Best Off-Road SUV 2022: The verdict

An off-road SUV may well have an easy existence touring the suburbs as a family wagon, but it’s also expected to ply Australian highways, back roads and bush tracks with just as much competence.

An ever-growing trailer boat and caravan market has also put fresh focus on these large 4WDs, with their ability to pack up and tow a heavy trailer for sometimes tens of thousands of kilometres.

There are 12 finalists in contention for carsales Best Off-Road SUV 2022, which we reckon are the best all-rounders when it comes to vehicles that are ready to be called up for active duty.

All of them were tested against more than 110 separate criteria across seven key areas of assessment: safety, technology, comfort and convenience, driving performance, off-road performance, towing and payload, and ownership costs.

There’s a broad variety of skillsets on display with this ‘dirty dozen’, but only one that lays claim to Best Off-Road SUV.

Let’s count them down…

LDV is a relatively recent arrival to our shores, and the Chinese brand’s off-road SUV contender, the LDV D90, entices with very attractive pricing and big ticks for comfort and convenience and safety features.

However, the 2022 LDV D90 Executive 4WD doesn’t sparkle with technology, it isn’t a polished drive, isn’t particularly fuel-efficient and can’t tow as much as its major rivals.

Without a capped-price service schedule, a potentially large component of the D90’s cost of ownership isn’t transparent either.

How much does the 2022 LDV D90 Executive 4x4 cost?
Price: $44,990 (drive-away)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 165kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 255g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

This off-road icon might borrow its looks from an old-timer, but the latest Jeep Wrangler arrived as basically an all-new vehicle just three years ago.

While the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Night Eagle scored well in ownership costs and off-road ability, and was a middling performer in the technology stakes, everywhere else it fell below average.

Its safety ranking is of particular concern, with a sub-par ANCAP rating and a lack of standard safety features.

How much does the 2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Night Eagle cost?
Price: $69,750 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrol
Output: 209kW/347Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 225g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Three-star (ANCAP 2018)

The SsangYong Rexton scored very well for its extensive comfort and convenience features as well as low costs of ownership, in particular with its generous seven-year warranty and free roadside assist and competitive capped-price servicing program.

It is also fitted standard with nine airbags and has city AEB among its safety arsenal, but there’s no independent crash testing to back up the brochure highlights, and so the 2022 SsangYong Rexton ELX was penalised in scoring.

While it holds some promise as a heavy-duty tow hauler, the Rexton’s performance ratings on-road and off the beaten track were among the less inspiring here.

How much does the 2022 SsangYong Rexton ELX cost?
Price: $47,990 (drive-away)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 148kW/441Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 223g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

The evergreen Toyota Prado is a popular choice and may well be ‘proven’ with sales leadership over much of its 13-year reign, but against the competition the ‘Son of LandCruiser’ feels dated.

The 2022 Toyota Prado GX achieved an average score for its driving performance, mainly for its smooth and supple ride quality rather than any special attribute of its dull 2.8-litre engine, while its off-road performance and technology suite also brought only average point scores.

The Prado has stellar resale value, which is testament to the strength of the Toyota brand in Australia, but in all other respects ownership costs are nothing to write home about.

Its comfort and convenience and safety features are also lacking, and it has the oldest five-star ANCAP rating among our contenders on test – one that’s 13 years old and could see the Prado stripped of its stars at the end of this year.

How much does the 2022 Toyota Prado GX cost?
Price: $60,830 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 150kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 201g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2011)

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a mid-ranking player when it comes to its on- and off-road performance, and while it has a lower towing capacity than some other 4x4s on test here, its 3100kg capacity is arguably more realistic than some of the heavier hitters.

In short, the Pajero Sport tows well.

That said, comfort and convenience and technology features, as well as ownership costs, are a bit below par with the 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport GLX 4WD.

It’s also lacking when it comes to driver assist safety features that Australian buyers now increasingly expect.

As the Jeep Grand Cherokee reaches its grand finale – a new-generation model is due by mid-year – the American off-road brand’s large family SUV is heading out with a creditable rating against tough competition.

It may have been very different with a higher-spec diesel model with air suspension, but as tested here the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Night Eagle (with its coil-spring suspension and V6 petrol engine) is found wanting in off-road and towing capability.

