The Best Cars for a Mountain Trip: Top 10 Rentals in Baku — the Land Cruiser, G63, Defender, Range Rover and More from Karavan Rent A Car in Baku

Key points. The cars that handle Azerbaijan’s mountains best are the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG and the Land Rover Defender. The Land Cruiser 300 and the G63 have a low-range gearbox, while the Defender has programs that adapt the car to the surface. For seven seats, look at the Land Cruiser, Prado, Fortuner, Palisade, Highlander or BMW X7. By “mountains” we mean mountain roads: driving off them isn’t covered by insurance.

The drive from Baku to Guba, Gabala or Shahdag starts on a straight highway and ends on hairpins, where snow can lie around the next bend and an oncoming bus may need your half of the road. That’s where a car needs pulling power on the climb, calm brakes on the descent and a size that doesn’t scare you on a narrow passing place.

Car rental in Baku at Karavan Rent A Car in Baku covers many makes and classes, from city saloons to executive SUVs. This list only includes models from our own fleet that can be booked on our website. We ranked them by how confidently they handle the mountains, using our model listings and the manufacturers’ official materials for the technical data. The whole fleet, from economy cars to minivans, is open for booking in our car rental in Baku section.

How we ranked them

A car’s place on the list isn’t a verdict on the car as a whole. It answers one question: how will this model cope with a mountain road when it carries a family and their luggage? We looked at five things:

• Drivetrain. Permanent four-wheel drive and a low-range gearbox count for more than a system that only engages when a wheel slips.
• Suspension. Ground clearance, wading depth and whether the body can be raised.
• Size. On a tight hairpin or a narrow village lane, a five-metre body asks for more attention.
• Seats and luggage. A family of seven and a couple with skis need different cars.
• Comfort on the way. The mountains are hours of highway away, and driver fatigue counts too.

1. Toyota Land Cruiser 300 and 200 — the best all-round mountain car

The Land Cruiser line traces back to the 1951 Toyota BJ, and by mid-2023 the family, counting its Lexus LX and GX relatives, had passed 11 million vehicles. Our fleet has the latest-generation Land Cruiser 300 and the previous Land Cruiser 200, which runs a 4.0-litre petrol V6.

Toyota gives the Land Cruiser 300 permanent four-wheel drive and a transfer case with a low range. Depending on the trim, it adds locking differentials, Crawl Control, which holds a slow, steady pace on a steep section by itself, and Multi-Terrain Select with six modes, deep snow among them. The Land Cruiser 200 also has permanent four-wheel drive and Multi-Terrain Select.

Pros:

• the low range helps on long climbs and steep descents;
• seven seats in the Land Cruiser 300, so the family doesn’t need a second car;
• a roomy cabin that makes hours of highway from Baku feel easy.

Cons:

• at almost five metres long, it needs care in a cramped mountain courtyard;
• the big petrol engine means more fuel stops than in the hybrid Highlander.

Book the Land Cruiser 300 · Land Cruiser 200

2. Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG — the most serious hardware on the list

Graz in Austria has been producing the G-Class since 1979, and the car still sits on a ladder frame. For the generation our G63 belongs to, Mercedes-Benz lists three locking differentials, centre, rear and front, each with a 100% locking effect. The LOW RANGE button works on the move, up to about 40 km/h. There’s about 241 mm under the rear axle, and the Sand, Trail and Rock modes retune the car for the surface. Power comes from a 585 PS twin-turbo 4.0 V8.

Pros:

• three locks and a low range: no car in our fleet has more hardware for a difficult road;
• a frame and generous clearance;
• the V8 pulls uphill even when fully loaded.

Cons:

• only five seats;
• it wades through about 700 mm of water, less than the 900 mm of the Defender and Range Rover.

Book the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG

3. Land Rover Defender P400 — a program for every surface

At its Frankfurt premiere in 2019, the new Defender drove straight down a 42° slope. It brought Land Rover’s first Configurable Terrain Response, a system you can tailor yourself: the driver picks a program for the surface, such as snow or gravel, and the car adjusts its settings to match. Drive is permanent to all four wheels, and the petrol straight-six with 48-volt hybrid help puts out 400 PS and 550 Nm, while Land Rover rates the wading depth at up to 900 mm.

Pros:

• Terrain Response helps on snow and gravel;
• 400 PS is plenty for a climb with a full boot;
• five Euro NCAP stars from 2020 bring peace of mind with children on board.

Cons:

• only five seats;
• with the spare wheel on the tailgate, it stretches to 5.018 m.

