The invention discloses a hanging elastic element for a heavy all-wheel drive off-road vehicle and a design method of the element. The hanging elastic element comprises a variable-stiffness few-leaf-spring assembly, an intermediate axle assembly, a rear axle assembly and a balance shaft seat, the variable-stiffness few-leaf-spring assembly comprises primary spring group springs and secondary spring group springs, a frame is fixedly connected at the upper end of the secondary spring group spring, the upper ends of the intermediate axle assembly and the rear axle assembly are respectively connected with the upper end of the balance shaft seat through the primary spring group springs, and the lower ends of the intermediate axle assembly and the rear axle assembly are respectively connected with the lower end of the balance shaft seat through lower thrusting rods. The hanging elastic element has suitable hanging partial frequency under the independent action of the primary springs and under the combined action of the primary spring group springs and the secondary spring group springs, tests of smoothness, comfort and reliability of a real vehicle are verified, a type test is verified, and the hanging elastic element has good smoothness, comfort and reliability under various working conditions and solves the problems of poor smoothness and comfort of a linear single-stiffness leaf spring of a heavy 6X6 off-road vehicle.