Top 10 SUVs and 4x4s 1985 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best 4x4 of 1985 was the Jeep Cherokee XJ, our Best Overall at a base 1985 MSRP of $9,995. Launched as a 1984 model, the unibody XJ rewrote the rules for the compact SUV and made the body-on-frame haulers around it feel like dinosaurs almost overnight. For the smartest money in period, our Best Value went to the Isuzu Trooper II, which started at just $8,922 and delivered honest, boxy off-road utility for hundreds less than anything from Detroit or Toyota.

Those two bookend a 1985 field that, in hindsight, was one of the richest in 4x4 history: it gave us the rise of the modern unibody crossover and the last great years of the truck-based brutes that collectors now chase hard.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We graded every contender as a period buyer would have, then layered in four decades of hindsight. The weighting:

• Off-road capability — 25%: axles, transfer cases, ground clearance, and real trail reputation.
• Durability — 25%: how these trucks held up over 200,000-plus miles and 40 years.
• Value in period — 15%: what a 1985 buyer got per dollar at the showroom.
• Versatility — 15%: family hauling, towing, daily use, and trail duty in one package.
• Character — 10%: the intangible appeal that made each one memorable.
• Collectibility now — 10%: where values sit today on the classic market.

Sources spanned period road tests from *Car and Driver*, *Road & Track*, and *Four Wheeler*, plus modern valuation data from the Hagerty Price Guide, Bring a Trailer auction results, Classic.com comps, and the relevant Wikipedia model histories. We used real 1985 base MSRP figures and real period engine specs throughout — no invented trims, no invented prices.

1. Jeep Cherokee XJ 🏆 BEST OVERALL

1985 MSRP: $9,995 | Best for: the buyer who wanted trail capability and car-like manners in one tidy package.

The Cherokee XJ, introduced for 1984, was the single most important 4x4 of the decade and the truck that launched the modern compact-SUV era. Its unibody construction made it lighter, tighter, and far more efficient than the body-on-frame field, yet the Command-Trac NP207 part-time 4WD system and solid axles kept it genuinely tough off-road.

The base engine was the AMC 2.5-liter four (105 hp), with a 2.8-liter GM V6 optional; the legendary 4.0-liter inline-six was still a couple of years out. Known for a near-indestructible reputation and a packaging trick nobody had matched, clean unmodified XJs now command strong and rising money on Bring a Trailer.

Pros:

• Trend-setting unibody design that made everything else feel heavy
• Tough Command-Trac 4WD with real solid-axle credibility
• Compact outside, surprisingly roomy inside
• Cheap to run and almost impossible to kill

Cons:

• Early 2.8 V6 was underwhelming next to the later 4.0
• Thin paint and rust-prone unibody seams need watching

Verdict: The XJ blended capability, efficiency, and value better than anything else in 1985 — a deserving Best Overall and a genuine landmark.

2. Toyota 4Runner

1985 MSRP: $10,863 | Best for: the trail-focused buyer who valued bulletproof reliability above all.

The 4Runner debuted in 1984 as a removable-fiberglass-top conversion of the Hilux pickup, and 1985 is its most coveted year. That season married the fuel-injected 2.4-liter 22R-E four (116 hp) to a solid front axle — the only year you could get both — giving it cult status among first-gen fans.

With part-time 4WD, a low-range transfer case, and Toyota's signature durability, it earned a reputation for crossing continents without complaint. Values have climbed sharply; clean solid-axle 1985 SR5 examples now trade well into the tens of thousands.

Pros:

• Only year with both EFI and a solid front axle
• Legendary 22R-E reliability over huge mileage
• Removable top brought open-air character
• Strong, steadily rising collector demand

Cons:

• Cramped rear quarters for a family
• Rust in the rear frame and body is common

Verdict: The most desirable first-gen 4Runner and one of the most reliable 4x4s ever built.

3. Ford Bronco

1985 MSRP: $12,575 | Best for: the buyer who wanted full-size V8 muscle and a removable top.

The full-size Bronco was Ford's answer to the Blazer, and in 1985 it brought serious V8 firepower. The 5.0-liter EFI V8 made 150 hp, while the optional 5.8-liter 351 Windsor HO pushed 210 hp and a stout 305 lb-ft of torque. With a removable hardtop, Touch-Drive electric-shift 4WD on later trims, and real towing muscle, it was a do-everything rig with presence to spare.

Square-body Broncos have followed the broader 1980s-truck surge, and tidy original examples now bring real collector money.

Pros:

• Strong V8 options up to 210 hp
• Removable top for open-air driving
• Genuine towing and trail capability
• Surging square-body collector interest

Cons:

• Thirsty by any standard
• Rust-prone body and floors

Verdict: A charismatic full-size brute that has aged into a desirable classic.

