These days nearly all the car-makers have a vehicle with off-road capability in the catalogue but the type of technology used varies a lot and the names given to it are legion. So what is best?
Despite the rugged image, a sports utility (SUV) for instance does not always come with 4WD. Some of them have it and some don't. These cars are more suitable for driving down dirt roads than for plunging into muddy hollows.
For negotiating rugged terrain only a genuine 4WD or AWD (all-wheel-drive) will do. The mechanicals of both are very similar but all-wheel drive is used to describe vehicles that have a four-wheel drive system designed to maximise road traction, for example on slippery roads.
AWD is regarded as a safety feature and used by many brands, notably Subaru and Audi, to promote car models. Many AWD systems restrict the drive to one set of wheels, either front or rear. They only engage the second set of wheels when the system detects a slippage or a lack of traction, or for performance or efficiency purposes.
4WD models come in different guises too. There are 4WDs with the off-road technology engaged by default and others with an on-demand setting which gives maximum drive in slow-going off-road scenarios only. The part-time mode is activated either by the driver or else electronically.
Most regular drivers will be happy with an electronic system that engages the drive to all four wheels without them noticing, says professor Joern Getzlaff from the Zwickau College of Automotive Technology in Germany.
Traditional systems with four-wheels driven all the time are fine in the dirt although they are literally a drag on the tarmac with the increased mechanical friction leading to higher fuel consumption and enhanced wear.
"But drivers who want to tackle difficult terrain should still opt for conventional mechanical all-wheel drive," says the expert. Such genuine off-roaders are typically used by forestry workers, game hunters and globe-trotting tourists.
The advantage of modern electronic four-wheel-drive, on the other hand, is that the extra grip is only used when conditions demand. It's ideal for rain-soaked roads, patches of snow and trips down muddy lanes when you are towing a heavy trailer.
A multi-plate clutch on board ensures the second axle is only powered when need be, with the drive distributed evenly between both axles to ensure maximum grip.
Johann Juentgen, who runs a workshop for off-road vehicles in Dormagen, is a fan of default 4WD systems. "They are robust, work efficiently and are suitable for owners who often stray off the beaten track", said the expert.
Owners who regularly haul a heavily-laden trailer will also appreciate the extra torque provided when all four wheels are driven simultaneously.
Juentgen warns that less powerful SUVs with multi-plate clutches can only be used for the occasional off-road outing since they wear quickly under frequent use and need to be replaced. The electronics are also prone to gremlins.
Quattro was the name given by Audi to its all-wheel-drive set-up in a sports coupe as far back in 1980 and the system has been used ever since. Volkswagen used the badge Syncro for its all-wheel-drive Golf in 1986 and 4Motion for other models while the first all-wheel drive medium saloon from BMW was the 325x.
Some Mercedes-Benz models use what they call a 4Matic all-wheel-drive, a variable all-wheel system that can automatically change from pure front-wheel drive for steady highway driving to a 50:50 front-rear split in harsher conditions.
A permanent option using a torque split with power always applied to all four wheels is available on other models like the boxy G-type off-roader.
Hybrid cars, which use a power-train combining an electric motor with a combustion engine, are also offered in all-wheel-drive form. Electric drivetrains provide an instant yet smooth torque delivery and the torque boost can help in tricky situations where low-end power is needed to clear an obstacle.
High-performance models often feature torque vectoring, which is the process of sending engine urge to the wheels that need it most.
Unlike traction control systems that use the brakes for this, decent torque-vectoring systems have electronically activated limited-slip differentials. These work faster and more effectively.
