What Suv recommendations (AWD, Off Road, "cool")

I am entertaining the idea of a mid sized suv, rough budget is 5k-10K:

1. Full time AWD capable (this can be with or without 4x4)- I want to be able to drive down the highway at highway speeds in the winter when there is snow and ice. I have a tundra that I daily it is 4x4, when it is snowy and icy on the highway I have to make a decision on to leave it in 2wd for the non snowy sections or put it in 4x4 for the snowy sections. I would rather have an full time AWD option for this type of driving.

2. Off Road abilities- Want to be able to do mild off-roading, extra off-road features a bonus.

3. Cool- I am looking for something different than normal for a fun second vehicle to my truck, bonus points for mod-abilty

Some initial thoughts

Land Rover Discovery and Discovery 2

Pros- Cool unique look, Full time AWD with High and Low, Certain years include the ablilty to lock the center diff in the transfer case. I think I would avoid years 2001-2003 as some sources say those are the years without the ability to lock the center diff from the factory, seems like they have pretty good aftermarket support

Cons- Reliabiltyx1000, also maybe potential leg room/seating complaints, I am 6'5" so I may need to test the seating position out to see how it fit.

Mitsubishi Montero 2nd gen years 1993-2000 (I think)

Pros- I like the look just a little less than the disco, but still a cool look. Selectable 2H,4H (functions as AWD), 4H with center diff lock, 4L with center diff lock, reliable, some models may come from the factory with a rear locker

Cons- Are these smaller than the disco?, maybe more rare to see for cheap close by.

Hummer H3

Still gathering some info on this one, but there seems to be an Adventure or offroad package that comes with 4:1 lowrange, and I think these transfer cases have a full time AWD option as well. I also think the offroad package includes factory rear lockers, and some years are factory front and rear lockers. From what I have found the easy way to ID the Adventure Offroad package is if it came with factory 285 tires.

Toyota Land Cruiser

Still trying to figure out the years and the transfer case options on these. These are probably the most reliable of the bunch and also the most expensive. Some years I like the looks and some I don't.

I am going to try to update this list as I continue to gather info, If you have any suggestions for AWD, offroad, and cool please post them up.  For this I am not looking for CRV/Element or subaru type options.

The 2nd Gen Monty is very capable on and off road and overall a good choice. The nice ones (you want the SR with the factory rear locker) in good shape are going to be near the upper part of your budget these days. They're plenty big inside (bigger than a 4Runner).

Sleeper pick: late 90s/early 2000s Montero Sport. also very capable everywhere (we wheel with two of them, and one does stage rally Sweep at high speeds), good power (esp. if you get the 3.5L one), and you can find really nice ones well inside your budget. They are somewhat smaller inside though (more like an older 4Runner), but they're definitely "mid-size"

This FB group has some nice Montys FS: https://www.facebook.com/groups/288521487116285/

A land cruiser in your budget is going to need work.

Any Disco is going to need (constant) work

No comment on the hummer, as I've never had the slightest interest in them so don't know anything about them.

In that price range you can probably also find a decent mid/late 2000s 4Runner (two body styles ago), which are great if not a bit small inside (like the Monty Sport). They have full-time 4WD/AWD if you get the V8 (V6 is part-time), and the 4.7L V8 in them is basically indestructible, but not very fuel-efficient. 

Or for that price you can get a really nice 1st Gen Montero (late 80s), which are giant boxes, great off-road, not seen often (you'll get mistaken for an old LR Defender), and have sufficient power for highway running. They ARE old-school and drive like an old-school truck, but lots of upgrades for them, you can find them in manual trans if you look hard, and the 3.0 V6 is pretty much bulletproof with basic maintenance. But may be hard to find a non-rusty one in the rust belt.

Of course almost all of these in your part of the country are rust-prone, so you'd want to buy one from someplace else (the south) and fully protect the frame from salt, etc. 

The only other option that I know of that hasn't been mentioned yet that has full time 4wd is the WJ Jeep Grand Cherokee with quadratrac(?).

Not particularly unique, but within budget.

Lexus GX470, On the 4 runner frame. Bulletproof Toyota V8, standard all wheel drive, with locking diffs and low range.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

Lexus GX470, On the 4 runner frame. Bulletproof Toyota V8, standard all wheel drive, with locking diffs and low range.

Two guys who wheel/camp with us have those, and they are quite capable offroad as well. 

That said, pretty sure they've always used the Land Cruiser Prado frame and running gear, not the 4Runner (though plenty of parts  cross-over)

Not from the best years of Jeep reliability but I like the looks of a slight lift on a Jeep Commander.

I very much liked my Gen3 Montero even with 200+k on it. Bigger inside that the other years but still very capable.  All the Montero recommendations are great. 

Isuzu Trooper too

Jeep XJ/ZJ/WJ with Selectrac gives you 2Hi, AWD, 4Hi, N, 4Lo

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

Thanks for all the good info. I will have to take a harder look at the montero sports.

Are those pretty similar to the full size montero mechanically?  
 

What kind of modifications do the ones you wheel with have? 

I also didn't know that the 4Runners came with AWD I'll have to add those to my list to keep an eye out for. I've always liked how those look. 
 

I know the Disco is a bad idea ha ha, I think I like the looks of the montero's enough to keep me away from the Land Rovers. 

In reply to Puddy46 :

I've read good things about the WJ, but the looks don't really do it for me. 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

Lexus GX470, On the 4 runner frame. Bulletproof Toyota V8, standard all wheel drive, with locking diffs and low range.