Its tech features are also lacking at this level.

The petrol engine might be down on load-lugging towing torque, but as a lightly laden touring wagon the Grand Cherokee is a good point-to-point mile-eater, and has plenty of comfort and convenience and safety features plus a solid cost of ownership ranking.

How much does the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Night Eagle cost?
Price: $60,450 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.6-litre V6 petrol
Output: 213kW/347Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 233g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2014)

The Toyota Fortuner has a strong safety suite compared to some others in this test, backed by a good showing in the technology, off-road performance and towing stakes.

Yet a tepid driving experience, uncompetitive ownership costs and sparse comfort and convenience features pulled back its overall score.

How much does the 2022 Toyota Fortuner GX cost?
Price: $49,715 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 150kW/500Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 201g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

Isuzu has really lifted the bar with the new-generation Isuzu D-MAX, perhaps nowhere more strikingly than in the area of safety.

The long list of advanced safety technology and a five-star safety rating under the latest stringent ANCAP testing regime is testament to this.

The 2022 Isuzu MU-X LS-M 4x4 also impresses with its off-road ability, although on-road performance is middle-ranking and other areas of assessment – notably technology and comfort and convenience features – are below average.

How much does the 2022 Isuzu MU-X LS-M 4x4 cost?
Price: $53,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kWkW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 220g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

The Y62 Nissan Patrol might be getting long in the tooth, but its core strengths come to the fore when matched against its main competition.

High marks were recorded on test in areas such as on- and off-road performance and towing.

The cost of ownership ranking of the 2022 Nissan Patrol Ti is also above average, and would have been higher again if not for the petrol V8’s undeniably high fuel consumption.

Yet the Patrol’s age is showing in a lack of technology, and while it has a promising array of driver-assist safety systems on board, the big Nissan also loses points for not having an independent crash safety rating.

How much does the 2022 Nissan Patrol Ti cost?
Price: $82,160 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 5.6-litre V8 petrol
Output: 298kW/560Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 14.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 334g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

A podium result for the Ford Everest at the end of its current model lifecycle is testament to Ford Australia’s intensive local engineering and its foresight in ensuring regular technical and specification upgrades have been made along the way.

Accordingly, the 2022 Ford Everest Ambiente 3.2 4x4 scored well for ownership costs, driving and off-road performance, towing/payload and technology.

However, fewer than average comfort and convenience and safety features saw its overall score pared back.

How much does the 2022 Ford Everest Ambiente 3.2 4x4 cost?
Price: $55,090 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 143kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 224g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2015)

The hugely popular Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series has arrived with much promise, and on many fronts it does not disappoint.

Whether you’re driving the 2022 Toyota LandCruiser GX in the city, out on the open road, pulling a heavy load or heading into the wilderness, this new-generation model is a superb performer.

At this trim level though, and at this high price point, its safety and technology systems are only average, and the GX also feels relatively sparse in comfort and convenience features.

Toyota’s reputation for quality, reliability, dealer support and resale value remain strong, but beyond bucking depreciation the new LC300’s cost of ownership is relatively high.

The GX is simply lacking in frills as the LandCruiser forges its way into unchartered territory as a luxury model that leaves only spare change out of $100K when on-road costs are factored in.

How much does the 2022 Toyota LandCruiser GX cost?
Price: $89,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel
Output: 227kW/700Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 235g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)

It would be easy to dismiss the reborn Land Rover Defender as just another attempt at a retro rehash.

Thankfully, this all-new model is far from it; it has a broad and outstanding skillset that makes it one of the best vehicles to come from Land Rover for many years.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P300 has surreal on-road performance for such a big off-road SUV, with no less ability when you leave the bitumen in search of a more serious form of adventure.

The Defender tows brilliantly and, even at this entry point in the model walk, brings a high level of safety and technology features as standard. It’s also backed by a maximum five-star safety rating under ANCAP’s tough current testing protocols.

Ownership costs are surprisingly reasonable, while comfort and convenience features are better than average for this segment.

All that makes the Land Rover Defender a clear winner of carsales’ Best Off-Road SUV 2022.

How much does the 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P300 cost?
Price: $81,890 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 221kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 231g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)