The 10 Best 4×4 Vans of All Time
Vans are incredibly versatile vehicles, but their potential is truly unlocked with a 4WD system. Suddenly, a family hauler or package transporter becomes an all-terrain adventure pod. The best 4×4 vans elevate the already impressive storage capacity to a whole new level of capability.
For years, 4WD vans have carried adventurers to amazing places around the globe. Their ability to double as a home on the road has fueled the #vanlife movement. And, while the term “van life” is relatively new and trendy, using 4×4 vans to live out of and explore the world is not a new concept. These vans can take people on extraordinary adventures when outfitted properly.
I’ve owned several 4×4 vans, traveled across multiple continents in various adventure vans, and have written about off-road, overland, and vans for almost two decades. Based on that experience, here are my choices for the 10 best 4×4 vans of all time.
- Chevrolet Astro AWD
- Toyota 4WD Van
- UAZ-452
- Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon
- Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear
- Ford Transit AWD
- Quigley Conversions GMC Savannah
- Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro
- Sportsmobile Classic 4×4 (Ford Cutaway Chassis)
- Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4×4
Chevrolet Astro AWD
The Chevrolet Astro was the first domestic minivan with all-wheel-drive, hitting the market in 1990. All-wheel drive was available on the Astro from 1990 to 2005. Although it didn’t feature a low-range transfer case, the Astro offered a high seating position and V6 power, developing up to 200 horsepower from its 4.3L engine. A facelift in 1995 gave it a more full-size van appearance.
Today, AWD Astros have a dedicated following of adventurers who take these vans on overland journeys and off-road treks. The Astro’s unibody construction with a partial frame in the front makes it a solid platform. Lift kits are available, often using spacers. While not hardcore 4WDs, they are a good choice for a compact and budget-friendly camper that can go off the beaten path.
Toyota 4WD Van
From 1987 to 1989, Toyota offered its unique van with 4WD. Simply called the “Toyota Van,” it had a forward-control design with the driver sitting above the front wheels and the engine located between the driver and passenger.
These minivans featured a true 4WD system, including a low-range transfer case if you chose the manual transmission. Power came from a 2.2L 4-cylinder engine producing 101 horsepower and 135 foot-pounds of torque. It was available with automatic or manual transmissions, as well as automatic or manual locking hubs.
Sold globally as the Townace/Liteace, the Toyota Van had a car-like unibody construction, a solid rear axle with leaf springs, and an independent front suspension with torsion bars. It was available as a passenger van or a cargo van. These vans are known to last a long time; thanks to some of the Toyota truck’s underpinnings, it can handle off-pavement driving better than you might think.
UAZ-452
If you don’t live near Russia, you might not know about the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant or the UAZ-452. The UAZ-452 is a Russian-made van in production for more than 50 years. It has a boxy shape and a tough, no-frills design, and it has been used to transport people in harsh conditions for a long time.
Modern versions, which are still manufactured today and can seat up to 11 passengers, have a 2.7L 4-cylinder engine producing 112 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Power is transferred via a five-speed manual transmission. These 4×4 vans have a traditional two-speed transfer case with 2WD, 4WD high, and 4WD low-range gears. The top speed is listed at 127 km/h (79 mph). The UAZ-452’s design features solid front and rear axles with leaf springs, and a locking rear differential is available for maximum off-road traction.
Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon
Like Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors North America marketed a forward-control unibody van in the late 1980s, simply called the van. However, it was only available in 2WD. Elsewhere, this van came with 4WD, and it was known as the Delica Star Wagon.
These 4WD vans came with an abundance of options, trim packages, roof heights, and engine/transmission options. They’ve been popular with adventure fans since their initial release in the mid-1980s and are still produced in some Southeast Asian markets. The Delica Star Wagons are still a popular choice for the campervan community and JDM enthusiasts. Many are built for overland travel. Despite their high center of gravity, they offer solid drivelines, available diesel engines, and a solid rear axle with leaf springs, making them capable off-road.
Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear
In 1994, Mitsubishi released the second-generation Delica van, called the Space Gear. Compared to the previous Star Wagon model, this version had a rounder design. It also offered more powerful engines and the company’s Super Select 4WD transfer case. This gearbox incorporated a viscous coupler, allowing the van to operate in 4WD high with an open center differential, which is ideal for snow and slippery conditions. It could also be switched into high- or low-range 4WD when the terrain became difficult.
