9 4x4s We Want to See Back in Production

We're sure that you, like us, appreciate the incredible options manufacturers provide when shopping for a new vehicle. Sports cars are faster, and 4x4s are more capable than ever, but as enthusiasts, we still find ourselves daydreaming about what could be. Hagerty's media staff brainstormed for a bit to dream up some 4x4s that we'd like to see make a comeback, especially now that there's an off-road arms race going on with Ford, Chevy, GMC, Ram, Jeep, Nissan, and Toyota all offering off-roaders that can tackle high-speed deserts and technical trails. Our choices may not always make fiscal sense, and you might understand why we're writing about car companies and not running them after checking this list, but if these off-roaders did make it to production, it would make at least a few off-roaders happy.

Geo/Chevy Tracker

Chevrolet

I wanna see something like the Geo Tracker-low power, smaller than the current Trax, nothing fancy, but legitimate off-road capability. Bare bones for the base model, but maybe with multiple locking differentials and chunky tires for the performance packages. I'm thinking Suzuki Jimny, but even boxier, and with a Bowtie. The 1.2-liter, 137-hp turbo-three from the Trax would be perfect here with a six-speed.-Eric Weiner

Chevrolet has a lot of crossovers in its lineup, and the Trax is one of the most affordable on the market. The Tracker could be positioned as more of a lifestyle vehicle. There's already a Chevy Tracker available in Mexico and Central and South America, but it's front-wheel-drive and not at all aimed at off-road activities. This new Tracker would need a new platform but could also be offered in markets around the globe.

AMC Eagle SX/4

A print ad for the 1983 AMC Eagle SX/4, a sporty two-door liftback.Alden Jewell

Jacked-up safari coupes are all the rage these days, so why not bring back the original lifted coupe, the AMC Eagle SX/4?

Stellantis can take some length out of the new chassis under the Charger, give the Eagle its own-ideally hatchback-bodywork, and use the Hurricane straight-six to power all four wheels. I know AWD doesn't fully fit the 4×4 brief we have going, but these cars are too funky and cool to be forgotten. -Eddy Eckart

This one checks a lot of boxes. The Charger will already be available in two and four-door liftback variants, and an AMC-appropriate inline-six engine, so it's really not that far-fetched. Why let Subaru have all the fun in that space?

Mitsubishi Montero/Nissan Xterra

Brandan Gillogly

Mitsubishi and Nissan should collaborate to co-develop a body-on-frame SUV with real 4×4 capability and off-road potential. We could call the Mitsubishi version the Montero (no idea why I'd love to see one of those again…) and we could call the Nissan version the XTerra. Sure, it would mean downsizing the Monty from a three-row to a two-row vehicle, but they did make short-wheelbase versions of that thing for a bit.

Use the dead-simple 3.8-liter V-6 from the Frontier pickup, and pair it with a nine-speed automatic. Heck, you could grab most of the running gear from the Frontier, really.

I'd love to see Mitsubishi ascend back to the levels it once reached in the American market. I think that the most realistic avenue for such a rise would be through off-road SUVs.-Nathan Petroelje

This one seems easy, at least for Nissan. The chassis and powertrain are there, ready for the taking.

Open-top Toyota 4Runner

Toyota

Bring back a bare-bones two-door 4Runner with a roll bar and removable top. Build it on the current 4R platform to keep things simple, give it manual everything and the Highlander's 2.4L turbo, and price it at under $30,000.-Stephen Lombard

This could be Toyota's shot at competing more directly with open-top 4x4s from Ford and Jeep and using an amortized platform could keep the price down to two-door Wrangler territory. It's the Toyota 4×4 that enthusiasts have asked for since, well, since the open-top 4Runner left production.

Ford Aerostar

Ford

I want the 4×4 Ford Aerostar (okay technically it was All-Wheel Drive) to come back. Ditto the Chevy Astro, but I am a sucker for the 'Star and its cheese-wedge styling.

