How to Choose the Jeep® Brand 4x4 Vehicle That's Right For You

Se muestra un Jeep_® Wrangler con capó de aluminio. El capó real puede variar.

How to Choose the Jeep® Brand 4x4 Vehicle That’s Right for You
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A handy guide to finding a 4x4 vehicle that matches your needs and lifestyle.
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When most people think of 4x4 and off-road vehicles, they imagine climbing a sheer rock wall-and hey, we would be lying if we said the Jeep® Brand wasn't all about doing stuff like that! But 4x4 vehicles can be a helpful addition to anyone's lifestyle, from the mountains to the prairies (we don't recommend the oceans white with foam-you'll sink).
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If you hear the call of a 4x4 vehicle, don’t resist it just because you’re not an intrepid mountaineer—but you may want to do a little research on which 4x4 SUV or truck fits your lifestyle the best.
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What Will You Need a 4x4 Vehicle For?
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The first question to ask yourself is, what will I actually use my 4x4 vehicle for? A few lifestyle scenarios include.
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Off-Roading

This is what the Jeep_® Brand lives for. Off-road vehicles like 4x4s have the strength, handling and traction needed to take your vehicle into unpaved terrain.

Family Trips

Whether they’re cross-country drives or just day trips to the beach or ski lodge, family trips can benefit from the capability of 4x4 driving.

Hands-On Utility

Hauling equipment and materials takes serious power and a strong suspension—and 4x4 vehicles are known for both.

Urban Commuting

For the most part, 4x4 vehicles offer excellent speed and incredible handling—perfect for the tight turns and fast stops of driving in the city.

Enhanced Safety

No matter what you're using it for, feeling like you and your family are safe in your vehicle is important. Driving a Jeep® Brand 4x4 vehicle offers the confidence of knowing you're surrounded by design and tech features that were made for the toughest adventures.

Your Vehicle’s Powertrain and Performance Specs
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What's under your hood determines where you're safe to travel. Keep the following in mind when picking a 4x4 vehicle.
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Gas or Electric

Both gas engines and electric powertrains provide excellent capability. Review the benefits of each, including your electric options-Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV).

Caballos de fuerza

How much engine power does your vehicle offer you? Some terrains benefit from extra horsepower, while others don't need that much speed.

Torque

While horsepower requirements vary by terrain, torque is always important for off-roading. Definitely ask about a vehicle's torque if you're thinking of taking it on adventurous drives.

Transmission (Transmisión)

Depending on whether you’re high range gearing on mostly flat roads or low range gearing over rocks and obstacles, knowing what your vehicle’s transmission offers you is essential.

Off-Roading Performance Features

While not entirely necessary, off-roading features like the differential locks and solid axles found on select Jeep® Brand vehicles can definitely benefit your performance on tough terrain.Learn more about the standard and available off-roading features that give our vehicles their legendary Jeep® Brand capability.

Daily Driving Habits
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Forget big trips or long hauls-what about the day-to-day? Consider the following driving habits when checking out 4x4 vehicles.
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What's your family situation? Will this vehicle be for just you? You and a partner? You, a partner, a mess of kids and two golden retrievers? Your family situation will undoubtedly dictate where you take your off-roading vehicle and what it’s used for, so definitely consider cargo space, seating and interior design when choosing a 4x4 vehicle (you may not want to splurge on leather seats if you know someone’s going to leave glitter and ice cream on them).
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What’s the climate like? Do you live in a beach community where you might have to drive on sand? In the mountains where there’s snow more than a couple months a year? In these situations, it might be smart to look for a ride with specialized drive modes like the Auto, Snow, Sand and Sport modes on the Selec-Terrain^® Traction Management System found in Jeep_® Brand 4x4 vehicles.
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How’s your average incline? Are your days filled with long, flat highways or steep hills? If it’s the latter, a 4x4 SUV with our Hill Descent Control feature like the Jeep® Compass might be best.
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Does it get really wild? The Jeep_® Brand has nothing but love and respect for people who want to live off the grid! If your daily drives include unpaved roads or rock crawling, you’ll want off-roading vehicles with excellent ground clearance and all-terrain tires like the Jeep® Wrangler o Jeep Gladiator.
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Other 4x4 Driving Factors to Consider
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It's not all about terrain! Check out some of the other things you might want to think about when choosing a 4x4 vehicle.
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Safety and security – Some 4x4 vehicles are built with different safety and security features because of what they’re used for. Por ejemplo, el Jeep® Gladiator has a frame built for off-roading, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee has tons of safety tech features, making it arguably the best 4x4 option for families.
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Luxury – Not a word most people normally associate with 4x4 driving, right? But if you’re going long distances or just prefer the finer things, having lush materials and high-tech comfort features in your vehicle might be crucial.
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AWD vs 4x4: What’s The Difference?
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The phrase "4x4" might make you think it's the same as All-Wheel Drive-you've got four wheels, they're all in use, so it's all the wheels, right? Not quite. Let's break it down.
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AWD