4. Chevrolet K5 Blazer

1985 MSRP: $11,800 | Best for: the buyer who wanted classic square-body style with a removable top.

The K5 Blazer was the quintessential 1980s full-size SUV, and the 1985 square-body is now one of the most sought-after of all. The available 5.7-liter (350) V8 made 165 hp with a four-barrel carburetor, backed by a part-time NP208 transfer case and solid front axle. Known for its removable rear top and clean, boxy lines, the K5 was equally at home towing a boat or crawling a trail.

Square-body Chevys have soared in value; clean 350-powered K5s regularly clear $20,000 today.

Pros:

• Iconic square-body styling
• Torquey 350 V8 with easy parts support
• Removable top adds open-air appeal
• Among the hottest collector trucks now

Cons:

• Heavy fuel appetite
• Rust in rockers, floors, and tailgate

Verdict: A style icon that has become one of the decade's blue-chip 4x4s.

5. Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60

1985 MSRP: $15,200 | Best for: the buyer who wanted go-anywhere durability with four doors.

The FJ60 was the global overlander's default choice and, in hindsight, one of the smartest 4x4 buys of 1985. Its 4.2-liter 2F inline-six was modest on paper but nearly unbreakable, paired with part-time 4WD, a low-range transfer case, and front and rear solid axles. Known for crossing deserts and outliving everything around it, the FJ60 has become a serious collector item: Hagerty pegs good examples around $30,000, and low-mileage cars have crossed $50,000 on Bring a Trailer.

Pros:

• Indestructible 2F six and heavy-duty drivetrain
• Four-door practicality with real trail ability
• Global parts and overlanding support
• Strong, climbing collector values

Cons:

• Slow and thirsty by modern standards
• Costs more to buy than most rivals today

Verdict: A bulletproof world-traveler that has matured into a blue-chip classic.

6. Jeep Grand Wagoneer

1985 MSRP: $21,365 | Best for: the buyer who wanted a luxury 4x4 before that was a category.

The Grand Wagoneer was the original luxury SUV, wrapping leather, wood trim, and four full doors around genuine off-road hardware. The 5.9-liter (360) AMC V8 made 144 hp and 280 lb-ft, driving through Selec-Trac full-time 4WD. Known for its faux-wood flanks and country-club image, it stayed in production largely unchanged into the early 1990s because nothing else offered that blend of plush and capable.

Clean Grand Wagoneers have become genuine collectibles, with the best examples now bringing strong five-figure sums.

Pros:

• Leather-and-wood luxury years ahead of its time
• Selec-Trac full-time 4WD
• Four-door family practicality
• Iconic, instantly recognizable styling

Cons:

• Pricey when new and thirsty always
• Complex electrics and trim to maintain

Verdict: The grandfather of the luxury SUV, and a charming, collectible one at that.

7. Chevrolet Suburban

1985 MSRP: $12,400 | Best for: the big family that needed maximum room and towing.

No 1985 list is complete without the Suburban, the original three-row hauler. In K10 4WD form it paired the 5.7-liter (350) V8 (around 165 hp) with a part-time transfer case and solid front axle, giving it serious towing and people-moving muscle. Known for swallowing whole families plus gear and still pulling a trailer, the square-body Suburban was the ultimate utility vehicle of its day.

Values trail the flashier two-doors but clean K10s have risen steadily on the collector market.

Pros:

• Unmatched cargo and passenger room
• Strong towing with the 350 V8
• Simple, durable square-body mechanicals
• Rising interest as square-body demand spreads

Cons:

• Enormous and thirsty
• Rust in rockers and rear floors

Verdict: The definitive family hauler, and an increasingly collectible one.

8. Ford Bronco II

1985 MSRP: $10,200 | Best for: the buyer who wanted compact Bronco style on a budget.

The Bronco II was Ford's compact entry against the Blazer and 4Runner, sharing much with the Ranger pickup. Its 2.8-liter Cologne V6 (about 115 hp) drove through a part-time Touch-Drive 4WD system with a solid rear axle and independent front. Known for tidy size and easygoing manners, it gave first-time SUV buyers a real trail-capable rig at a friendly price.

The Bronco II remains an affordable entry into 1980s 4x4 ownership, though clean survivors are getting harder to find.

Pros:

• Compact, maneuverable footprint
• Affordable then and still cheap to enter now
• Available electric-shift 4WD
• Shared Ranger parts keep upkeep easy

Cons:

• Modest power from the 2.8 V6
• Tall stance drew rollover criticism in period

Verdict: A budget-friendly compact that still delivers honest 1980s 4x4 character.

9. Isuzu Trooper II 💎 BEST VALUE

1985 MSRP: $8,922 | Best for: the value hunter who wanted boxy, honest 4x4 utility for the least money.

The Trooper II was the cheapest serious 4x4 in the 1985 showroom and our Best Value pick. It backed up that low price with a simple 1.9- to 2.3-liter four (the larger 2.3 making roughly 90-plus hp), part-time 4WD, and a body-on-frame chassis with a solid rear axle. Known for upright, no-nonsense styling and genuine durability, it punched far above its sticker on the trail.

Long overlooked, early Troopers are finally drawing notice from collectors who appreciate their honesty and rarity.

