- Limited rear legroom, especially in two-door
- Meager fuel economy
What’s New for 2025:
- Base model returns
- Bronco Stroppe Special Edition debuts
- Free Wheeling package for Big Bend
Features:
• Seating capacity: Seats 4 – 5
• Fuel Economy: 20 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway
• Drive: 4WD,
• Power: turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 275 horsepower with regular gas and 300 horsepower with premium fuel.
8. 2025 Lexus GX:
Price: $63,935
Overall Ranking: 8.6/10
The Lexus GX skews heavily toward the luxurious end of the market, and its price reflects it, at $63,935. That said, it offers a complete package of off-road capability and on-road comfort that is virtually impossible to beat. While it’s built on the same platform as the cheaper Toyota Land Cruiser, it gets a beefy twin-turbo V6 to replace the hybrid inline-four drivetrain. The GX’s cabin doesn’t err on the cheap side, either, with plush materials and touchpoints throughout.
The Overtrail trim ($71,580) is what off-road buyers will want to spring for. 33-inch all-terrains, a locking rear differential, and 360-degree surround cameras turn virtually every trail into a cinch.
Pros:
- Muscular twin-turbocharged engine
- Excellent off-road chops
- Long list of infotainment and advanced safety features
- Spacious cabin
Cons:
- Less refined handling than car-based rivals
- Tight third-row space
- Unimpressive fuel economy
- High base price for the class
What’s New for 2025:
No major changes
Features:
• Seating capacity: Seats 5 – 7
• Fuel Economy: 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.
• Drive: 4WD,
• Power: 349-horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 engine
9. 2025 Toyota 4Runner:
Price: $42,770
Overall Ranking: 8.6/10
The Toyota 4Runner is an all-time favorite of the off-road crowd since its inception in 1984 as a livable – yet old-school – body-on-frame SUV. For 2025, it’s gotten a much-needed update that has modernized its cabin and styling without compromising its cherished off-road ability.
For off-road-minded buyers, it’s also a relatively affordable option, with the TRD Off-Road starting just under $50,000 and offering standard four-wheel drive, a skid plate for undercarriage protection, and more off-road features along with all-terrain tires. Both hybrid and traditional drivetrains are available, as well, making it one of the few options on this list to offer buyers the choice.
Pros:
- Highly capable off-roader
- Lots of standard features
- Generous cargo hold
Cons:
- Gets pricey quickly
- Cramped optional third row
What’s New for 2025:
- Fully redesigned
- Hybrid model debuts
Features:
- Seating capacity: Seats 5
- Fuel Economy: EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
- Drive: 4WD,
- Power: 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque
10. 2025 Ford Bronco Sport:
Price: $29,995
Overall Ranking: 8.9/10
The Ford Bronco Sport is one of the few unibody compact-sized contenders on this list, but it punches well above its weight class. It offers standard four-wheel drive — a rarity in this segment. The Badlands trim ($40,115) has genuinely shocking off-road capabilities and a powerful turbo-four to complement off-road-focused, lifted suspension and steel underbody protection.
If you’re trying to save some money, sticking with the Bronco Sport’s more efficient base three-cylinder turbo engine but adding the Black Diamond Off-Road package ($2,570) will allow you to tackle the majority of America’s forest roads without breaking the bank or giving up too much day-to-day livability.
Pros
- Potent optional engine
- Spacious, well-built interior
- Solid off-roading abilities
- Intuitive infotainment system
Cons
Stiff ride quality on the road
What’s New for 2025
- Refreshed interior and exterior design
- Off-road-oriented Sasquatch package debuts
- Updated infotainment system
- Additional standard features
Features:
• Seating capacity: Seats 5
• Fuel Economy: 21-25 City / 26-29 Hwy
• Drive: 4WD,
• Power: 181 – 250 horsepower
11. 2025 Rivian R1S:
Price: $75,900
Overall Ranking: 9.0/10
Rivian is a young company, with its flagship R1S SUV only having debuted in 2022, but it knows how to build a good SUV. The all-electric R1S is a solid choice in that it is extremely easy to live with on a day-to-day basis, while still offering some of the most impressive off-road chops available for a three-row SUV.
On the higher Adventure Dual Large ($82,900) and Dual Max ($89,900) trims, the All-Terrain package ($3,700) adds the bona fides needed for confidence deep into the wilderness, like a full-size spare and underbody armoring. With up to 410 miles of range, you’ll be able to get way, way off the beaten path in the R1S.
Pros:
- Zippy acceleration
- Excellent cargo capacity
- High-quality three-row interior
- Impressive range
Cons:
- More expensive than some competitors
- No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
What’s New for 2025:
- Second generation debuts with new trim lineup
- Enhanced battery packs
- Improved suspension
- Increased drive range
- Updated infotainment system
Features:
- Seating capacity: Seats 7
- Fuel Economy: an estimated driving range of 270 miles when fitted with the Standard 92.5-kWh battery and the base Dual-Motor powertrain
- Drive: AWD
- Power: 533 – 1050 horsepower
12. Jeep Wranglar Rubicon:
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the petrol variant in the Jeep Wrangler lineup and is priced at Rs. 71.65 Lakh. It gives a mileage of 10.6 kmpl. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is available in Automatic (TC) transmission and offered in 5 colours: Bright White, Black, Anvil Clear Coat, Sarge Green and Firecracker Red.
Its available 32-inch tyres, stronger axle tubes, larger brakes, 4×4 systems, rugged steel skid plates, and more, add up for you to take your Jeep Wrangler — including the legendary Jeep Wrangler
