In general, most SUVs can go off-road, at least to a certain degree. For serious off-road performance, sport utility vehicles with four-wheel drive and specifically engineered off-road tyres can tackle pretty much any terrain. However, if you are only planning on hitting the odd dirt track once in a while, you’ll probably manage in a crossover SUV with all-wheel drive and all-terrain or maybe even on-road tyres.
For more background on the difference between four-wheel and all-wheel drive, read this explainer.
Next, make sure you know the conditions well and have the right tyres before you choose the road less traveled...
What does an off-road tyre look like?
You can get away with a certain amount of off-road driving with on-road tyres, even if your vehicle only has two-wheel drive, as long as the surface is as close to that of a paved road as possible. For example, a well-compacted dirt track to your weekend mountain hut, the gravel lane that leads to a remote campsite and a forest path to the start of a hike through a national park are all fair game. However, you need to be certain that the condition of the track is good for several reasons:
For anything beyond the bare minimum of off-road driving, even if it’s only on unsurfaced roads, all-wheel drive and all-terrain tyres designed for on/off-road use are the best choice.
If you are planning on really going where no roads can find you, only a four-wheel drive with specific engineered off-road tyres like multi-terrain, all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres will do. Whether you are rock-crawling, dune-bashing, plowing through mud or deep snow, you need a heavy-duty vehicle that is built for the task. Here’s how to choose the right tyres for your vehicle with the help of the Continental tyre finder.
Know what to do when you go off-road
Do not:
Do: