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The thrill of exploring the distant reaches of our world is something I will never take for granted. When we are out on a trail, I can’t help but think about how 99% of the world never gets to see or experience the scenery we get to experience, just by having the capability of high clearance and 4×4.
4wd is an extremely useful tool even in easy terrain. We recently went through the Anza Borrego slot canyons and I wanted to see what the difference was in 2wd. The difference was night and day! Sure, it’s an easy mostly flat slot canyon, but when the path became sandy, our jeep struggled to push through. But I switched back to 4wd and the Jeep would effortlessly float through. So, I think based on my life experiences, that 4wd is absolutely essential when offroading.
I also had a mishap in college when I owned a 2wd Cherokee. I got it stuck in some mud, attempting to off road and had to get towed out. 4wd would have been a game changer in that situation.
So if you’re looking for a budget-friendly 4×4 rig, whether as a daily driver or a new project, I have compiled the 7 cheapest vehicles with 4×4 capability!
One thing to rememberis that buying a used rig is still cheaper than buying new from the manufacturer. When researching this article, I found good deals within 200 miles on Cars.com for older Jeeps.
Another thing to note, is that the 2 door Wrangler’s and Bronco’s are cheaper than the 4 door.
Lastly, on my things to note is that this is bare bones pricing with no added options. When you start adding on package options to these vehicles, the prices start to climb quickly!
Which rig took the crown of cheapest 4×4 for 2025? Here’s our chart!
A few insights into this list. The Ford Bronco is NOT on this list! Which is shocking. It came in in the low $40,000s. In the low to mid $40,000 range started to get into the lowest-priced full-sized pickups.
Also, the Chevy Colorado is the lowest-priced 4×4 with a full four-door extended cab.
Joel
Grew up in Southern California exploring the Ocotillo Wells and Anza Borrego deserts. Has owned several Jeeps and pickups over the years, as well as, several ATVs, ATCs, and dirt bikes. Has a passion to inspire readers to safe and responsible OHV recreation.
References
https://www.jeep.com/bmo.wrangler.html#/models/2025/wrangler