Book the Land Rover Defender P400

4. Range Rover — hairpins without the fuss

People usually choose a Range Rover for its luxurious cabin, but in the mountains it surprises in a different way. On every current-generation Range Rover the rear wheels steer too, and Land Rover says this five-metre SUV needs less than 11 metres to turn around. You feel it from the very first bend of a long hairpin road. It also has a low range and an active locking rear differential. The air suspension lifts the body by 75 mm and then by another 60 mm, to 295 mm under the floor, and the wading depth is up to 900 mm.

Pros:

• all-wheel steering for tight bends;
• a body that rises over rough patches;
• a quiet cabin that keeps the drive from Baku from wearing you out.

Cons:

• five seats;
• the fifth generation is 5.05 m long, so a narrow village street calls for some manoeuvring.

Book: Range Rover, fifth generation · Range Rover, fourth generation

5. Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 250 — a new-generation family SUV

The Prado 250 is the newest generation of the model, with a boxy body 4.99 m long. Ours has a 163 PS 2.7 petrol engine, a six-speed automatic and permanent four-wheel drive whose Torsen centre differential sends torque to whichever axle has the better grip. Inside, there are seven seats, adaptive cruise control and a camera that shows what’s behind you.

Pros:

• permanent four-wheel drive with no buttons or switching;
• seven seats;
• adaptive cruise takes some of the strain out of the highway to the mountains.

Cons:

• 163 PS for an almost five-metre SUV means the engine has to work on a long climb with a full load;
• in tight spots it feels as big as its bigger Land Cruiser sibling.

Book the Land Cruiser Prado 250

6. Toyota Fortuner — seven seats in the shortest body

The Fortuner is shorter than every other seven-seater on the list, measuring 4.8 m from end to end, with 2.745 m between the axles. Under the bonnet, a 2.7 petrol works with a six-speed automatic. For 2.7 4×4 versions, Toyota lists part-time four-wheel drive with a transfer case and low range, plus hill-start assist. The boot takes five suitcases.

Pros:

• the short body is easier to place in a tight bend;
• a low range for the hard sections;
• hill-start assist stops the car rolling back on a climb.

Cons:

• four-wheel drive is engaged by hand: switch it on for snow and off again on dry tarmac;
• the boot takes five suitcases, so seven passengers will have to pack light.

Book the Toyota Fortuner

7. Ford Ranger — when the skis, bikes and tents are coming too

A pickup makes sense when your gear shouldn’t ride in the cabin: wet skis, muddy bikes, tents. The Ranger has a 4L low range, and versions with the Advanced 4WD system add a 4A mode that keeps an eye on traction by itself. Ford quotes 235 mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of up to 800 mm. In 2022, Euro NCAP gave the Ranger five stars. Our pickups are covered in detail in the guide to pickup truck rental in Baku and across Azerbaijan.

Pros:

• dirty gear rides in the bed, not the cabin;
• a low range and high clearance;
• five stars for safety.

Cons:

• five seats;
• its 3.27 m wheelbase is the longest on the list, so a tight bend needs room.

Book the Ford Ranger

8. BMW X7 — six or seven seats and air suspension

At 5.18 m, the updated X7 is the longest SUV on the list; only the Ranger pickup is longer. Air suspension on both axles comes as standard: a button raises the body by 20 or 40 mm, and in the normal position there’s 221 mm under the floor. xDrive sends more drive to the rear by default and smoothly redistributes it when the wheels start to slip. The cabin has six or seven seats; fold the second and third rows and luggage space reaches 2,120 litres.

Pros:

• a button lifts the body where the tarmac turns to gravel;
• six or seven seats and plenty of luggage room;
• a smooth ride on the long highway.

Cons:

• there’s no low range, so the X7 is built for roads rather than hard sections;
• on a narrow village street, its 5.18 m length makes itself felt.

Book the BMW X7

9. Hyundai Palisade — seven seats and a snow mode

The Palisade combines a 2.2 turbodiesel and an eight-speed automatic gearbox with HTRAC drive to all four wheels, whose electronic clutch shares torque between the axles according to grip. On the diesel all-wheel-drive version, Hyundai fits Snow, Mud and Sand modes, downhill brake control and hill-start assist. Hyundai quotes a ground clearance of 203 mm.

Pros:

• Snow mode for a snowy hairpin road;
• downhill brake control helps on a long slope;
• seven seats and a diesel with enough pull for the climb.

