Best Used Off-Road SUV Comprehensive Assessment

Drivers of increasingly diverse lifestyles are looking for the best used off-road SUV these days. Heading away from it all is fun, but having the right vehicle and know-how is essential for success. To get started, read our guide below to find the best used off-road vehicles and some advice that will help you leave the pavement behind.

When searching for the best used cars to buy for off-roading, newcomers sometimes look in the wrong place. So, here's what determines the best used off-road SUV in our used SUV inventory:

When off-roading in a 2WD SUV, you'll quickly find yourself at a daunting crossroad: Abandon the trail or traverse obstacles at high speed and risk damaging your vehicle. Having AWD/4WD lets you cross such obstacles slower and with more precision. Having a three-speed 4WD transfer case is another aspect that can determine the best used off-road SUV.

One or more locking differentials are essential for conquering serious off-road challenges. Your front/rear differential lets the power be split from one driveshaft to two wheels. However, an open differential will send all the power to the wheel that has lost traction. A locking differential can bypass this issue by evenly spreading the power.

Traction control can actually make off-roading more difficult. Sometimes you need a bit of wheelspin to get through harsh off-road conditions. Off-road-oriented traction control can often account for this and turn an SUV into the best used off-road SUV for newcomers.

If you're looking for the best used SUV for off-road camping, you're looking to get away from it all. Along the way, though, common trail surfaces will pose a severe challenge for street tires. The best used off-road SUV will come with all-terrain tires; 31-inch tires or bigger are ideal.

Ground clearance determines how tall of an obstacle you can ride over. Seven inches of ground clearance is a good starting point, 8 to 10 inches is great, and anything over 10 is awesome.

Approach/departure angles determine the maximum steepness of an obstacle that your vehicle can handle. Having over 20 degrees is good, and over 30 degrees can put it in the best used off-road SUV category.

Skid plates are like suits of armor, protecting crucial underbody components (e.g., the oil pan) from loose rocks and other dangers.

Body-on-frame construction helps ensure the most reliable used off-road SUV. The frame and body are separate, isolating much of the rough-terrain punishment to a solid-steel frame.

Conduct some Jeep model research, and you'll understand why the Jeep Wrangler consistently tops off-roader's lists. But others can keep up. Here are our contenders for the best used off-road SUV:

• Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
• Ford Bronco Wildtrak
• Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro
• Toyota FJ Cruiser
• Nissan Xterra PRO-4X
• Chevy Tahoe Z71
• Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
• Subaru Forester Wilderness
• Subaru Outback Wilderness
• Ford Bronco Sport Badlands
• Subaru Crosstrek

Here are some great luxury off-roaders to look for in our used SUV inventory:

• Mercedes-Benz G Class
• Lexus GX Series
• Lexus LX Series
• GMC Yukon AT4
• Land Rover Defender
• Land Rover Range Rover
• INFINITI QX80
• Wagoneer SUV

Even with the best used off-road SUV at your command, successful off-road adventures require preparation and skill. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Keep an air compressor in your vehicle: You'll need to let out air pressure from your tires (around 25%) as the terrain gets rough and fill them back up when back on pavement.
• Keep traction boards in/on your vehicle: These vital pieces of recovery equipment slide under your tires and act as a grippy surface to get you out of tricky spots.
• Bring several days' worth of survival gear: Even if you don't plan on camping, pack your vehicle as if you're going to be camping out in the wild.
• Research, research, research: Cell reception is rare to find in the wild, so map out the trail and spend some time researching the area and local conditions (i.e., recent rainfall).
• Never go alone: We can't emphasize this enough. You should always head off-road in a group.

Now that you know how to find the best used off-road SUV, it's time to start your search. Make the jump today and embrace the wild; find your next used off-road-ready SUV at a DARCARS Auto Group dealership.

The best used SUV for off-roading depends on who you ask, but the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, and Toyota 4Runner top almost every list of off-road SUVs. Other great choices include the Lexus GX Series, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Nissan Xterra, Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Subaru Crosstrek, and the Ford Bronco Sport.

The Jeep Wrangler is by far the best used Jeep SUV for off-roading. This icon is specifically designed for off-roading, making it a beast that can have great approach/departure angles, a solid 4WD system, high ground clearance, meaty all-terrain tires, locking differentials, an electronic sway bar disconnect, and more. The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk is close behind.

A used SUV is OK to use off-roading if it has AW/4WD, high ground clearance, good approach/departure angles, all-terrain tires, and underbody protection. Off-roading is a dynamic hobby, and while just these aspects are OK, the best used off-road SUV will also have body-on-frame construction, locking differentials, and several other tailored benefits.