Looking to head off-road with the family? New Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, Isuzu MU-X, Land Rover Defender and other rugged SUVs worth considering

The Defender is the origin of the species, the first go-anywhere vehicle that has spawned so much of what we see on the road today. Which is why Land Rover spent so long developing this all-new generation of the classic nameplate.

While it retains the name, everything about this Defender is fresh - a new platform and powertrains underneath a modern interpretation of the classic boxy looks. There are three engine options; a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with either 147kW/430Nm or 177kW/430Nm, or a 3.0-litre turbo-petrol in-line-six  making 294kW/550Nm.

The reborn Defender has just started hitting Australian showrooms (at least in ‘110’ five-door form), kicking off at $69,990 before on-road costs for the D200 variant and stretching to $137,100 for the P400 X.

The three-door Defender 90 will arrive by the end of the year to complete the initial range.

The arrival of the all-new D-Max ute means the SUV version can’t be too far behind. While there’s no official word from Isuzu, it’s expected to hit Australian roads before the end of 2021.

The MU-X is a popular choice for Australian families who want to get off the beaten path, with the latest sales data placing it as the third best-selling large SUV in the country; behind only the Toyota Prado and Kluger.

With that in mind Isuzu is unlikely to mess with a successful formula, so expect the new MU-X to utilise the same underpinnings as the new D-Max. That means motivation from a 140kW/450m 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

It will be mated to a proper four-wheel-drive system that will include both high- and low-range modes and a locking rear differential.

We may miss out on the new Ford Bronco, but the consolation prize is a new-generation Everest. While, understandably, most of the attention has been taken by the upcoming Ranger that’s due to be unveiled late next year, it will inevitably mean a new Everest too.

Because the Bronco is built on an evolution of the Ford Australia-developed ‘T6’ platform - dubbed T6.2 - it’s expected that many of the upgrades for the US off-roader will be adopted by the Ranger/Everest.

It means new engines are likely too, with a pair of V6s replacing the current four- and five-cylinder diesels. There’s expected to be a 2.7-litre turbo diesel option as well as a 2.7-litre twin-turbo petrol under the bonnet. The 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel that debuted in the Ranger Raptor is expected to be carried over too.

However, it’s important to remember that the Everest is a significantly different model to the Ranger and the new model is likely to maintain its unique rear-end that provides a more composed ride, while maintaining off-road and towing capability.

Expect the new Everest to hit the market by the end of 2022 or early in 2023, so be prepared to wait if this all sounds good to you.