24 SUVs That’ll Last a Lifetime
The truth is that killing an automobile isn’t hard. What can be so hard about it except our emotional connection to the car and, maybe, the guilt of doing something awful? It’s always easier to destroy than to build, to kill than to give life. If you really wish to ‘kill’ a car, take a leaf from Breaking Bad’s Mr. White and light a match to the fuel filler.
Thankfully, the Heisenbergs of this world are few and far between. We’re not actively looking to ‘kill’ and ‘bury’ our cars, but it never hurts to drive with the confidence that yours say ‘good luck’ to the potholes, harsh weather, floods, off-roads, and the general beatings of everyday usage.
The following 24 SUVs are known to take a serious beating without falling apart. It’s not exactly the same as lasting a thousand miles, but these SUVs have a reputation for durability and smiling through tough conditions.
Toyota Land Cruiser
Why aren’t you surprised to see the Toyota Land Cruiser first on this list? The SUV has been around long enough to imprint its reputation for off-road prowess and longevity on the desert sands and mountain ranges of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman.
In fact, Toyota has been kind enough to create tailored versions of the Land Cruiser for regions with such harsh terrains that quickly send less-capable cars and SUVs to their early graves. The Land Cruiser is at home in the mountains of Nepal, Afghanistan, and Pakistan — the salt flats of Bolivia and the diverse landscapes of Mongolia.
Jeep Wrangler
The Wrangler’s global superstardom may not be at the same level as the Land Cruiser, but it is just as cosmopolitan as any car with a worldwide presence. Its rugged design makes it a classic choice for all sorts of off-roading activities.
Like a warrior tearing off their clothes in preparation for a fight, the Wrangler makes ready for battle with detachable doors and roofs. The Wrangler takes the battle to unkind driving conditions that can easily ‘cripple’ regular cars and SUVs.
It uses a body-on-frame chassis for superior durability and demonstrates its resilience with the Trail Rated badge. This badge shows the SUV passed a series of grueling tests in five key areas: traction, water fording, maneuverability, articulation, and ground clearance.
Toyota 4Runner
The first question you should ask is, “Why is it called “4Runner.” This author had fun scrolling through the ideas thrown around on enthusiast online forums (especially T4R) about the reason behind the 4Runner’s name choice. Did you know typing ‘4-R-u-n-n-e-r’ and pressing the shift key too early gets you ‘$runner’? Told you I had fun at T4R.
Don’t you find it interesting that it’s called 4Runner even though it has 2WD configurations? Someone figured it isn’t about the drivetrain but a play on the term “forerunner,” which still sounds cool as it means the 4Runner is akin to a brave scout leading the way for others to follow.
The Wikipedia page says “4” denotes the 4-wheel drive system, while the “Runner” references its all-terrain capability — ‘running’ off-road. According to Toyota, the name plays on “Pre-runners,” the word “used by desert racers of the legendary Baja 500 and Baja 1000.” Enough said.
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover’s Defender may not be the poster child of reliability or an SUV that promises to stay with you forever and ever, but no one can accuse it of shying away from a fight. It may not live for a million miles with daily use, but it will use the time it does have to convey you across the toughest terrains.
You know what they say about why men don’t live very long; maybe that talk is all about the Land Rover Defender. It’s a DEFENDER — a knight in shining aluminum unibody construction that makes it lighter yet more rigid. It boasts some of the world’s most advanced AWD systems, such as the Terrain Response 2 and All-Terrain Progress Control.
Ford Bronco
An African proverb says a lion doesn’t glance back when pursued because it is afraid but to gauge the distance between it and the unfortunate pursuer. You could say the same about the Bronco. It would seem it didn’t take a break in 1996 to catch its breath like a tired, panting dog but to re-strategize how it can return stronger and more badass in 2021.
The Bronco isn’t just a legend because it is off-road capable: It is a legendary off-roader because it is one of the toughest nuts to crack in the world of passenger SUVs.
Like the Wrangler, the Bronco lets you rip out its doors and roof, not just so you can have a raw view of the action but also to make it lighter. What more can be said about an SUV with a terrain management system called GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain)?