All-Wheel Drive stays active the entire time you drive and transfers power to all four wheels for optimized traction, especially on slippery roads or loose terrain like sand or gravel.

4x4 Driving

4x4 Drive-sometimes called 'Four-Wheel Drive' or '4WD'-requires manual engagement, meaning the driver has to 'turn it on.' It's preferable for rugged off-roading and driving over especially difficult terrain.

Matching Your Lifestyle With Your 4x4 Vehicle
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How you live determines how you drive—and that will determine the kind of Jeep_® Brand 4x4 vehicle you need! Let’s match you with the machine of your dreams.
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Fun Families and Leisure Seekers
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Traveling with a few little ones, maybe a furry friend? You probably want spacious seating options, safety and security features, reliable 4x4 speed and easy-to-use technology.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep® Grand Cherokee - Our best 4x4s for families, with room and amenities for the whole family. Available in 2-row and 3-row models.
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Jeep® Grand Wagoneer 2026 – Premium SUV comfort and style alongside a Best-in-Class Available Maximum Towing Capacity.
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All-New 2026 Jeep® Cherokee – Our iconic SUV returns as a Turbo Hybrid offering incredible driving range and efficiency.
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Jeep_® Recon preproduction model shown Actual production vehicle and features may vary.
Adventurous Off-Roaders
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Traction, articulation, maneuverability, locking differentials, water fording capabilities and ground clearance are the tools of the trade for serious off-road drivers.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep® Wrangler – The iconic 4x4 SUV, with a Trail Rated® badge earned through a series of grueling off-road tests.
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Jeep® Gladiator – A pickup truck engineered for utility, durability, and off-road capability that comes standard as either Trail Rated® or Desert Rated.
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2026 Jeep_® Recon – The only fully-electric utility vehicle designed with removable doors and the only fully-electric vehicle to be Trail Rated^®.
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Jeep_® Wrangler and Gladiator shown with aluminum hood. El capó real puede variar.
Extreme Off-Roaders
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If you want to off-road with gusto, you’ll want tools like all-weather traction and enhanced tire size for inhospitable environments and incredibly challenging terrain.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon y Gladiator Rubicon – Jeep Brand Trail Rated® 4x4 vehicles with features that prioritize off-road capability.
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Weekend Warriors and Urban Day-Trippers
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If you live in the city or suburbs and can only get off road on the weekends, you're probably looking for a vehicle with fast response time, tight handling, quick stopping, easy parking, good eficiencia and on-road comfort.
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Vehículos:
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All-New 2026 Jeep® Cherokee – Practical capability and efficiency thanks to its innovative hybrid powertrain
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Jeep® Compass – Compact size, everyday efficiency.
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Utility and Towing
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For practical utility and towing capability, you want a vehicle with a great payload capacity, plenty of room for cargo and a considerable 4x4 towing capacity.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep_® Gladiator 2026 – A Jeep Brand 4x4 pickup truck boasts an available Maximum 4x4 Payload of 1,720 pounds and an Unsurpassed-in-Class gas towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.
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Pet Owners
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Doggos and kitties go well with a comfy interior and decent cargo space, but few frills (and interior materials that can withstand some fur and slobber).
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Vehículos:
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Jeep® Compass – Compact and efficient but still sporting enough 4x4 capability to take you way beyond the dog run.
