Finding faults in modern cars becomes tougher with every passing auto show. And there’s nothing wrong with that — it means the manufacturers are doing their jobs and refining their products. Sports cars are no longer unreliable death traps, standard family sedans now match luxury cars from a decade ago, while modern luxury cars themselves have become more lavish than most high-rise apartments.
However, one thing that hasn’t evolved in the consumer’s favor is pricing. An incredibly capable, optioned-out Jeep could not too long ago be had for around or even under $20,000. Today, if you want a fully-loaded Jeep Rubicon, you can expect to shell out at least $40,000. Sure, the Jeep evolved into an incredible overland over the years, now sporting diff-locks, traction control and ride modes, but $40k is still $40k. If you’re looking for a truck that can handle itself off-road, isn’t a complete P.O.S and won’t break the bank, consider one of these dependable off-roaders to curb your lust for the new Jeep Wrangler.
1977 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40
1983 CJ7 Jeep Renegade
1994 Ford Bronco Eddie Bauer Edition
2001 Toyota Tacoma V6 4×4
1997 Land Rover Discovery
