“Soft-roader” gets thrown out as a pejorative term by off-road enthusiasts to mock modern crossovers that never venture off-pavement. We won’t get into the many reasons why car-like SUVs are so popular, but I want to shed some light on the more adventurous “soft-roaders” on the market.
These SUVs have no delusions about being hardcore off-roaders, like the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco. Instead, they offer rugged styling and maybe a few mechanical perks that make them more suitable for driving to a campsite.
Here are 10 practical and reasonably affordable “soft-roaders” that are actually pretty cool.
1. Chevrolet Trailblazer Activ
“Activ” is a moniker that first appeared as an option on the 2017 Chevy Spark. It lives on today on small Chevy SUVs like the Trailblazer. The 2024 Trailblazer gets a midcycle refresh with updated styling, including the adventurous-looking Activ trim. It has a functional skid plate and claims of an off-road suspension, but this is likely more suited to snowy roads than rock climbing. See Chevrolet Trailblazer models for sale
2. Ford Maverick Tremor
The new Ford Maverick Tremor is the entry-level off-road pickup in the Ford lineup. Yes, it has little in common with a Ford F-150 Raptor, but it’s a neat little truck at an affordable price point. A one-inch lift, steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, all-wheel drive (AWD) with a rear-drive locking differential, and a rugged appearance package make this an appealing truck for occasional off-roading and daily commuting. See Ford Maverick models for sale
3. GMC Terrain AT4
The GMC Terrain is the mechanical cousin of the more popular Chevy Equinox. In its current generation, the Terrain is the better-looking of the two, especially in the AT4 guise. AT4 is like the Denali sub-brand in the GMC family but emphasizes off-road capability (and aesthetics) rather than luxury. In the case of the Terrain AT4, this entails an appearance package with a dark chrome grille, an off-road drive mode, a steel front skid plate, and “Sport Terrain” tires. Pretty cool compared to the more mainstream Equinox. See GMC Terrain models for sale
4. Honda Passport TrailSport
The TrailSport family is Honda dipping its toes into factory off-roaders. The Passport TrailSport is not exactly a shot at the Toyota 4Runner, but it adds some rougher personality to this practical midsize SUV. It has standard AWD, but it’s no different than the AWD system across the Passport model range. You also get an appearance package inside and out, roof rails, and what Honda calls “Rugged-Style” tires. See Honda Passport models for sale
5. Hyundai Palisade XRT
The Hyundai Palisade XRT is for the outdoorsy dad who might not have the budget for something like a Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro or a Chevy Tahoe Z71. Dad wants a 3-row SUV but still wants to save for the kids’ college, so the more affordable Palisade XRT is a sensible choice. The off-roady appearance package looks good on the handsome Palisade, the black wheels look cool, and the roof rack is a nice, practical touch. See Hyundai Palisade models for sale
6. Jeep Renegade
The Jeep Renegade has had few significant changes since the 2015 model year. It looked like a Lego car when it first came out, but its quirky design is aging well. It is little more than a Jeep-ified Fiat SUV, but the Renegade is perfect for drivers who want the look of a Jeep and will never go off-road. If you do want off-road chops, the Renegade Trailhawk is up for anything. See Jeep Renegade models for sale
7. Kia Sportage X-Line
The new Kia Sportage X-Pro is a pretty serious off-roader. If you like the look of the X-Pro, but don’t like the price tag, then the X-Line is the SUV for you. With a discount of about $4,000 compared to the X-Pro, the X-Line comes with a similar appearance package but without the off-road goodies like all-terrain tires or Multi-Terrain drive modes. Most importantly, you still get standard AWD with a center-locking differential. See Kia Sportage models for sale
8. Mazda CX-50
The Mazda CX-50 treks into Subaru country as a squat SUV with standard AWD and beefy wheel arches with plastic cladding. It has a ton of accessories available, so you can customize it for different activities or add to its toughened aesthetic. Examples include a rooftop tent, a roof basket, a Thule hitch cargo box, and side rocker garnishes. However you customize it, the CX-50 is a well-rounded compact SUV with an adventurous personality. See Mazda CX-50 models for sale
9. Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek
Many off-road enthusiasts bemoan what the Nissan Pathfinder has become, but it makes sense as a product. It’s not the truck-based beast it used to be, but the Pathfinder is a solid midsize 3-row SUV. It gets a little wilder in the Rock Creek trim. Its appearance package includes three prominent nostrils in its upper grille as a nod to the first two generations of the Pathfinder, plus 18-inch beadlock-style wheels with all-terrain tires and a tubular roof rack. See Nissan Pathfinder models for sale
10. Toyota RAV4 Adventure
The humble Toyota RAV4 has a surprising number of off-road-oriented trims. The most affordable is the Adventure trim, which has been around since 2017. It uses the same Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system as the Limited trim, but the Adventure model has more aesthetic ruggedness. It has an appearance package much like the one on the TRD Off-Road model, but it doesn’t have the TRD-tuned off-road suspension system or 18-inch TRD wheels with Falken all-terrain tires. See Toyota RAV4 models for sale
10 Cool Soft-Roaders
- Chevrolet Trailblazer Activ
- Ford Maverick Tremor
- GMC Terrain AT4
- Honda Passport Trailsport
- Hyundai Palisade XRT
- Jeep Renegade
- Kia Sportage X-Line
- Mazda CX-50
- Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek
- Toyota RAV4 Adventure