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Se muestra un Jeep_® Wrangler con capó de aluminio. El capó real puede variar.
Beach Bums and Surfers
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For fun in the sun and surf, you’ll want wheels and traction that’ll handle well on sand along with plenty of cargo room for surfboards, beach umbrellas and more.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep® Wrangler Sahara – A 4x4 icon with the available features needed to drive confidently on sand including the Command-Trac 4x4 system.
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Jeep® Gladiator Mojave – The only Jeep Brand vehicle to bear the Desert Rated® badge.
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Jeep_® Recon preproduction model shown. El vehículo de producción y las características reales pueden variar.
Skiers, Snowboarders and Cold-Weather Diehards
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Ready to hit the slopes the minute there's an inch of powder? Let's make sure you're toasty and capable as you go.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep_® Recon - Features our Selec-Terrain^® Traction Management system with a traction-focusing Snow Mode made specifically for cold-weather capability.
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Jeep® Gladiator - Legendary Jeep Brand capability, cold-weather features like heated front seats, and a pickup bed to hold your skis and Christmas trees.
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Overlanders and Self-Reliant Adventurers
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If you’re living, traveling and camping out of your vehicle, you’ll need off-road capability mixed with plenty of room for supplies and gear.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep_® Wrangler – The incredible capability of our off-road icon can get you to the most beautiful and unspoiled places to be down for the night.
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Jeep_® Gladiator – The 4x4 capability of a Jeep® Brand vehicle mixed with the utility and cargo space that comes with a pickup truck bed.
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Jeep_® Recon preproduction model shown Actual production vehicle and features may vary.
Upscale Adventurers and Comfort Seekers
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Lush interiors, cutting-edge tech, plenty of room for bags and a sense of premium style will bring beauty and luxury to your fashionable outings.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep® Grand Wagoneer – Big, capable and premium, with available 3-row L models for extra company.
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Jeep® Recon - You’ll be impressed by just how luxurious the interior of an all-electric adventure vehicle can be.
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Jeep® Brand Hardliners and Military Buffs
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You want a Jeep_® Brand vehicle that looks like it drove right out of WWII. We love it.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep_® Wrangler Willys ‘41 - The history-making Jeep Brand adventure vehicle in our soldierly '41 green body color. Cantidades limitadas disponibles.
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Jeep_® Gladiator Willys ‘41 - Our powerful pickup decked out in the iconic body color of our military legacy. Cantidades limitadas disponible.
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Jeep_® Recon preproduction model shown. El vehículo de producción y las características reales pueden variar.
Tech Trailblazers
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For early adopters who crave cutting-edge tech features throughout the vehicle—including under the hood.
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Vehículos:
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Jeep_® Cherokee 2026 - The beloved Jeep Brand SUV returns as a Turbo hybrid.
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Jeep_® Recon - The All-New, All-Electric Jeep Brand vehicle that merges innovative electrification with Jeep Brand capability.
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Ways to Customize Your 4x4 Experience
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Why stop at ‘incredibly capable’ when ‘cool as hell’ is waiting for you?
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Ediciones limitadas

Go big or go home. Jeep_® Brand limited editions add unique colors and fan-favorite features to the 4x4 capability of our lineup. Try them on, see how they fit. Jeep_® Wrangler shown with an aluminum hood. El capó real puede variar. Jeep_® Recon preproduction model shown. El vehículo de producción y las características reales pueden variar.

