5 mud-pluggers we’d love to put in our garage

They don’t have polished road manners compared to their crossover counterparts, but these lovable 4x4s always get the job done when the trail gets tricky. Find out which 5 mud-pluggers we’ve fallen for, below.

From compact crossovers to sports activity vehicles, rugged-looking cars are all the rage these days. However, not all off-roaders are created equal. With their full-time four-wheel drive systems, acres of ground clearance, and low-range gearboxes, these authentic 4x4s won’t leave you stuck in the mud — or snow, sand, shale… you get the picture. 

So buckle up and get ready for a bumpy ride, because these five hardy motors don’t know the meaning of “road impassable”. But which is our favourite, and why?

5. Mercedes G-Wagen

Famed for its popularity with rappers and former Californian governors, it’s easy to forget that the Galänderwagen is, and always has been, eminently capable off-road.  

And so it should be. Originally designed for the German military, the G-Wagen’s anachronistic ladder chassis and slab-sided styling highlight its no-nonsense intentions. But it’s not a total dinosaur: whether you get the new, all-electric G 580, or one of the ICE-powered equivalents, the G is bristling with tech to make mud-plugging surprisingly effortless. 

Hydraulic roll stabilisation, adaptive adjustable damping, a nine-speed automatic gearbox, three differential locks — the modern G-Wagen has them all. However, while fording ravines and traversing slopes might be child’s play for this Merc, scraping together the £136,000 asking price could prove a little trickier.

4. Ford Bronco Raptor

What a beast, right? This brawny brute is what happens when you take Ford’s retro-themed — and American market-exclusive — Bronco, and hand it to the Raptor division for further “revisions”. 

The end result is a pseudo-Baja truck with Fox shocks, 33 cm of ground clearance, high-traction BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A KO2 tyres, detachable anti-roll bars and, of course, a 412-bhp twin-turbo V6 engine.

Given the standard Bronco is no slouch in the mud-plugging department, you can only imagine how the Raptor version performs. As far as we can tell, there are only two obvious drawbacks to the outlandish pony-inspired 4x4. One: it’s got an insatiable thirst for super unleaded — around 12 mpg is a realistic average. And, two: you can’t actually buy one in the UK. What is it they say about forbidden fruit? 

3. GMC Hummer EV

And from one big, brash American mud-plugger to another. But hold up, there’s more to this Hummer than meets the eye. As you might’ve guessed by the name, GMC’s Humvee-derived off-road legend has gone all-electric. 

That’s certainly a phase shift for a car which once was famed for hosting one of the industry’s most gas-guzzling V8 powerplants. The antithesis of what all EVs stand for, if you will. Nevertheless, the benefits are tangible. Power, for one, is in a different world to before; 819 bhp means 0-60 mph in a ballistic 3.5 seconds.

But such performance would be pointless if the EV version couldn’t hack it in the canyons like Hummer’s of old. Incredibly though, the electric model is even more capable than before. Highlights include a crab-walk function which allows the rear wheels to mimic the angle of the fronts, torque vectoring courtesy of a tri-motor layout, and four-corner adaptive air suspension.  

If, like us, that sounds like a dream come true, you can even import one to the UK in right-hand drive. Just don’t be surprised when that sprawling footprint takes up two parking bays at your local ASDA.

2. Land Rover Defender OCTA

To many, when it comes to off-roading, only a Landie will do. And few come more capable than the indomitable Defender OCTA.

According to Land Rover this top-spec special is the ultimate expression of what a Defender can be. Having seen the spec sheet, we’re inclined to agree. To start, a 626-bhp V8 (the most powerful to ever feature in a Defender) provides enough grunt to drag this 2.5-tonne bus up inclines that would make even an Icelandic Formula buggy wince. 

Then, ensuring all the firepower is put to good use, 6D dynamic suspension offers extreme wheel articulation to keep the Goodyear all-terrain tyres in contact with the dirt at all times. There’s even a 28 mm bump in ride height — translating to a best-ever wading depth of 1 m.

And, while it’s no Caterham, Land Rover’s on-road enhancements mean the OCTA even holds its own when pushed hard on tarmac. Where do we sign up?

1. Suzuki Jimny

That’s right, Suzuki’s plucky Jimny is our number one mud-plugging pick. It’s not big, powerful, or particularly well equipped, but the Jimny excels where it really matters: off-road.

Unlike our other contenders, this Tonka-toy-style 4x4 proves you don’t need to burn gallons of fuel a minute (or spend six figures at the dealership), to get in touch with nature.

It’s only got 100 bhp, and that’s all it needs to embarrass much more expensive SUVs in grueling conditions. Tipping the scales at just 1090 kg, the Jimny simply skips along rutted tracks and through deep bogs with no need to deploy full power. 

And, despite not featuring many of the high-end systems seen on the Defender OCTA and Hummer EV, it gets the basics just right. There’s a low-range gearbox, differential locks, short overhangs, and superb ground clearance — everything you need to have fun on treacherous terrain.

Our only wish? That Suzuki still sold it in the UK. 

Hero image credit: Mercedes