There's something about a "modern" looking people mover designed to replace the station wagon for city duties, but can also tow a small boat and go off-road. Just bring it back as-is but with modern safety features, a turboharged four-banger (because underhood space is tight!) and market the hell out of it as a Cybertruck without any of the stainless steel tech-bro downsides.-Sajeev Mehta

Lots of '80s trends are coming back. We see it in music, fashion, and concept cars. Could it be time for a minivan renaissance?

Ford Bronco II

Ford

There were problems, sure, with my new 1986 Ford Bronco II, including the peaky Cologne V-6, which had to be replaced at about 10,000 miles, and the fact that the BII felt like it wanted to tip over on sharp corners. But it was cheap (taking the five-speed manual shaved a lot off the cost), and a little mountain goat off road. Comfortable inside, a decent highway ride, lots of room in back and a neat profile. An SUV like that would find an audience today-build it alongside the Maverick pickup. Make it rugged and relatively bare-bones and start it at $24,500 with air, and it'd sell, maybe including one to me.-Steven Cole Smith

We have the Bronco Sport, but why not give us a bit of '80s retro styling and a two-door version the next time around?

Ford Excursion

Ford

The Ford Excursion was unapologetically large and inefficient but at the same time had the ability to haul people and things in a way that can make a pickup truck blush. I've never owned one and for a long time didn't understand some owners love affair with the behemoths. Now I understand that the Excursion is the perfect fit for a niche need, and a replacement just hasn't seemed to come around in recent history.-Kyle Smith

There hasn't been a heavy-duty SUV available for consumers since the 3/4-ton Suburban left the market more than a decade ago. Ford merged the Super Duty with the F-150 lineup to share cabs starting in 2017, so an Expedition EL on a modified Super Duty chassis would be the quick way to make this happen, but we really love the style of the Expedition and would love to see a modern take on its elegant lines 20 years after it left the market.

Ram Trailduster

Dodge

How is it that Ram has never built a full-size SUV? This one seems like a no-brainer at this point. The Ramcharger name is now appropriately taken by the upcoming hybrid pickup, but we could see a full-size, Ram-based four-door SUV built on the platform that underpins the Jeep Wagoneer and shares plenty with the Ram 1500. The Plymouth Trailduster could lend its name. Build one on 33-inch tires like a Ram Rebel and call it the Prospector for a nod to the past, power it with the same turbocharged hurricane turbo-sixes available in the Ram, and you've got a fun family camping rig. Of course this overlaps with the Wagoneer, but since that starts at $63,000, there's perhaps a bit of room to offer a less-expensive version that competes directly with Tahoe starting in the $50,000 range. Besides, GM hasn't had any problem selling full-size SUVs using three different brands. The Ram 1500 interiors are there for the taking and so is the Wagoneer chassis, do it already!-Brandan Gillogly

Chevy K5/GMC Jimmy

Brandan Gillogly

I like the newest Colorado/Canyon mid-size pickups from GM, especially in ZR2/AT4X guise. I would love to see a four-door and even a two-door SUV based on that platform go head-to-head with the new 4Runner. We included a photo of a vintage one up above, but like our daydream of a Ram-based SUV we already mentioned, this could use existing pickup steetmetal and interiors and skip the nostalgia. The Blazer and Trailblazer names are used by FWD-based CUVs, so I don't think it would be blasphemous to use the K5 and Jimmy names considering these things would be able to tackle serious terrain. Just imagine one with the front and rear lockers, skidplates, and the 35-inch tires that come with the top AEV equipment.

There's a spot for these in GM's SUV lineup, especially considering Tahoe and Yukon grew a bit in their current generation. I envision the K5 and Jimmy with a five-link rear and about a 115-inch wheelbase for the four-door, close to the last Colorado-based Trailblazer that was sold in Australia, but taking advantage of the fact that the current Colorado's front wheels are pushed a bit further forward to improve the approach angle. If it would fit in the midsizers, the Duramax 3.0-liter inline-six would be a great powerplant in general, but especially for those looking for long range capability. Otherwise, this would be yet another place for the General to use the 5.3L V-8.-Brandan Gillogly

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