- In this report
- Overview
- Ownership costs
- Best new vehicles under $25,000
- Highest scoring American vehicles
- Best & worst fuel economy
- Best city/highway mpg
- Best & worst acceleration
- Best & worst in safety performance
- Best for overall safety
- Highs & lows of testing
- Most overlooked cars
- Most fun to drive
- Best for comfort
- Best off-road
- Best & worst three-row vehicles
- 2009 Annual Auto Issue
This article was featured in the April 2009 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine.
- Featured Reports
- Top Picks 2009
- Who makes the best cars?
- Most reliable used cars
- Best & worst cars
- Best new car values
- New car preview
See All April Issue
Best off-road
Last reviewed: August 2009
Toyota FJ Cruiser
Our 327-acre Connecticut testing facility includes a rutted trail through the woods complete with boggy sections and half-buried logs. Because conditions on the trail are constantly changing, we use this off-road trail for informal testing only. But a lot can be learned on this trail about a vehicle's off-road traction and abilities. We also have a custom-designed rock hill for formal testing of four-wheel-drive vehicles equipped with low range or advertised as being off-road ready. The vehicles below are the best and worst performers in our off-road testing, listed by their ranking.
Best
- Toyota FJ Cruiser
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Hummer H2
- Land Rover LR3
- Toyota Tacoma TRD
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport
- Toyota Sequoia
- Hummer H3
- Nissan Frontier
Worst
- Ford Explorer
- Ford Explorer Sport Trac
- Jeep Patriot
- Chevrolet Trailblazer
- Nissan Armada
- Porsche Cayenne
- Dodge Dakota
- Nissan Pathfinder
- Dodge Dakota Explorer
- Jeep Liberty
Posted: February 2009 — Consumer Reports Magazine issue: April 2009