Pros:

• Lowest base price of any real 1985 4x4
• Simple, tough body-on-frame build
• Boxy, space-efficient packaging
• Quietly capable off-road

Cons:

• Modest power and slow pace
• Survivors are now genuinely scarce

Verdict: The best dollar-for-dollar 4x4 of 1985 — affordable, honest, and tougher than its price implied.

10. GMC Jimmy (S-15)

1985 MSRP: $10,500 | Best for: the buyer who wanted a compact, easy-driving SUV with GM support.

The S-15 Jimmy — the GMC twin of the Chevy S-10 Blazer — rounded out the compact field with familiar GM mechanicals and a friendly footprint. Most ran the 2.8-liter V6 (around 115 hp) through Insta-Trac part-time 4WD with a solid rear axle and independent front. Known for being one of the easier compacts to live with day to day, it offered SUV practicality without full-size bulk or cost.

Clean original S-15 Jimmys are slowly gaining a following as 1980s SUV nostalgia broadens.

Pros:

• Easy-driving compact dimensions
• Shift-on-the-fly Insta-Trac 4WD
• Wide GM parts and service network
• Affordable entry into the compact-SUV hobby

Cons:

• 2.8 V6 is adequate, not strong
• Rust-prone body panels

Verdict: A sensible, capable compact that closes out a remarkably deep 1985 field.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 1985 SUV / 4x4 (Then and as a Classic Now)

• Rust: the number-one killer. Check rockers, floors, cab corners, tailgates, and unibody seams on the XJ. Surface rust is fine; structural rot is not.
• Frame: on body-on-frame trucks, probe the rails and crossmembers, especially around the rear spring hangers and skid plates.
• Drivetrain: confirm the transfer case shifts into low range and that 4WD actually engages; listen for axle whine and check for diff and case leaks.
• Originality: unmodified, un-lifted trucks with factory drivetrains and clean interiors command the strongest money today; tasteful, reversible mods are forgiven.
• Matters less than nostalgia implies: small cosmetic flaws, faded paint, and modest mileage matter far less than a sound frame and honest history. A clean structure beats a shiny respray every time.

FAQ

Why is the 1984–85 Jeep Cherokee XJ considered so important? Its unibody design launched the modern compact-SUV era, proving a 4x4 could be light, efficient, and car-like without giving up real trail capability.

Was the 1985 Toyota 4Runner really special? Yes — 1985 is the only year you could get both the fuel-injected 22R-E engine and a solid front axle, which makes it the most prized first-generation 4Runner.

Which 1985 4x4 has appreciated the most? The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 and the square-body Chevy K5 Blazer have both soared, with clean examples now well into five figures and low-mileage cars going much higher.

What was the best value 4x4 in 1985? The Isuzu Trooper II, starting at $8,922, gave buyers honest body-on-frame capability for hundreds less than any domestic or Toyota rival.

Did the Range Rover count as a 1985 US option? Not really — the Range Rover Classic did not launch officially in the United States until 1987, so American buyers in 1985 were choosing among the domestics, Toyota, and Isuzu.

Are these trucks still usable as daily drivers today? Many are, especially the Toyotas and well-kept GM and Jeep models, though all demand more maintenance, use more fuel, and feel slower than anything modern.

Bottom Line

1985 was a hinge point for the 4x4. The Jeep Cherokee XJ pointed the way to the unibody future and earned Best Overall, while the rugged full-size brutes from Chevy, Ford, and GMC delivered the V8 character collectors now chase. The Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser FJ60 proved that durability would outlast every styling fad, and the Isuzu Trooper II showed that real capability did not have to be expensive — earning it our Best Value.

Four decades on, this field has aged into one of the most desirable in 4x4 history, and almost any clean survivor on this list is now worth far more than its modest 1985 sticker.

Sources

• Hagerty — "Your Handy 1984–2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ Buyer's Guide" (hagerty.com)
• Hagerty Valuation Tools — 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 (hagerty.com)
• Hagerty Media — "1981–89 Toyota FJ60 values are spiking" (hagerty.com)
• Hagerty Valuation Tools — 1985 Jeep Grand Wagoneer (hagerty.com)
• Wikipedia — "Jeep Cherokee (XJ)" model history (en.wikipedia.org)
• CarWeek / J.D. Power — 1985 Toyota 4Runner specs and pricing (carweek.com, jdpower.com)
• CarGurus / CarWeek — 1985 Isuzu Trooper II specs and MSRP (cargurus.com, carweek.com)
• Automobile-Catalog — 1985 Ford Bronco 5.0 EFI and 5.8 HO V8 specs (automobile-catalog.com)
• Classic.com — 1985 Chevrolet K5 Blazer and Suburban market comps (classic.com)
• Bring a Trailer — 1985 Land Cruiser FJ60 auction results (bringatrailer.com)

*SUV review — 1985 SUV and 4x4 reviews, rating, best SUV 1985, and a retrospective review of the top vintage 4x4 picks for buyers and collectors.*