Summary

• SUVs are becoming increasingly popular due to their spaciousness, versatility, and power, but not all SUVs are suitable for off-roading.
• The Tesla Model X, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk may have impressive performance capabilities, but they lack true practicality and off-road capabilities.
• Luxury SUVs like the Maserati Levante Trofeo, Aston Martin DBX 707, and Rolls-Royce Cullinan prioritize comfort and luxury over off-road capabilities, making them unsuitable for off-roading adventures.

It's clear that as time has gone on, new buyers are favoring SUVs over other types of cars more and more. The choice is obvious as they offer more space, they are more versatile, and they are (generally) more powerful. Where people used to avoid SUVs because they were seen as gas-guzzling vehicles that were less versatile than pick-up, technology has helped SUVs become more efficient than ever.

One of the biggest reasons one might consider buying an SUV, even before the current boom in the category, is their ability to be comfortable on the road and to transition into capable off-roaders. This identity, however, is slowly being lost. There are a number of SUVs on the market now that are discreetly losing their appeal in terms of practicality and off-road performance.

We put together a comprehensive list of ten of the worst modern SUVs to take off-road. These are cars that keep their big gritty exteriors but fail to live up to them, only feeling truly at home on the road.

Data from various automaker press releases was collated to bring you this list of 10 SUVs that you shouldn't take off-road.

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10 2023 Tesla Model X

Ground Clearance: 8.9 Inches

The Tesla Model X is the American EV manufacturer’s bigger SUV offering. Tesla has been praised for the performance and the range of their vehicles, but has been lambasted just as much for their poor build quality and reliability.

Performance

The Model X has some impressive figures in the way of horsepower and torque and its ground clearance isn’t too bad either, but we still wouldn’t take it off-road. Not only does the Model X feature Tesla’s ridiculous yoke steering wheel, but it also has the tendency to stop functioning in conditions that are slightly less than ideal.

9 2023 Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT

Ground Clearance: 8.8 Inches

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is the perfect example of an SUV that was designed solely for the road. While it may tout some extra added space and all-wheel drive, the Cayenne is a performance SUV that was meant to tear it up on the tarmac, not on trails.

Performance

The Porsche Cayenne is an SUV that is better catered to racing than to overlanding. While it may technically have the torque and the clearance to cover some ground, it won’t be comfortable. While it may not be the absolute most expensive car on this list, any kind of dings are going to make your outdoor adventure an expensive one.

8 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Ground Clearance: 8.1 Inches

It may seem startling to see Jeep on a list of cars that shouldn’t be taken offroad. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only entry. The Trackhawk gets somewhat of a pass, however, due to the fact that it’s a trim specifically designed for speed and not utility.

Performance

Jeep had a clear purpose in mind with the Trackhawk and that was performance. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is more suited to a racetrack than to a trail. Jeep sacrificed the utility of the Grand Cherokee for elements that would help it compete with the big boys with this high-performance, track-based SUV.

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7 2023 Maserati Levante Trofeo

Ground Clearance: 8.0 Inches

Maserati is one of Italy’s most prominent performance car manufacturers. The Levante Trofeo is the brand’s full-performance SUV. However, while its speed and agility might be up to snuff, its interior leaves a lot to be desired at this price point.

Performance

The Levante Trofeo is an incredibly quick SUV but it's up against some stiff competition in its category and it falls short. It also doesn’t really have the ability to leave the tarmac, with all of its parts designed for a track day and not for navigating the wilderness.

6 2023 Aston Martin DBX 707

Ground Clearance: 7.5 inches

Another of Great Britain’s incredible automakers is Aston Martin. The DBX is one of the most successful models to translate the brand’s sports car identity into an SUV. The DBX 707 showcases the extent that the British automaker will go to deliver excellent power and performance.

Performance

As the world's quickest SUV, the DBX 707 model represents the best that Aston Martin has to offer. However, its SUV practicality is more applicable in the form of a functional second row of seating and cargo space that can hold more than a briefcase for off-roading.

5 2024 Ferrari Purosangue

Ground Clearance: 7.3 Inches

Ferrari is one of the most well-known performance brands in the world. A time that we never thought would be upon us has come and Ferrari is set to release the 2024 Purosangue performance SUV. However, it is more of a raised coupe than a true SUV.

Performance

With a starting MSRP that tilts towards half a million dollars, this is one of the most expensive SUVs on the market today. Its thundering performance speaks for itself but with that price tag and its low ride height, this incredible SUV is best saved for highway and track day driving.

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4 2023 Bently Bentayga Speed

Ground Clearance: 7.0 Inches

Bentley is one of the United Kingdom’s primary luxury brands and the Bentayga is their SUV offering. The Bentayga aims to offer drivers the most prestige experience and is even more kind to its passengers. It’s no slouch either, with a pristine W12 engine that helps it achieve some incredible speed.

Performance

Considering the Bentayga Speed’s starting MSRP of a quarter of a million dollars, this probably isn’t the kind of car you want around ditches or sharp rocks. Bently has crafted this SUV to be a marvelous on-the-road experience and it would be a shame to get that fine paint job dirty.

3 2022 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Ground Clearance: 6.7 Inches

Rolls-Royce is a brand that is synonymous with absolute opulence. From top to bottom, their cars are designed for the upmost luxury. The Cullinan represents the absolute height of wealth and comfort, with two rows of seating that are comparable to leather couches and lambs-wool carpeting.

Performance

All this luxury is not designed for off-road use. The Cullinan is a chauffeur experience for those with copious amounts of money to spend. What it is not designed for, is getting dirty; that would be absolutely improper.

2 2023 Fiat 500X

Ground Clearance: 6.5 Inches

The Fiat 500X subcompact SUV is a hatchback in disguise. We’d love to say that all the 500X preserves from its smaller hatchback cousin are its exterior looks but it wouldn’t be true. Fiat inflated the 500, making it bigger and heavier, but forgot to adjust anything else to account for the increase.

Performance

The Fiat 500X is a pricey subcompact SUV that doesn’t really offer you much for your money. Fiat even got rid of the Trekking, Trekking Plus, and sport trims which might have made the 500X slightly better value. This is a car that isn’t going to serve you well on the road let gravel or dirt.

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1 2023 Lamborghini Urus S

Ground Clearance: 6.2 Inches

The Lamborghini Urus is a controversial car to include. While Lamborghini does claim the car can be taken off the beaten path, it lacks a lot of elements that many would deem essential, such as a locking differential, four-wheel drive, a low-speed transfer case or a body-on-frame design.

Performance

The Urus has potential but it simply isn’t reasonable to take this car onto any trails. Not only will any scratches or dings cost you an absolute fortune to repair, but it doesn’t have any of the essentials one needs to take on any real obstacles.