Nissan Patrol
The ‘experts’ tell curious shoppers they’re better off avoiding the first model year of a major redesign. Are they always correct? Of course not. Do they have a point? Absolutely. The idea is to wait until the ‘new’ model reveals all its flaws — the automaker fixes them, and then you can buy the ‘perfect’ car.
And then there are bullish nameplates like the J200 Toyota Land Cruiser (hunkering down without a redesign for 14 solid years), the 1st-gen Audi Q7 (10 years), and the Nissan Patrol so confident in their capabilities that they don’t see the need for a big change. The Y62-gen Patrol went global in 2010 and only bothered with a facelift nine years later.
Yep, the Patrol isn’t stateside. What we have in its place is the Armada. They’re similar, but the Patrol isn’t the one tailored for the soft life of North America.
Chevrolet Tahoe
If you didn’t know it already, the Chevy Tahoe is built to last. The modern Tahoe looks prettier but never lost its manly off-road capability, thanks to its sturdy truck chassis and body-on-frame construction. We’ve mentioned “body on frame” several times already in this article, so we might as well bite into it a bit.
It describes a construction technique where the SUV’s body is mounted on a chassis — the chassis carries the powertrain. With unibody construction, the frame and body are built as one piece. The disadvantage is they do not allow as much “flex” as a body-on-frame.
That’s precisely why body-on-frame SUVs and trucks are better at tackling rough terrains. Unibodies will sooner warp their frames long before body-on-frames like the Tahoe does.
Ford Expedition
Some other trucks are more deserving of the Hand of the King’s chair at the Small Council meetings of the most reliable SUVs. The Expedition may not take the head of the table, but it certainly has a chair among the key assemblages gathered at the Red Keep at King’s Landing.
The 2024 model returned a JD Power reliability score of 74 out of 100, which by JD Power’s ranking is considered “Average” and in GoT’s universe would be somewhere between the Master of Coin and Master of Whisperers.
What the Expedition lacks in reliability, it makes up with exemplary strength. It boasts impressive towing capacity supported by its 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 mated to a 10-speed SelectShift shifter to produce up to 480 lb-ft of torque and 440-hp.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
What we implied about the Nissan Armada and the “soft life of North America” goes out the window when it comes to the G-Wagon (G-Class / G-Klasse). It’s not every day you see a high-end luxurious SUV yet incredibly tough.
Mercedes made it a point to create a separate page to tell the G-Wagon’s Strong Stories, documenting the SUV’s brave exploits, including a pole-to-pole expedition from Africa via Antarctica to Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the Arctic and a traverse through the harsh wilderness of Finland. The G-Class proved to be a trusted companion of strength in these stories, unlikely to die on you when you need it the least or the most.
Lexus GX
You could say that the Lexus GX inherited the Toyota Land Cruiser’s impressive strength and off-road capability, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Toyota built the Lexus GX on the Land Cruiser’s J150 platform shared with the 4Runner.
Speaking of SUVs that refuse to die, large families looking for a reliable people and cargo mover they don’t have to change every four to five years are attracted to models like the GX460, thanks to its demonstrated longevity and high levels of dependability.
The GX460 returned an above-average JD Power reliability score of 89 out of 100, while Consumer Reports judged its reliability at an impressive score of 85. The GX460’s predecessor, the GX470, performed just as admirably in the reliability indexes.
Subaru Outback
The Outback proves you don’t need to search the full-size segment for tough SUVs that take a beating like a champ. It’s a midsize 5-passenger SUV with a reputation for all-terrain capability. It comes standard with the Japanese marque’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system known for deftness in every driving condition — snow, rain, and off-road.
Its ground clearance of around 8.7 inches is uniform among the Crosstrek, Forester, Outback, and Ascent and roomy enough to shield the undercarriage from the assaults of rough trails and uneven surfaces.
The Outback Wilderness trim provides even better protection with a wow-worthy 9.5 inches of ground clearance, freeing you to hammer away on rocky paths without fearing for your car’s underside. Additionally, the Outback’s horizontally opposed (Boxer) engine design supports a lower center of gravity, which optimizes the SUV’s stability in challenging driving conditions.
Mitsubishi Pajero/Montero
It’s nearly two decades since America’s version of the Pajero said goodbye, but those familiar with the SUV can still testify to its ruggedness and off-road strength. It used a ladder frame chassis for exceptional strength and durability.
