Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick, or Suzuki Vitara if they want something a little newer. I have logged many off road miles in one of those (have owned several over the years). They are by many many miles the best bang for the buck for off roading. I lifted mine with some $30 spacers, dropped some good knobby LT mud tires on them, and off the road I go.
Jeeps are stupid expensive for what they are and ride like crap. 4runners are good (I have a 5th gen I drive these days, love it), but lots more money and much heavier than the Trackers, which makes them less capable off road. Isuzus and such are fairly rare and will be a bitch to find parts for. Samurais are cool if you twist your own wrenches, but kind of junky and need lots of wrenching and ride worse than a Jeep.
Nope, Suzuki products is where it's at.