Most 4x4s are big and heavy, with chunky looks and even chunkier running costs.
Four-wheel drive is relatively rare among small cars due to its added complexity and weight, but there are a few compact options that can tough it out off road.
Here are our favourite 4x4 cars. Many of them are available as great-value nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
Suzuki Jimny
The Suzuki Jimny is probably the definitive small 4x4 if you need serious off-road capability. It has a proper four-wheel-drive transfer case and far more ground clearance than most rivals, and will go much further off road as a result. Such is the Jimny's dedication to off-road driving that the on-road experience is a little compromised. Its suspension is bouncy and prices remain stubbornly high as there's basically no direct rivals that match the Jimny's rough-road talents.
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Dacia Duster Extreme
Dacia's back-to-basics ethos means it offers a lot of car for the money – that's especially true with the Duster. This is a relatively compact SUV that's still big enough for a family of four, and comes trimmed in rugged materials that should stand up to whatever your family can throw at it. Four-wheel drive comes as standard with the Duster's 130hp turbo petrol engine and, if you pick the car's Extreme trim, you'll get all the mod cons in the cabin, plus modular roof rails and a washable cabin if you're heading somewhere muddy.
See used Dacia Duster cars or read our Dacia Duster review
Volvo EX30 Cross Country
Most Volvo EX30 models are focused on efficiency, with a single motor powering just the rear axle. The Cross Country is a recent addition, however, which uses the powerful dual-motor four-wheel-drive car as a base and adds bigger wheels with optional all-terrain tyres. In addition, you get unique exterior styling and underbody skidplates to protect the car's battery. Speaking of which, a full charge nets you 265 miles of range with a 10-80% top up completed in as little as 26 minutes.
Check out used Volvo cars or read our Volvo EX30 review
Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque looks way too posh to be slumming it on a dirt track but, make no mistake, this is a car that's happy to get its tyres dirty. Even entry-level two-wheel-drive Evoques have the ground clearance to go further than most off-road, but add the company's legendary four-wheel-drive expertise to the mix and the car will handily outshine its direct rivals from Germany. All this ability doesn't come at the expense of the on-road experience either, with a well-judged suspension setup that feels perfectly at home on UK roads.
View used Range Rover Evoque cars or read our Range Rover Evoque review
Fiat Panda 4x4
Fiat's dinky Panda city car and tough off-roading might seem unlikely bedfellows but there's a lot of history behind this combo, with the first 4x4 Panda launching back in 1983. Four-wheel drive is still available in today's Panda, with the car using a straightforward viscous coupling to send drive to the rear wheels when the fronts start to slip. You'll notice the Panda's built to a price, with plenty of hard plastic surfaces and just the basics on the equipment list, but it has bags of charm and more cabin space than most cars this small.
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Subaru Crosstrek
Previously known as the XV, the Subaru Crosstrek continues the brand's tradition of offering its grippy symmetrical four-wheel-drive system in a family hatchback body. Of course, it still comes with all the typical off-road styling cues you'd expect with plastic body cladding and a raised ride height, but its clever e-Boxer self-charging hybrid engine means claimed fuel economy of nearly 40mpg despite permanently driving all four wheels. You also get luxuries like heated seats and an infotainment system as standard.
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Suzuki Ignis
The Jimny above is astonishingly good off road, but this comes at the expense of everyday usability. If you'd like a compact off-roader for light-duty driving, with a greater focus on on-road performance, try out the Suzuki Ignis. Like the Jimny, it only has a tiny footprint but makes the most of it, with a clever sliding rear bench seat that lets you trade boot capacity for rear-seat space. AllGrip four-wheel drive is optionally available, and the Ignis' light weight and tall ground clearance mean it'll go further off-road than you'd expect.
Shop used Suzuki cars or read our Suzuki Ignis review
Toyota Yaris Cross
Range-topping versions of the Toyota Yaris Cross come with four-wheel drive as an option. This adds an extra motor on the rear axle that can add a substantial extra slug of low-down torque to assist the standard self-charging-hybrid setup. The extra ability barely costs any efficiency either, with well over 50mpg still possible in mixed driving. Like most Toyotas, the Yaris Cross is easy and intuitive to use, with clearly marked controls and a fuss-free driving experience, plus the reassurance of the brand's service-activated 10-year warranty.
Browse used Toyota Yaris Cross cars or read our Toyota Yaris Cross review
Jeep Avenger 4xe
There's no denying the Avenger has all the rugged good looks of bigger Jeep models, but most versions are two-wheel drive for better fuel economy. Jeep's not forgotten its roots, however, with the 4xe mild hybrid getting a healthy dollop of electric assistance on both axles to drive the Avenger forward, even over slippery surfaces. The cabin's just about big enough for four adults and their luggage if they pack fairly light, and the onboard tech is more up-to-date than the retro-inspired looks suggest.
Check out used Jeep cars or read our Jeep Avenger review
Land Rover Discovery Sport
At nearly 4.6 metres long, we're slightly stretching the definition of 'small' for the Land Rover Discovery Sport. To be fair, it's much smaller than full-size Discovery and pricier Range Rover models, and manages to squeeze three rows of seats into its frame too. It's better left in five-seat mode anyway, with the second row slid back for more legroom and a big boot, saving the back row for short journeys. As befits the brand on the bonnet, the Discovery Sport has all the right hardware and off-road driving tech to make light work of rough trails.
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Find the right 4x4 for you
Browse hundreds of nearly new and used four-wheel-drive cars for sale at Motorpoint. Check out our picks for the best nearly new SUVs to see more tempting options.