Cons:

• no low range;
• with the third row in use, the boot holds 311 litres, which isn’t much for seven suitcases.

Book the Hyundai Palisade

10. Toyota Highlander Hybrid — the economical choice for paved mountain roads

The 2.5 hybrid system runs on ordinary petrol and never needs plugging in. Its E-Four all-wheel drive works like this: a separate electric motor drives the rear axle and steps in when the wheels need help. Inside are seven seats and three-zone climate control.

Pros:

• the hybrid uses less fuel on a long road;
• quiet and smooth on the highway;
• seven seats.

Cons:

• the all-wheel drive engages only when needed, and there’s no low range;
• Toyota quotes about 202 mm of ground clearance, which makes it a car for tarmac, not broken gravel tracks.

Book the Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Which car suits your trip

• A family of up to seven, winter, Shahdag: the Land Cruiser or Prado 250.
• Two to four people who want plenty of capability: the G63 or Defender.
• A business trip to the mountains with guests: the Range Rover.
• Skis, bikes and tents: the Ford Ranger.
• Six or seven people with lots of suitcases: the BMW X7.
• A family driving mostly on tarmac and watching fuel costs: the Highlander Hybrid or Palisade.
• More than seven of you: a minivan, as covered in our minivan guide.

A mountain road isn’t off-road: what to know before you go

Even when a car is capable of more, the rental rules are the same across the fleet. Insurance doesn’t cover driving off the road: damage on an impassable, closed or prohibited stretch won’t be paid for even under full cover. Damage done while towing someone else’s vehicle isn’t covered either, so if another car gets stuck on a climb, leave it to a tow truck.

There’s no cap on kilometres within Azerbaijan, though rental cars aren’t allowed across the border. Karabakh is accessible after you get a pass through yolumuzqarabaga.az. Khinalug village is off-limits to the company’s cars because its access road skirts sheer cliffs.

In winter, you can add a “Winter Package” to the car: winter tyres, a brush with an ice scraper, a tow rope, a shovel, a pump and jump leads. It’s a paid option, so mention it when you book.

Five tips for the mountain road

1. Start with the route. Message the manager with your destination, the season, the size of your group and your luggage, and you’ll get a model suggested for that trip.
2. Brake with the engine. On a long descent, select a lower gear in the gearbox’s manual mode so the brakes don’t overheat. Where the car has descent control, it does the job for you.
3. Allow extra time. Average speeds on a hairpin road are much lower than on the highway, and there are few places to overtake.
4. Set off in the morning. Mountain weather changes fast, and it’s best to come back down the hairpins in daylight.
5. Don’t leave the road for a photo. Pulling onto a field or a slope already counts as off-road driving, and insurance doesn’t cover it.

Car rental in Baku for a mountain trip: how to get your car

Pick-up is possible around the clock: at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, outside your hotel or at your door. A delivery service manager brings the car and gives you the keys and a contract already drawn up in your name. The car can also be delivered straight to the regions; the website rates include Guba, Gabala and Sheki, for example. If something breaks down on the way, call us day or night, weekdays or weekends. Technical help and a tow truck are sent out, and when the breakdown isn’t your fault, you get another car.

For every requirement in one place, see our article on car rental requirements in Baku.

Questions about a mountain trip in a rental car

Do I need four-wheel drive to reach Shahdag?

The road to Shahdag, like those to Guba and Gabala, is paved. In winter, four-wheel drive and winter tyres give you extra grip on snowy stretches.

Where do the skis go?

Order a roof rack when you book.

Do I have to return the car where I picked it up?

No. You can choose another return point, provided the manager has confirmed it beforehand.

Is a credit card required?

No. Cash, a bank transfer or a debit card will all do.

The bottom line

For Azerbaijan’s mountains, start with the Land Cruiser, which combines capability, seven seats and comfort. If you want the most capability, look at the G63 and the Defender, and choose the Range Rover for how easily it takes the hairpins. Send the manager your dates, route and number of passengers, and we’ll pick the car, prepare the contract and bring it to wherever your mountain trip begins.

Book a car for the mountains on WhatsApp · WhatsApp and Telegram: +994-55-455-22-45

Further reading

• Toyota in our fleet: the brand’s SUVs, hybrids and pickup
• Land Rover in our fleet: the Range Rover in two generations, plus the Defender
• Mercedes-Benz in our fleet: executive saloons, the G63 and minivans
• BMW in our fleet: three X-series SUVs and two saloons
• Hyundai in our fleet: from city models to the seven-seat Palisade