Five of the best cars to go the extra mile

AFORD Fiesta is perfect for bustling city traffic, while a BMW 5 Series is ideal for motorway mile-munching. But whack either of them into a challenging situation and they soon become unstuck – they simply aren’t rugged enough.

These cars are, though. We’ve rounded up five of the most hard-wearing and brawny motors you can buy today, ideal for surviving a nuclear war – or at least a muddy car-boot sale.

JEEP WRANGLER

The latest Jeep Wrangler is set to come to the UK after debuting in America. It’s more refined, luxurious and car-like than ever, but still retains the DNA of the original Willys Jeep, one of the most iconic off-roaders of all time. Solid axles ensure simplicity, and this enables Wranglers to be modified for just about any purpose. Whether you want to traverse sand dunes, go mud-plugging in a deep forest, or simply park on the kerb without scraping your alloys, the Wrangler is about as tough as they come.

ISUZU D-MAX AT35 ARCTIC TRUCKS

Isuzu’s D-Max pickup is already a pretty rugged vehicle, with a beefy diesel engine and four-wheel drive. The specialists at Arctic Trucks, however, have turned it into something rather spectacular. With enormous tyres and widened arches, the car’s stance is far more purposeful, and custom Fox suspension offers it enough travel to deal with terrain that would trouble a mountain goat.

MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS

Originally known as the G-Wagen, this military-spec beast has morphed into the ideal transport for those who want to be seen. With glitzy chrome atop the blocky body, and the option of insane AMG-tuned engines, it’s often seen in London’s most glamorous districts. It’s one of the most serious off-roaders you can buy today,

The Jeep Wrangler, above, and Toyota Land Cruiser, below left, are both robust enough to take on all terrains

thanks to a super-sophisticated 4WD system, plus three locking differentials.

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER

The Land Cruiser is a true legend – it’s the vehicle that pushed Land Rover out of Australia, and showed the world that not only could the Japanese build off-roaders, they could build off-roaders that never broke down. Although the Land Cruiser isn’t as luxurious as a Range Rover, treat it properly and it’ll probably outlast you. There’s no compromise to be made off-road either.

SUBARU FORESTER

Subaru has a reputation for producing reliable, rugged cars, and the Forester is no exception. Subaru owners tend to keep their cars for longer than any other – because they can’t bear to part with them. The symmetrical all-wheel-drive system is legendary for its simplicity and reliability, while boxer engines lower the centre of gravity and make for a reassuring drive.