is Acura's mid-size 7-passenger SUV that combines luxury and practicality. While common sense may tell you to keep the MDX on paved ground, it’s wholly capable of handling moderately rough terrain.

If you love the adrenaline rush of trucking through tire-deep mud and crawling over boulders, having a vehicle with off-road capabilities is a must. And when you have a car capable of handling almost anything you throw at it, the places you can explore are limitless. But with a wide selection of off-road capable vehicles, how do you choose between vehicles masking as off-roaders and those that can genuinely take on the trail?

If you’re ready to tackle all types of terrain but aren’t convinced your MDX can handle what the road has to offer,

Jerry

, the car insurance

super app

, has you covered. We’ll break down the off-road specs for the 2022 Acura MDX, and we’ll even go over a few alternative SUVs that can tackle the road like a champ.

Can the 2022 Acura MDX go off-road?

Yes—technically speaking. The 2022 Acura MDX can hit the trails, but for anyone looking to take on serious challenges off the pavement, it’s probably not the first choice. While it may not have off-road cred like the

Jeep Wrangler

or the

Toyota 4Runner

, it does have the power to handle dirt, loose gravel, steep inclines, and pothole-laden dirt roads—but stay away from bumper-bending holes and large boulders.

With a starting price of $49,195, the Acura MDX offers a great mix of luxury, convenience, and functionality. The base MDX features a 290-hp 3.5L V-6 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with the option to upgrade to AWD.

Although it may cost you a few pennies more (who are we kidding, a couple tens of thousands), upgrading to the Type S powers you down the trails with a 355-hp 3.0L V-6 engine and standard all-wheel drive—and it’s ready to roll over some rugged terrain.

What makes the 2022 Acura MDX a good option for running the trails? Let’s take a look at some of the key specs.

Ground clearance

If you’re planning to test out your vehicle’s off-roading skills, there’s one number you’ll need to pay close attention to: ground clearance. With just 7.3 inches of ground clearance on the 2022 Acura MDX, don’t get your hopes up that you’ll be crawling rocks and hopping logs in your SUV. That said, it is capable of cruising down gravel roads and uneven surfaces and dodging the odd hole in the road without difficulty.

For an off-roading vehicle that is capable of clearing most obstacles, you want a ground clearance between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. The higher your vehicle’s minimum ground clearance, the easier it is to conquer uneven ground and obstacles without risking damage to the undercarriage or bumpers. While the MDX’s 7.3 inches may still be a ways from the 2022

Jeep Wrangler’s

10.8 inches or even the

Infiniti QX50’s

8.6 inches, you can still take the MDX off-road, and it’ll push you through moderately challenging terrain with ease.

Torque

If you want to off-road, you’ll want to know about low-end torque. Like horsepower, torque is a measure of how capable an engine is, and the higher the low-end torque is, the easier it is for your vehicle to power through tough obstacles, even at low speeds.

Good low-end torque is critical if you’re planning to hit the roads less taken because it prevents your engine from working overtime when you need to maintain momentum without too much speed.

The 2022 Acura MDX’s 290-hp 3.5L V-6 engine gets a maximum torque of 267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm—a decent amount of power to push you over moderate obstacles. But the 355-hp 3.0L V6 engine on the Type S gets 354 lb-ft of torque @ 1,400 to 5,000 rpm, matched with Acura's torque-vectoring SH-AWD system that comes standard.

Tires

All-season tires are great if you’re planning to spend most of your time on paved surfaces, but if you’re planning to cover any uneven ground, you’ll want to make sure your MDX is equipped with a solid set of off-road approved tires to help you trudge through all types of terrain.

The standard tires that come on the MDX aren’t good for going off-road—it comes with Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S, 255/50R-20 105H M+S tires. If all of those numbers mean nothing to you, don’t worry. We’ll dive into what you need to know about choosing off-roading tires.

All-terrain tires

, or A/T tires, are the best option for drivers who split their time between city streets and trails. A/T tires have a more aggressive tread design that allows them to grip rocks, sandy terrain, or wet surfaces for stronger off-road traction, but on paved roads, you’ll still enjoy a smooth and quiet drive with good handling. But if you aren’t keen on exploring in your MDX, the all-season tires that come standard on the MDX will be sufficient.

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Drivetrain

If you’re exploring unchartered territory, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle comes with all-wheel drive—and depending on which MDX model you opt for, it may or may not come standard. The MDX and MDX Technology Package come standard with front-wheel drive and optional AWD, while the remaining models are all equipped with AWD and ready to take on the trails.

Angles

Your angles are another factor you’ll want to pay attention to if you’re trekking off paved roads. For off-roading, there are two specific angles to check: the approach angle and departure angle.

Approach angle: the maximum angle that a vehicle can climb without interference

Departure angle: the maximum angle that a vehicle can descend without interference

In simple terms, if you want to head up a steep hill in your MDX, you’ll want to ensure that your vehicle's approach angle is greater than what you're trying to climb. If it’s less, you risk damaging your front bumper and undercarriage. The departure angle is the same, only applied to the rear bumper and tires.

Because the MDX isn’t built for serious off-roading, the approach and departure angles aren’t especially impressive—you’re looking at an approach and departure angle of 18.2 and 21.2, respectively. When you compare that to the 32.0 and 24.0 degrees for the

Toyota Land Cruiser

or the 42.2-degree approach angle of the

Jeep Wrangler

, you’d probably agree that the MDX is better suited for a smoother road.

Off-road rating: In a Pinch

If you want the short and sweet answer to if the Acura MDX is ready to handle trails, we’ve got it—courtesy of

Jerry’s

super-technical DIRT rating system below:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

How does the 2022 Acura MDX rank? We give it an I rating: It doesn't have the best ground clearance, and it may offer more luxury than most other off-roaders, but it can still handle straying off the roadways now and again. However, if you’re going to travel any intimidating terrain, be smart about it. And if you’re keen on a vehicle capable of climbing, you may want to consider something with higher ground clearance and better tires.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the 2022 Acura MDX

If you want an SUV that’s best suited for the pavement and light off-roading, the 2022 Acura MDX fits the bill. It’s a good mix of luxury and rugged capability, but it may not be the right fit for every driver. Whether you want a vehicle that can clear more obstacles or your budget is accommodating the relatively hefty price tag of the MDX, there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Here are a few of the best alternatives to the 2022 Acura MDX, regardless of what you’re looking for.

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Whether you’re trudging through sand and mud or crawling over logs, off-roading is a lot of fun. But when it comes to insuring your off-road vehicle, it can be a lot less fun. Buying an off-road vehicle isn’t cheap, and insuring one isn’t either. While hitting the trails may be the thrill you’re craving, insurance companies aren’t keen on insuring cars at high risk for damage.

But just because you want to have some fun shouldn’t mean you have to be excessive amounts for insurance—and with

Jerry

, you don’t. As the #1 rated car insurance app and a

licensed insurance broker

, Jerry compares rates from over 50 top insurers to get you the best deal. Whatever your budget, Jerry will find you the best options for the right coverage.

You could save an average of $800+ a year on car insurance by shopping with Jerry!

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