Given how badly the Chevrolet S-10 held up with Pedro Pascal’s Joel behind the wheel, we go in search of what cars are best suited to surviving at end of the world scenario

Is it a stretch to imagine what a full on apocalypse might look like? Well, a watch of The Last of Us will quickly stir the imagination. The post pandemic world featured in the HBO show is sparse, with ransacked cities overrun with infected, and a vast empty road network being slowly reclaimed by nature. For those still lucky enough to have one, functioning cars are among the hottest property around, but what would be the ideal machine to navigate a desperate dystopian future?

In The Last of Us, it’s a Chevrolet S-10. At first glance you might not think it the ultimate end of the world vehicle. But this reliable workhorse is a more than sensible choice, especially in the spec it’s in. It’s a second generation crew cab model, with four doors and a shorter bed in the back (we’d take more lockable interior space any day), while the engine is the more powerful 4.3-litre V6 – perfect for quick escapes from trouble. The S-10 is lovingly kept by survivalist Bill in the show. He repairs its damaged grille, and even keeps it under a cover inside his garage, ensuring that in his 20+ years of ownership, it runs as good as new.

This longevity is also down to the time period the truck was built in. The early ’00s was the last of the analogue automobiles, which didn’t wholly rely on electronics. And anyone that’s ever entertained any discourse around apocalypse lore knows that is only a good thing. There are numerous forums dedicated to this fact, with many users warning against new Teslas, which are able to be remotely taken over and shut down. It’s better to go off grid, instead relying on the good, old fashioned combustion engine. The 2nd gen S-10 would be relatively easy to maintain too, and, because there’s so many of them (at least in the US), salvaging for parts would be a doddle.

Spoiler alert but the S-10 doesn’t last long when Joel (Pedro Pascal’s character) gets behind the wheel. Its front windscreen is smashed and the tyres punctured by a spike strip before it crashes into a shop front. It’s a bitter end for the trusty steed, but could it have been avoided? Perhaps a windscreen guard or run flat tyres could have done the trick. Or maybe it was the wrong choice altogether.

A better one might be a brand new Land Rover Defender. It’s the consummate go-anywhere vehicle, and comes equipped with a wide array of necessary features. You can even spec your own apocalypse-ready Defender online now. I did. Make sure to select the 110 base model (not too small, not too big) with the optional ‘Explorer Pack’. This comes with the snorkel intake, which sucks in air from an elevated position to avoid sand, mud or water clogging the engine. You’ll also get the lockable exterior side mounted luggage (perfect for keeping the grenades from rolling around the back seats), and the Expedition roof rack (adjustable for mounting a tent or small boat to). There’s also the Air Suspension pack, the Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack and the Towing Pack for added measure. And don’t forget the 12-way heated seats made from Khaki grained leather, for ultimate comfort when mowing down the undead. More important are the 18 inch steel wheels on off-road tyres.

But the Defender is more complex than its old school looks imply, with the majority of them hybrids and with complicated computer systems. Perhaps you want simple, big, American. You want a Ford. An Explorer would do nicely. If the 1st gen’s hulking 4.0-litre V6 is too tiny, try the 2nd gen’s 5.0-litre small block V8, which comes with the reassuring burble of suburban America. Alternatively there’s the Bronco. A US icon, it’s a simple, do-anything motor now into its sixth generation.

It was even the choice of the T-800 and John Connor in Terminator 2, attesting to its genuine apocalypse credentials. Perhaps it will be AI that soon tears us apart (2029 according to T2) and not expensive mushrooms.

The ultimate choice may not be an SUV at all. It might be the Mercedes-Benz W123. This ’70s classic is a tank, renowned as much for its reliability and rock solid build as it is for its charming design. It’s not uncommon for them to comfortably reach over 1,000,000 miles, with taxi drivers around the world consistently hitting seven figures. Easy to maintain and endlessly durable no matter the terrain, the W123 might also be the coolest choice.

But maybe it shouldn’t be a car at all. Surely a motorbike is better suited to apocalypse life? You could easily navigate roads clogged by abandoned vehicles, and be better equipped for escaping off road, being able to ride into otherwise impossible areas. You could load it up with saddle bags and there’s even the Wingman of the Road, an all-in-one tent that attaches to your bike for overnight camping. It might just be the perfect solution for quick, remote sleeping, whether you want to evade an incoming horde or just fancy escaping the rat race for a night.