I really like that, did all of them come with locking diffs? 

Manual FJ Cruisers are AWD while automatic FJ Cruisers are 4wd. Not sure what the market looks like on them right now.

John Welsh said:

 

Isuzu Trooper too

I looked into Troopers when I got my Monty, and the part that stopped me was the surprising lack of both aftermarket and regular OEM-replacement parts, or at least it seemed so. Plus it's rare to find someone parting them out, since there just aren't many left. I was like 5 minutes from buying one when I bailed, and I'm pretty happy I did for those reasons. 

Meanwhile, the Monteros (aka Pajeros, Shoguns, Raiders, Gallopers) were sold all over the world for many years, so you can still buy OEM parts for the 80s trucks from Korea (Hyundai Galloper), the middle east, and literally any small town in south/central America (plus the US), and the engines were basically the same as a million Chrysler minivans in the 80s/90s. There are huge, active parts groups on social media, etc. I can get any part I need for my '89 pretty easily. 

Somebeach (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to irish44j (Forum Supporter) :

Thanks for all the good info. I will have to take a harder look at the montero sports.

Are those pretty similar to the full size montero mechanically?  
 

What kind of modifications do the ones you wheel with have? 

I also didn't know that the 4Runners came with AWD I'll have to add those to my list to keep an eye out for. I've always liked how those look. 
 

I know the Disco is a bad idea ha ha, I think I like the looks of the montero's enough to keep me away from the Land Rovers. 

There's some crossover, but the Monty Sport is based on the Triton Pickup, so different frame. Also they have a "real" street AWD setup (plus low-range) while the full-size Monty is more of a traditional truck-type 4wd. So actually probably more what you're looking for anyhow in the Sport. They share the same engines for the most part (6G72/6G74) so plenty of parts availability. 

The guy who leads most of our trips runs a Monty Sport. IIRC he has a lift, bigger tires, and I think remote reservoir shocks, a winch, and some other stuff - but nothing too crazy. It can handle any solid blue trail - but probably not enough clearance or lockers for the real hardcore stuff. His pretty much does whatever my Raider does, but he has a bit more clearance with larger tires. IDK, he probably has other stuff done but nothing too extreme.

Somebeach (Forum Supporter) said:

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

Lexus GX470, On the 4 runner frame. Bulletproof Toyota V8, standard all wheel drive, with locking diffs and low range.

I really like that, did all of them come with locking diffs? 

They all have a center locking diff

buzzboy said:

Jeep XJ/ZJ/WJ with Selectrac gives you 2Hi, AWD, 4Hi, N, 4Lo

WK with Quadra-trac II  have full time 4wd with high, low, N (for flat towing) and electronic locking differentials front and rear. 
 

In reply to buzzboy :

I didn't know they made manual fj cruisers. Interesting they made the manual and auto different in that way. 

The rare Kia Borrego? 
 

It might be a little large for your tastes, but how about a short Ford Expedition??  I have a 3rd gen (mines a 2011) and it's mind blowing how much truck you can get for well inside your budget.  If they are serviced you can easily see 300k trouble free miles and they are no less efficient than many of the smaller rigs listed above.  They have a capable awd/4wd system, can seat 7 people when you need to, and have mountains of creature comforts.

In reply to Somebeach (Forum Supporter) :

ExPo is the place to go for indepth knowledge on individual model capabilities.  Over there in the Mistu section you will find Mr Irish44j.  When I had the Gen3 Montero the site was the greatest single information resource.

https://forum.expeditionportal.com/#expedition-vehicles.12

R50 Pathfinder meets the criteria also.   Full time awd was only on the higher end models though (LE and up?).  I think all QX4 got it.

This thread is making me want a Mitsubishi for the first time in ages! I didn't know the 2000s Monty Sport was a thing!

I have been driving a 2002 4Runner that seems to fit the bill. You do have to click a button to engage 4wd (not sure what the difference is between that and full time AWD to be honest), but it served me well in a recent store storm. 

Point of contention: I have never driven an all wheel drive vehicle that felt comfortable at highway speeds on snow.  The bigger and heavier, the worse it is.  Front wheel drive is way more stable and secure.

That's just a compromise for the other benefits.  I love my AWD but I accept that it's nowhere near as good at speed as a light front driver.

Porsche Cayenne 

I loved my gen 2 montero, one time I found myself driving through the mountains of WV in a snow storm before the plows came out. Even though I hadn't replaced the nearly bald tires yet it handled a few inches of snow with no issues.

The gen 3 is also a good choice, both used to be available very cheap but values seem to have gone up a bit. Still cheaper than a Toyota.

John Welsh said:

In reply to Somebeach (Forum Supporter) :

ExPo is the place to go for indepth knowledge on individual model capabilities.  Over there in the Mistu section you will find Mr Irish44j.  When I had the Gen3 Montero the site was the greatest single information resource.

https://forum.expeditionportal.com/#expedition-vehicles.12

for some reason the ExPo forums are really, really, really slow for me. Like almost unusable - so I haven't been on there much this year. IDK what the problem is - all other forums work fine, just not ExPo. My main build(s) thread for the Raider and Sequoia (a clone of the one I have on here) are over on Overland Bound forum , which isn't as big but still has a strong community. It's less oriented toward the vehicle builds, and more toward "what to do with them" though. But some great rigs on that site as well, and the people there are definitely not mall-crawlers, they actually use them :)