3. Toyota 4Runner

Toyota’s answer to the Bronco and K5 Blazer came quite late in 1984. It followed the same recipe as its competitors: a shortened Hilux truck chassis with a single cabin and a removable hardtop. The 4Runner came in time to battle with the second generation of the Bronco and the K5, and while it obviously couldn’t compete with the two due to lack of V8 power, it gained recognition due to its ruggedness and durability.

In all honesty, even without the V8 under the hood, the 4Runner was a great SUV for the period and was especially capable in off-road conditions. Today, the palette of inline-four engines is considered the most reliable, so the best way is to try and find these versions, despite the obvious lack of power compared to the V6 models. If you wish to go off-roading in the 4Runner, the models with smaller engines have better all-terrain capabilities than their big-engine counterparts.