In Canada, plenty of drivers have very legitimate reasons for needing four-wheel drive. Many of us live in remote locations where it’s helpful for getting through tough winter conditions. Others are serious off-roaders who enjoy exploring Canada’s vast wilderness. And many of the 4x4 vehicles on the road today are work vehicles designed to get tradespeople to job sites.
What’s the difference between all-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD)? The two terms are often used interchangeably, but in general 4WD system are designed to tackle more extreme conditions. They include features like a transfer case and locking differentials to give drivers access to much more control in demanding situations. Deep snow, uneven surfaces, rock climbing, and water fording are all conditions best reserved for 4WD vehicles. Trucks and SUVs equipped with 4WD often come with plenty of ground clearance and underbody skid plates to make it easier and safer to clear obstacles. They do have downsides, though: they typically come with less nimble driving dynamics and significantly reduced fuel economy.
Among the list of brands that offer true 4WD systems, you’ll find General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac), Ford, Jeep, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Lexus. Other brands such as BMW, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, and Infiniti offer AWD but not 4WD. Be cautious: some brands will claim a vehicle has 4WD (or even use an AWD logo where the A looks an awful lot like a 4) to make their vehicles seem more capable than they are. Be sure you know how the AWD/4WD system works on the vehicle you’re buying before you make a purchase.
Below, you’ll find our rankings for the top 10 best SUVs with 4x4 available in Canada. We’ve included options to match the needs of a variety of households, from vehicle size to features and budgets.
Pricing includes the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) plus destination charges and dealer fees unless otherwise indicated. While they were current as of publication time, prices are subject to change.
The Best 4x4 SUVs to Buy in Canada
Ford Bronco Sport
Dubbed the ‘Baby Bronco’ by enthusiasts, the Ford Bronco Sport is a small SUV and sibling to the larger Bronco. It’s classed as a sub-compact SUV, and it’s one of the more family-oriented crossovers available with 4WD. Though it’s sold with a simpler feature list, all trim levels include standard 4x4 capability, and the top-of-the-line Badlands grade includes a twin-clutch rear-drive unit with a differential lock feature, a class-exclusive offering. For 2025, the Ford Bronco Sport gets a refresh that brings its styling closer to its Bronco big brother and adds a new Sasquatch package, among other enhancements. The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport has a starting price of $40,790 for the Big Bend trim. The base engine is a 1.5-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder engine making 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. A 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder is available on higher grades.
Ford Bronco Sport Overview
Jeep Wrangler
When one thinks of the ultimate 4x4 off-roader, the Jeep Wrangler is often the first vehicle that comes to mind. For 2025, three different 4WD configurations are offered to help Wrangler owners tailor their vehicles to their needs. The Command-Trac system can shift from two-wheel drive (2WD) to 4WD on the fly at speeds up to 72 km/h. Rock-Trac has electronic locking differentials and a two-speed transfer case with a 4:1 low-gear ratio. The Selec-Trac full-time system self-selects between 2WD and 4WD and is featured on the Rubicon 392. There are 11 Wrangler iterations to choose from, and pricing in Canada starts at $39,995 for the two-door 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport. If you’re looking for four doors, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4-door Sport is priced from $54,290 Canadian. And if on-road fuel efficiency is also a factor for you, consider the Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid (from $62,290). What you can no longer get is a diesel engine. Jeep discontinued this powertrain option for 2024, meaning you’ll need to choose between a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder and the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 on most models. Fortunately, you can still choose between a six-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Jeep Wrangler Overview
Ford Bronco
The revived Ford Bronco landed for the 2021 model year to rave reviews, and Bronco Everglades and Bronco Raptor models have since been released to up the off-road ante even further. Now, the Bronco receives a refresh for 2025 that delivers interior upgrades and makes the 12-inch infotainment screen standard, among other features. Two different 4x4 systems continue to be offered on the Bronco. The base system includes a two-speed electronic shift-on-the-fly transfer case. The optional system features a two-speed electromechanical transfer case with auto mode for switching between 2H and 4H without driver intervention. Two-axle electronic locking differentials are available as well as two-door and four-door layouts offered with attention-grabbing styling. Canadian pricing on the 2024 Ford Bronco started at $52,060 for the two-door Big Bend trim and $54,010 for the four-door. A base trim is expected to come with the revamped Bronco, so while 2025 pricing had not been announced as of this writing, we expect it will start slightly lower.
Ford Bronco Overview
Ford Explorer
The Blue Oval’s three-row SUV was last redesigned for the 2020 model year and incorporated numerous upgrades, including a switch to a 10-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel-drive architecture that makes it great for towing. It has a maximum towing capacity of 2,540 kg (5,600 lb) when properly equipped, including adding the optional 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine with up to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. In Canada, Ford’s four-wheel-drive system is standard on all models and integrates available hill descent control and seven-mode terrain management system for ease of use. A refresh has arrived for 2025 that makes a more user-friendly 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard along with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and plenty more technology features, including available BlueCruise hands-free driving technology for the first time. The 2025 Ford Explorer has a Canadian starting price of $52,830.
