10 Cheap AWD Hacks You Can Count On This Winter

We've arrived at that miserable time of year when the nights draw in and the weather gets colder. It's a nightmare for your nice motor; it'll get coated in grit, and if there's snow and ice the higher chances of a prang aren't worth even setting off in the first place. Instead of risking your ride, why not get a cheap four-wheel drive hack to take the strain?

It'll cope a hell of a lot better in bad weather, and you can have some off-road fun while you're at it. With a budget of just £2000, here's what we'd pick.

1. Daihatsu Terios

This pint-sized Japanese 'Kei car' may look slightly daft, but it's up for some serious punishment off road. There's not a whole lot to go wrong either, so you can subject it to all kinds of hardship without too much worry. That dinky size does mean you'll only be able to carry passengers who aren't worried about their personal space being invaded, however. This first-gen example looks to be in good condition and is a bargain at only £945.

2. Mitsubishi Shogun

Mitsubishi's answer to the Range Rover makes a strong case for itself as an off-roading winter hack. It's sturdy, can take on pretty much any terrain, and can be picked up for very little. They're well screwed together, but if you go for one, check it's been looked after - many have a lot of abuse thrown at them over the years. This example has the thirsty 3.5-litre V6, but looks to be in good order.

3. Subaru Forester

Having the rally hero Impreza for a brother means the Forester is a largely forgotten car in Subaru's line-up. You can use this to your advantage however, as Foresters are much less sought-after and often cheaper. They make an exceptional winter hack, and underneath you get the same chassis and running gear as the Impreza. This one is the more powerful S Turbo version, is well priced and even has a set of winter tyres. Perfect.

4. Suzuki Jimny

Like the Terios, the titchy Jimny is a hard car to take seriously. However, its small size and high ground clearance means it's almost unbeatable off-road, even more so if you give the suspension a little lift and throw on some chunky tyres. Reliability is excellent so you're unlikely to have many issues. This 2002 model looks to be in good order.

5. Land Rover Freelander

Unless you want to chance a rust-riddled Discovery 1, the cheapest way into Land Rover ownership is with the first-gen Freelander. This entry-level Landy may be dismissed by hardcore Green Oval enthusiasts, but ignore them. With a modest suspension lift and some chunkier tyres the Freelander can be pretty damn capable off road. Early cars with the 1.8-litre Rover 'K-Series' 4-pot are temptingly cheap, but these are best avoided as they have a tendency to overheat and pop cylinder heads. Instead, opt for a later TD4 like this, it's worth the extra.

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h3>6. Subaru Justy

It's not just bigger Subarus that receive the four-wheel drive treatment, as the Justy proves. The pictured version is essentially a re-badged second-gen Suzuki Cultus/Swift, but unlike its front-driving cousin, the Justy had power going to the rear wheels too. We're not quite sure what the point in having four-wheel drive in such a tiny car is, but it sounds like a recipe for massively entertaining off-roading. Prices are surprisingly high for such a small car of this age though; this 1998 model comes in at just under £1200.

7. Audi Allroad

Not many people were convinced by the Audi Allroad when it was first released. A jacked-up A6 with a load of grey plastic trim seemed like a curious idea, but now you can grab a 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 version for a mere £2000. Tempting, right? The ground clearance is still relatively low so it won't match some of the cars here on tricky terrain, but as this Audi 200 driver proved, that's nothing a little enthusiasm can't overcome.

8. Vauxhall Frontera

A little disclaimer before we begin: the Vauxhall Frontera is quite rubbish overall. It's not particularly reliable, not very well put together and shamefully shoddy to drive on road. Take it off road however, and it starts to make a lot more sense. Fronteras perform fantastically when the going gets rough, and can be picked up for peanuts. Prices start at a seriously tempting £700.

9. Isuzu Trooper

If you're after an inexpensive, utilitarian 4x4, you can't go far wrong with an Isuzu Trooper. Beloved by farmers everywhere, this simplistically-styled brute will take torrents of winter abuse and not even notice. Your best bet is a diesel version like this one.

10. Mitsubishi Delica

A jacked up, off-roading, 4x4 MPV? Yes please. With Shogun underpinnings the quirky Delica is a force to be reckoned with on the rough stuff, but it's also massively practical with seating for up to eight people. This example has relatively high mileage, but a full service history and only one owner from new.