When push comes to shove, the Pajero can ensure its footing by leveraging the appropriate drive mode (2H, 4H, 4HLc, and 4LLc). The feature isn’t automatic. It’s up to the driver to switch between the SUV’s advanced SuperSelect 4WD system.
Marketed in the North American market as the Mitsubishi Montero, the Pajero lived on in other markets until as recently as 2021. It was also known as the Mitsubishi Shogun.
Honda Pilot
The Pilot is another midsize SUV that proves you don’t have to depend on the large SUV pool for reliable, sturdy family transportation. The modern Pilot looks built for city commutes, but it can also be a trusty country boy when the occasion calls for it.
Its primary strength lies in its reliable V6 and trusty automatic transmission. It uses unibody construction, though not as efficient as body-on-frames (for this article’s purpose), but comes with the advantage of weight efficiency.
Chevrolet Suburban
The Suburban is on this list as one of the most enduring SUVs we know because it is a large SUV built for heavy-duty use. That means it’s equipped to display exceptional strength and durability, which should explain its body-on-frame build and Chevrolet’s decision to bless it with potent V8 engines.
That’s where the Suburban gets its impressive 8,300lb towing capacity, 1,759lb hauling strength, and 383 lb-ft of torque for plowing through challenging roads.
The Suburban owner can increase its chances in the fight with nature by equipping it with the Z71 off-road package with features like skid plates, off-road tires, and enhanced suspension. Don’t stop wondering why the U.S. Special Forces love the Suburban.
Toyota Sequoia
The Sequoia rides on the Tundra pickup truck’s platform. Here’s why nothing more needs saying about the Sequoia’s toughness.
In October 2012, the Tundra made history when it towed the 300,000lb Endeavor space shuttle, with a custom-built dolly, twelve miles across the Manchester Boulevard Bridge to its new home at the California Science Center — all without a special equipment package. It was just a stock 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4X4 — all by its lonesome self.
It used Toyota’s 381-hp 5.7-liter iFORCE V8. By comparison, the 2024 Sequoia, still riding on the Tundra’s foundation, benefits from a twin-turbocharged iFORCE MAX hybrid V6 producing 437-hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. This mill is actually optional for the Tundra but standard on the Sequoia.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Grand Cherokee combines luxury with the Jeep’s “Trail Rated” certification. It begs the question, what does it take to be Jeep-certified for tackling trails, water crossings, and steep inclines? According to Jeep, the Trail Rated badge is earned and not awarded or just slapped onto any automobile wearing the Jeep logo.
“Every Trail Rated 4×4,” Jeep says, “has succeeded against a series of grueling tests in five categories: Traction, Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation and Ground Clearance.” In other words, the Grand Cherokee proved its mettle through a battery of grueling tests in five key areas that determine the toughness (or weakness) of an SUV.
Land Rover Range Rover
Yes, it’s an SUV for rich people, and that’s why it’s built to serve the wild adventures of such people who live life unbounded. It has several confidence-boosting features like Hill Descent Control, All-Terrain Progress Control, and low-range gearing.
The Range Rover is built ready to take you through your wild fantasies as much as it draws glances and stares while waiting for you in your office’s parking area. Like the G-Class and Grand Cherokee, the Range Rover beautifully combines off-road prowess and luxury.
Its proprietary Terrain Response system is famous for automatically adjusting the SUV’s settings to handle mud, sand, snow, and rocky terrains. The rest of us focus on the cost of fixing the system when it fails, but the rich who buy Range Rovers aren’t as bothered.
Suzuki Jimny
Notice anything from the picture above? Yep, it’s small, but it is incredibly capable off-road. It’s such a shame that Suzuki was forced to turn tail from the US Market back in 2012. Otherwise, the popular Jimny would be waiting for us in U.S. dealerships today.
Besides the fact that a high-powered executive like former Toyota President Akio Toyoda owns and proudly showed off his Jimny at the “Morizo” garage in January, the Suzuki Jimny is renowned globally for its toughness and durability.
It benefits from three-link rigid axles with coil springs at the front and rear and a ladder frame chassis proven to withstand heavy off-road use. It also benefits from improved traction from Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro 4WD system.