Ford Explorer Overview
Toyota 4Runner
The long-awaited redesign to the Toyota 4Runner finally arrives for the 2025 model year. It brings this rugged off-roader into the modern age with a pair of new powertrains. The base i-FORCE 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine generates 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, while the available i-FORCE MAX hybrid creates up to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy figures aren’t yet published for the new 4Runner as of this writing, but we expect they’ll be a significant improvement over previous models. And as a bonus, Toyota offers an eight-year, 160,000-kilometre warranty on hybrid components. The new Trailhunter trim is a factory-built overlander that includes equipment from ARB, Old Man Emu, and Rigid Industries. You can also roll in near-luxury in the all-new Platinum grade. The available 14-inch infotainment system uses Toyota’s latest operating system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies is standard on all models. Additional features such as blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are available. Canadian pricing for the 2025 Toyota 4Runner was not yet available at publication time.
Toyota 4Runner Overview
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee entered a new generation for 2022 that adds impressive style and capability to an already-popular midsize SUV. Three different 4WD systems are available: Quadra-Trac I, which is active full-time and operates at close to a 50-50 front-rear torque split; Quadra-Trac II, which includes a two-speed low transfer case and can transfer 100 percent of torque to the axle with the most traction; and Quadra-Drive II, with an electronic limited-slip differential and 2.72:1 low gear range. For 2025, the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Canadian prices start at $60,565. There’s also the three-row 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, which starts at $62,565, and the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid starting at $62,290.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overview
Land Rover Defender
Back in 2020, the return of the Land Rover Defender marked one of the most iconic new vehicle unveilings. Three basic configurations are available. There’s the Defender 90 two-door, the Defender 110 four-door, and the Defender 130 three-row large SUV version of the storied nameplate. The off-roading pride of Jaguar Land Rover has a reputation to uphold, and it does so with a two-speed transfer case and permanent all-wheel drive. Centre and rear slip limiting are configurable through the touchscreen infotainment system, and the available Terrain Response 2 system will recognize the driving surface and configure the vehicle to respond appropriately without driver input. In Canada, four accessory packs and 170 individual accessories are available for the two models. 2025 pricing has not yet been announced, but the 2024 Land Rover Defender 90 started in Canada at $77,500, the Defender 110 started from $79,100, and the Defender 130 started at $97,100. The Land Rover Defender OCTA joins the line-up for 2025 as an ultra-luxury contender with a beastly 626 hp V8 sourced from BMW and even more off-road upgrades. The 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA starts in Canada at $195,940.
Land Rover Defender Review
GMC Yukon
All three of the General Motors full-size SUVs with a third row—the GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Cadillac Escalade—underwent concurrent updates for the 2021 model year. These changes made significant upgrades available at varying price points such as updated safety features and an available adaptive air suspension for smoother road trips. Of the three, we think the Yukon offers the best complete package. It has an exclusive available Active Response 4WD system, which includes an automatic two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The latter manages torque from the left to right of the vehicle while locking to prevent wheel slip in off-road conditions when in 4WD LO mode. This feature is available for an extra charge on the AT4 grade, with an MSRP of $96,734, or the Denali, which starts at $107,001. (Note this is 2024 pricing; 2025 is bringing a refresh, and pricing is not available for it as of this writing.) For those who don’t need the upgraded 4WD system but do require more passenger and cargo space, consider the longer-wheelbase Chevy Suburban or GMC Yukon XL.
GMC Yukon Overview
Toyota Sequoia
The 2025 Toyota Sequoia is another large SUV worth considering. It was redesigned for the 2023 model year using the same platform and powertrain line-up as the latest Toyota Tundra pick-up. The part-time 4WD system is standard in Canada, as is Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid powertrain designed to improve fuel efficiency. The TRD Off-Road grade, which is the base model in Canada, adds a selectable locking rear differential and Toyota’s Multi-Terrain Select that helps control wheel spin in different environments for improved traction and versatility. For 2025, Canadian pricing on the Toyota Sequoia starts at $86,030. If you’re looking for a luxury vehicle with the same capability, consider the related Lexus LX 600, which starts at $125,335, or the new Lexus LX 700h hybrid, starting at $139,399.
Toyota Sequoia Overview
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
It’s far and away the most expensive vehicle on this list, but the functionality and status symbol quotient of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class luxury SUV can’t be denied. Its permanent four-wheel drive with three mechanical locking differentials and two-speed transfer case offer serious off-road capability. A single variant of the G-Class is available in Canada as of 2025: the entry-level G 550, which is priced from $189,000. (Note these prices do not include destination charges or dealer fees.)
Mercedes-Benz G-Class Overview
