Here are seven cheap 4x4s from £650 to £4,495 you can buy right now

Oh come on, where else were we going to start? While the first generation Fiat Panda 4x4 is the most sought after and increasingly rare, the second gens are still plenty desirable and significantly cheaper too. This 2007 example we found supposedly ‘needs nothing doing’, and with its chunkier tyres, raised ride height and protective side cladding will see you through the worst Storm Goretti can throw at it. Yours for £2,695.

Fact: in nearly six years of working for TG, the Suzuki Jimny is the only car that has elicited a wave for your correspondent. And they were driving a Ford Focus. But then, it’s no secret the Jimny has got a hugely loyal following – buy one of these (look, this £2.5k third gen example even gets a snorkel!) and you’ll have no problem making friends.

TG’s Greg Potts gave a staunch case for the ‘absolutely brilliant’ Mk1 Toyota RAV4 recently, and given their age they’re now becoming rare beasts indeed. This fine example has a £2,799 asking price, is described as being in ‘excellent condition’, has done a low 85k miles since new and has an MOT until November 2026. At which time you can park your pride and joy in the garage and start getting this ready for use next winter…

Great name aside, Skoda’s first ever SUV was a genuinely capable 4x4 when it arrived to take on the Nissan Qashqai back in 2004. The onslaught of pretentious SUVs that have followed since have made us even firmer fans – if you’re after a car that’ll get you anywhere with minimal fuss look no further. Look, this one slips in under £5k and has even been photographed in the snow!

Mind you, if it’s unpretentious you’re after, they don’t come much more honest than the Dacia Duster. The first generation arrived on our shores back in 2012 with a scarcely believable asking price of £8,995, and today four-wheel drive diesel versions can be picked up for a little over two grand – check this £2,295 bargain out if you don’t believe us. Sure, it won’t win anyone over with its looks, but you’ll be laughing when the going gets sketchy.

It’d be remiss of us not to include a Land Rover of some kind in this list – we’ve gone for the 2006-2015 Freelander 2 because of their availability and the fact you likely won’t have any issue selling it on when you’re done with it. Its off-road abilities speak for itself – this two-owner TD4 needs a little TLC but it’ll set you back just six hundred and fifty quid. Crazy value.

Hang on a minute though, why bother with an SUV when you could get yourself an estate? They’re better looking, offer more driver appeal, are just as spacious, and in the case of the V70 Cross Country, just as capable in the rough stuff thanks to all-wheel drive too. Check out this extremely rare Ocean Race example, released in 2002 to mark the carmaker’s new sponsorship, which’ll set you back just over £3k. Quick, snap it up before we do…