- There is only one Jeep. However, others can look as stylish or MORE stylish than a Jeep.
- The Wrangler is a timeless off-road machine that has found a home in countless garages.
- The most expensive list also includes two Mercedes G-Classes
There is only one Jeep. However, others can look as stylish or MORE stylish than a Jeep. Right? The Wrangler is a timeless off-road machine that has found a home in countless garages. Well, maybe you’re the type that wants something different?
Maybe you want to set yourself apart from the already unique group of Jeep enthusiasts? See below where we pick our favorite cars that look like jeeps but aren’t. Are there many to choose from?
Are they worth it?
Can you customize them with available parts from aftermarket stores or even the junkyard?
Yes? No? Maybe.
Consequently, the following list includes our picks for the best cars that look like Jeeps but aren’t:
Table of Contents
Toyota FJ
Debuting in 1963 and selling until 1984, the FJ40 needed only two years to become the best-selling Toyota. Its 135 horsepower inline 6 was a virtually indestructible engine, but they were usually swapped out in favor of the small block Chevy that offered more power.
You can pick one up for around a mere $50,000 fully rebuilt. Many trucks look like Jeeps, and the FJ may be one of the few literals. Its round headlights and open roll cage design are mirror images of Wrangler ancestors.
Toyota 4Runner
The 4runner is a staple in the truck community. It is an SUV built on a truck frame. It makes the ride on asphalt not as smooth as the Landcruiser or Highlander, but its off-road capabilities surpass any other vehicle with a Toyota badge.
It could become an open-back summer cruiser with a removable fiberglass camper shell. The original model came with a turbocharged V6 that worked great off-road. You can find the first and second-generation 4Runners with a lot of wear, starting at around $3,000.
Newer models are more conventional but still have the off-roading spirit with the features to make a worthwhile day in the mud. The 4Runner has been one of the most popular Toyota cars that look like Jeeps for decades.
Suzuki SJ, Sidekick, X-90, Jimny
The long-standing Japanese legend of Suzuki started as something completely different than anything Suzuki had ever produced. Just look at it. The cute little boxy 4×4 coupe truck was in a league of its own.
Nowadays, Suzuki produces something completely different. From their humble beginnings, who knew Suzuki had it in them in 2020 to make a small boxy 4×4 coupe truck?? I, for one, am shocked.
The cute little guy. The 2020 model (pictured here) gives you about 100 HP. Not too overwhelming as it only weighs 2,370 lbs. That’s a power-to-weight ratio of 4.2. That’s along the lines of a Dodge Journey.
Booya.
All jokes aside, Today’s Suzuki is a fun little machine. It starts at $23,990 with two trims options. It has all the off-roading capabilities with its ladder frame low range gearing you would expect with modern additions like hill assist, brake assist, driver assist, and soda drink assist (don’t ask for a source on that last one).
Mercedes-Benz Unimog
The Unimog is a Daimler-manufactured long-standing post-WWII marvel sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. This “car” is the most aggressive on this list for cars that look like a Jeep but aren’t.
It is designed as a cross between a tractor and truck and gets the best of both worlds. It is designed to perform deep in the jungle and be able to be parked in your garage. It gets more ground clearance than other vehicles of its size and has a switchable front, rear, or 4×4 wheel drive.
Today they are used in Europe for anything and everything. Snowplows, military vehicles, personnel carriers, and even racing. The ultimate do-it-all will do it all for you as well. They’re hard to find in the states, but you would love them if you did get your hands on one.
Not known for their offroading nor 4×4 or truck lines, we have included two Mercedes that look like a Jeep. Two.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Probably the most expensive cars that look like jeeps on this list may also be the least practical. The G-Class is another Daimler-made truck sold under the Mercedes brand (second longest-running after the Unimog).
Since its introduction in 1979, its always been a luxury truck. All the bells and whistles available were generally offered. That’s not to say it was only used this way. A filmmaker took a G-wagon 11,000 miles through Siberia through temperatures reaching -63 F, and the thing didn’t break down once. #G-status.
The thing style-wise has been unchanged for over 40 years. New base models with 400+ horsepower start around $130,000. Look hard enough, and you can find used models with the AMG package under 100,000 miles spitting out 500+ horsepower for about $45,000. #balleronabudget The G-Wagon is one of the most expensive cars that look like Jeeps but aren’t.
Land Rover Series II
Yeah, that’s a vintage post-WWII Range Rover Series 2 88. It came standard with 4×4. The model improved for a couple of decades, shedding numerous names. The Truck is part Bronco, part Thing, part Willy, part FJ, and at the same time, none of them as it predates all. Production started in 1958. Give the Brits credit for doing something stylish for a change.
Hummer H2
I thought long and hard about this one. Is it worth it to put this POS on this list? Yes. Yes, it is. The Hummer H2 was an eyesore then and a cold sore now. In the wake of gas price surges, the H2 was the soccer mom and rapper’s dream.
It didn’t handle or perform well and was as reliable as that smashed-up condom you had in your wallet since sophomore year. You couldn’t see out the sides or back worth a damn. They got about 2 gallons per mile, and the base price was $49,395 (not including the $4,000 gas guzzler tax). The H2 is our choice for the worst cars that look like Jeeps but aren’t.
Neato.
Ford Bronco
Oh yeah. That is more like it. I apologize to anybody offended by my honest view of the H2 above. It’s just a real POS. Ford has a long history of classic and beautiful autos. They surely didn’t tarnish that history with the early Broncos.
This render is amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s too good to be true. But this COULD happen according to rumors. Well, so much for safety concerns. Avoid freeways, and you should be good?
Finally, after 25 years of hibernating, Ford has done something clever. Maybe it is because they are waving the white flag and ceasing production of all cars not named Mustang. They woke the OG SUV from its hiatus and debuted it new and fresh for 2020 (2021?). It is a couple of decades too long. But it is most definitely worth the wait.
Mahindra Roxor
In a battle for cars that look like Jeep but aren’t, this Indian car manufacturer Mahindra is joining the party. They came close, in fact, that they were sued and lost because the Mahindra looked TOO much like a Jeep, so Mahindra had to redesign the front end before it could go to market. Well done. Or not.
Their take on the Jeep looks more like a Disneyland theme park ride than anything you would want to take seriously, and it is precisely what they call it, a side-by-side. I didn’t think it could be done, but this makes the Jimny look big.
The turbo diesel’s 62 horsepower seems impressive initially, but given its curb weight of 3,035 lbs, it will need all 144 ft-lbs of torque. Throw a few hefty linebackers in there and some gear you’re looking at 3,800 lbs out the door.
Priced at a modest $16,599, you have to decide whether you want yours in red, white, or blue.