Like the Star Wagon, it had unibody construction and also a solid rear axle (with coil springs) and an independent front suspension with torsion bars. It was available in high- or low-roof configurations. It could also be purchased in short- and long-wheelbase versions. The Space Gear was manufactured until 2007, and its combination of power, comfort, an optional long wheelbase, and strong aftermarket support make it a popular option globally for campervan enthusiasts, travelers, and off-roaders.
Ford Transit AWD
Only recently has Ford’s full-size Transit van been offered with AWD, but this feature transformed the vehicle. All-wheel drive has turned the delivery runabout into an all-terrain transporter.
The Transit doesn’t have a low-range transfer case, but it offers full-time AWD and an excellent platform for a campervan or all-weather adventuremobile. The Transit’s size allows owners to stand fully upright in some versions, making it a viable choice for those wanting space without an RV. It’s available in three lengths, three roof heights, and with two engine options, including the powerful 3.5L Ecoboost gasoline engine with 310 horsepower. As a new van, it comes with modern safety features. Many outfitters are ready to customize the Transit into a versatile utility van or a globe-trotting camper.
Quigley Conversions GM Vans
Chevrolet and GMC don’t offer 4WD vans, but Quigley offers conversions. Quigley has been customizing vans since the mid-1960s and is one of the few companies that builds on the GMC Savanah/Chevrolet Express platform. There are eight different combinations of wheelbases, engines, and transmissions to choose from. Quigley uses engines ranging from a 4.8L gasoline small-block V-8 to a 6.6L diesel engine. It uses its own torsion bar independent front suspension and pairs it with a solid-rear axle with leaf springs. Quigley also implements a two-speed transfer case. Those who want more off-road capability can choose its LIFS option for an additional 3 inches of increased ground clearance. The Pennsylvania-based company has a long history of producing excellent 4×4 van conversions.
Volkswagen Vanagon Syncro
For over six decades, VW vans have been used as campers and travel rigs. It wasn’t until the Vanagon Syncro appeared that they gained AWD capability. Vanagon Syncros were sold in the U.S. from 1986 to 1991. These German-made vans had a 2.1L water-cooled flat “boxer” four-cylinder engine, generating 92 horsepower and driving all four wheels. Syncros came with a five-speed manual transmission and a viscous coupler system for full-time AWD traction. These vans came factory equipped with an optional locking rear differential, making them extremely capable right out of the box. Add a set of off-road tires, and Syncros perform very well off-road. These days, Syncros, especially those in good condition, can be very expensive, and the models that include the prized Westfalia campervan setup are sometimes considered the holy grail of 4WD vans.
Sportsmobile Classic 4×4 (Ford Cutaway Chassis)
Field Van (previously known as Sportsmobile West) started in 1989 and built thousands of camper vans. It has extensive experience in building 4×4 vans. It is best known for the 4×4 Ford E-Series van conversions today. Although the E-Series van is only available as a cutaway today, Field Van still converts them. Their latest is the Classic 4×4 on the Ford E-Series cutaway chassis, ideal for the discerning off-road van life enthusiast. Buyers receive many premium off-road features, including an Atlas II transfer case, Dynatrac Pro-Rock 60 front axle, and Dana 60 rear axle, Fox 2.0 shocks, and their choice of open, limited-slip, or locking axles. The Field Van Classic 4×4 is equipped with the 7.3L gasoline V-8 engine and Torqueshift five-speed automatic transmission. Most notably, Field Van now molds a steel-reinforced fiberglass shell behind the main cab. The integrated penthouse top drops flush into the shell for a streamlined look. The possibilities are endless with these vans, and they can go almost anywhere.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD
This van is arguably the modern gold standard among new 4WD vans, especially from a campervan perspective. The Sprinter became available with 4WD in North America in 2015. It offered a true 4×4 system with high- and low-range drive modes. There are two lengths: a 144-inch wheelbase with either a standard or high-roof configuration. There’s also a 177-inch wheelbase model with a high roof and an extended-high roof setup. Three models are available: cargo, crew, and passenger vans, each with different window and seat configurations. In 2019, the third-generation Sprinter dropped the selectable 4×4 system in favor of a full-time AWD system. The Sprinter is a favorite among adventure seekers these days; many outfitters are ready to transform the van for weekend getaways or global travel.
The Sprinter is also a truly global platform, sold and serviced in many parts of the world. This makes the Sprinter one of the 10 best 4×4 vans of all time.