Wrangler Limited Editions Gladiator Limited Editions

4x4 Customization Kits and Jeep_® Brand Performance Parts from Mopar_®

From lift and leveling kits to custom headlamps and grille additions, Mopar_® Jeep_® Brand Performance Parts and 4x4 accessories you need. Browse the catalog and take your Jeep Brand 4x4 vehicle to the next level.

Shop Mopar® eStore

Which 4x4 Will You Choose?
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Whether you’re commuting through the city or off-roading in the mountains, a Jeep_® Brand 4x4 vehicle can make your driving experience all the more exciting and satisfying. Whether you go premium all-electric SUV or boxy all-terrain pickup truck, what matters is that you love to drive it. Take your pick—and enjoy!
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Choose Your Jeep_® Brand 4x4 Vehicle
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Which 4x4 vehicle is right for you? Peruse our options below and start the adventure!
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Jeep_® Wrangler

The 4x4 adventure vehicle you recognize on sight. Jeep_® Wrangler shown with an aluminum hood. El capó real puede variar.

Explore Wrangler

Jeep_® Gladiator

A powerful pickup truck loaded with Jeep_® Brand capability. Se muestra una Jeep_® Gladiator con capó de aluminio. El capó real puede variar.

Explore Gladiator

Jeep_® Recon

Experience capability and cutting-edge luxury in the all-new, all-electric Jeep_® Brand vehicle. Se muestra el modelo en preproducción. El vehículo de producción y las características reales pueden variar.

Explora Jeep_® Recon

El totalmente nuevo Jeep_® Cherokee 2026

The legendary SUV returns as a plugless Turbo Hybrid with up to 37 combined mpg.

Explore Cherokee

Jeep_® Grand Cherokee

Our acclaimed family SUV boasts 4x4 capability.

Explore Grand Cherokee

Jeep_® Compass

Big capability comes in a small package with our rugged compact.

Explore Compass

Jeep_® Grand Wagoneer

Large-form luxury that can still handle tough country.

Explora el Grand Wagoneer

Jeep_® Wagoneer S

Its sleek design and an all-electric powertrain look better kicking up mud.

Explorar el Wagoneer S

Found this article helpful?
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Share it online and help other drivers on their next 4x4 adventure!
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Related Topics
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Want to learn more? Check out some other articles from the Jeep_® Brand.
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How to Choose the Jeep® Brand 4x4 Vehicle That’s Right for You

What Will You Need a 4x4 Vehicle For?

Off-Roading

Family Trips

Hands-On Utility

Urban Commuting

Enhanced Safety

Your Vehicle’s Powertrain and Performance Specs

Gas or Electric

Caballos de fuerza

Torque

Transmission (Transmisión)

Off-Roading Performance Features

Daily Driving Habits

Other 4x4 Driving Factors to Consider

AWD vs 4x4: What’s The Difference?

AWD

4x4 Driving

Matching Your Lifestyle With Your 4x4 Vehicle

Fun Families and Leisure Seekers

Adventurous Off-Roaders

Extreme Off-Roaders

Weekend Warriors and Urban Day-Trippers

Utility and Towing

Pet Owners

Beach Bums and Surfers

Skiers, Snowboarders and Cold-Weather Diehards

Overlanders and Self-Reliant Adventurers

Upscale Adventurers and Comfort Seekers

Jeep® Brand Hardliners and Military Buffs

Tech Trailblazers

Ways to Customize Your 4x4 Experience

Ediciones limitadas

4x4 Customization Kits and Jeep® Brand Performance Parts from Mopar®

Which 4x4 Will You Choose?

Choose Your Jeep® Brand 4x4 Vehicle

Jeep® Wrangler

Jeep® Gladiator

Jeep® Recon

El totalmente nuevo Jeep® Cherokee 2026

Jeep® Grand Cherokee

Jeep® Compass

Jeep® Grand Wagoneer

Jeep® Wagoneer S

Found this article helpful?

Related Topics

A Beginner’s Guide to Off-Roading Terms and Techniques

Getting to Know Your Jeep® Brand Off-Road Vehicle