GMC Yukon
The GMC Yukon is as large and durable as the Chevrolet Tahoe. It’s safe to say that what can’t kill the Tahoe can’t kill the Yukon. It rides on a body-on-frame platform like a large truck and uses a high-strength steel frame designed to absorb and distribute energy in the event of — God forbid — a collision.
A tough SUV needs a tough suspension, and the Yukon turns to Magnetic Ride Control and Air Ride Adaptive Suspension systems, although the entry model uses a coil-over-shock up front and a multi-link rear suspension. For propulsion power, the Yukon turns to a range of robust V8s and a turbo-diesel straight-six engine, paired with a 2-speed transfer case for low-range gearing and an advanced 4WD system.
Dodge Durango
The Durango’s reputation for impressive towing capacity is well known. The 2024 model boasts a class-leading 8,700lbs of towing capacity (when properly equipped with a towing package) and around 1,440lbs of payload capacity. In Dodge’s own words, the Durango is a powerful full-size SUV with “impressive strength and capability for towing and hauling.”
“Strength” is a welcome icing on the cake for a voluminous, performance-oriented full-sizer like the Durango. That performance is mostly thanks to its powerful mills, including the trusty 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, torquey 5.7-liter HEMI V8, and the SRTs’ high-performance 6.4-liter HEMI V8. There’s also the SRT Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 built to withstand high-stress conditions.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
No matter how strong the wind of change, the FJ Cruiser, discontinued stateside since the 2014 model year, can’t be blown very far. It’s no wonder news of its return keeps buzzing through rumor mills not long after its total withdrawal from the global market in 2018. The FJ behaved as tough as it looked. Within its ‘business-minded’ design are subtle hints of a willingness and readiness for play.
All the ingredients were there: a body-on-frame construction, short overhangs, robust bumpers w/ skid plates, off-road-focused suspension system (independent double-wishbone suspension with a stabilizer bar up front and 4-link rear suspension with a lateral rod and coil springs), robust 4WD system, and many more. Some might regard what Toyota unveiled in 2021 as the FJ’s future EV model as a dilution.
Isuzu Trooper
The Isuzu Trooper, especially the older models, earned a widespread reputation for toughness. It boasted what was at the time an innovative shift-on-the-fly 4WD system, a limited-slip differential, and a Grade Logic Control System for steep inclines. If there was a list of cars that can keep going forever, the Trooper should make the list.
It will be a trooper until you get tired of its service. It stood tall with its upright, boxy design with large windows that gave passengers a generous view of their surroundings. You could choose a short- or long-wheelbase version to meet your transportation needs.
You could even choose a 7-seat configuration (in some markets), manual, or automatic shifters. More than the model’s dwindling popularity, the blossoming marriage with America’s General Motors is the primary reason the Trooper bowed out for the Axiom to come in.
Toyota RAV4 Adventure/TRD Off-Road
If you are surprised to see the RAV4 on this list of SUVs with grit, you either overlook or don’t really know the RAV4. There’s a reason this relatively small SUV is more popular than the Ford Explorer and Expedition in developing countries with ‘developing’ roads.
The regular RAV4 may pass as a mild-mannered transporter for the wife, but you shouldn’t place the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims on the same level.
For example, the TRD Off-Road trim benefits from TRD-tuned coil springs and twin-tube shock absorbers, engineered to handle the stresses of challenging surfaces by providing better wheel articulation and shock absorption.
The Adventure and TRD are also built readier for harsh treatments with increased ground clearance. They come with roof rails, water-resistant seating, Toyota’s Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD, Multi-Terrain Select (Mud, Sand, Rock, Dirt, and Snow), protective bumpers (and fender flares), skid plates, all-terrain tires, and all-weather floor mats.
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe is another small SUV we can easily overlook or pass off as a regular city commuter. That may be the case, but Santa Fe is well-known beyond America for its reliability and long-lasting quality.
Ten to fifteen-year-old Santa Fe models with hundreds of thousands of miles on the odometer are still valuable used cars in some markets due to their long-term reliability.
While Hyundai does not market them as off-road SUVs, they possess an inherent longevity that helps make them a popular midsize SUV. Its HTRAC AWD system is worth noting in this context. The system distributes power between the front and rear wheels based on driving conditions.
