Best Used Off-Road 4x4 for 2022

The 2015 Toyota LandCruiser Prado GX has been judged Australia’s best off-road 4x4 by carsales Best Used Cars for 2022, proudly presented by Bingle.

For the second consecutive year, the Toyota Prado has beaten every other off-road family wagon in the category, due in no small part to its formidable capabilities in the bush or towing boats or caravans, plus affordable running costs, good resale value, comfort and packaging.

The Prado is the automotive medium for the elemental Aussie dream – getting away from it all.

And packing up your high-riding dual-cab ute or SUV for an adventure away from global pandemics and statutory lockdowns has never before looked so appealing.

This category celebrates our love for going bush and reaching remote wilderness areas where even telemarketers offering a new pay TV subscription service can’t reach you.

What constitutes an off-road 4x4 vehicle of the type being judged here? In car industry parlance, it’s either a 4x4 pick-up/cab-chassis or a large/upper-large SUV that is competent heading off the beaten track.

The Toyota Prado GX accrued 36.4 points from RedBook and 45 from the judges for a total of 81.4 points out of 100.

Updated for 2015, the Prado GX introduced a smaller-displacement 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine to replace the previous 3.0-litre unit.

Priced at $52,990 plus on-road costs when new, this entry-level variant featured dual-range transfer (high/low range) and a six-speed manual transmission. RedBook values this revised 2015 model at $48,149 in 2022.

After driving the Prado at its local launch in 2015, carsales senior journalist Feann Torr offered these thoughts: “The updated Prado’s all-new turbo-diesel is a much quieter motor. It pumps out more power and torque … [and] it uses less fuel now. Although that’s where the meaningful changes end, the Prado is still as rugged and pragmatic as ever.”

You can read more about the Toyota Prado in our launch review here.

“There are cheaper large SUV wagons and there are far more modern ones, yet the Toyota Prado has the right mix of versatility, features, price and (let’s not underestimate this) the perceived credibility of the Toyota badge to keep a firm hold on its sales crown” – Phillip Lord, senior carsales contributor

It may be evergreen – to skirt around its venerable design – but the market loves the Prado.

Prices for used examples are currently higher than they would be in normal circumstances, but it’s unlikely that Prado pricing will plummet once the world is past the current coronavirus craziness.

And with everything else going for the Prado, it’s a deserving winner in its category of carsales Best Used Cars for 2022, proudly presented by Bingle.

Find a used 2015 Toyota LandCruiser Prado GX on carsales

Honourable mentions:

The Toyota LandCruiser GXL scored 27.1 points from RedBook and 45 points from the judges for a total of 72.1
RedBook value: $83,217

“Not the cheapest, just the best. The one to have if you’re serious about off-roading” – Cliff Chambers, carsales used-car buying expert

“While the 200 Series LandCruiser has been around since 2007, it remains the favourite choice of buyers in this market sector” – Ken Gratton, carsales technical editor

The Ford Everest scored 29.5 points from RedBook and 42 points from the judges for a total of 71.5
RedBook value: $35,492

“The Everest Titanium is an impressive off-roader. A week spent in this vehicle in some truly challenging and diverse Outback conditions proved its capabilities” – Bruce Newton, carsales senior journalist

“Dynamically the Ford can’t match soft-road SUVs for cornering, but it’s very capable, measured against other off-roaders – until you reach that point where you’re on the Land Rover Discovery’s turf” – Ken Gratton, carsales technical editor

What makes a car eligible for carsales Best Used Cars?
• Less than six years old
• Standard side curtain airbags
• Standard Bluetooth
• Standard electronic stability control (mandated for 2014)
• Standard reversing camera for SUVs

How did RedBook weight the categories for scoring?
• 10 per cent for resale
• 10 per cent for ANCAP rating
• 20 per cent for cost of ownership
• Five per cent for service intervals
• Five per cent for number of days for vehicle to sell

Read all about carsales Best Used Cars for 2022 here