Pioneer 1000-5 UTV offers four-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, and a whopping 12.2 inches of ground clearance—making it a real workhorse when it comes riding over rough terrain.

While SUVs like the

Jeep Wrangler

Ford Bronco

offer impressive off-road performance, experienced backcountry drivers know that the toughest terrain conditions require an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) or UTV (utility terrain vehicle) instead. These automobiles are specially constructed from the ground up to handle everything from sand and mud to boulders and rocky mountain sides.

If you’re thinking about buying a Pioneer 1000-5 for your weekend wilderness excursions, you’ve come to the right place. This guide from

super app

and

car insurance

expert

Jerry

covers important off-roading specs like ground clearance, tires, and drivetrain—and goes over how the Honda UTV compares to the competition.

Can the Honda Pioneer 1000-5 go off-road?

Yes, the

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 can—and should—go off-road. As a UTV, or utility-terrain vehicle, it was designed with the backcountry trails in mind. For a base MSRP of $18,299 you get four-wheel drive with side-by-side traction control, huge 27-inch tires, electric power steering, friction-reducing disc brakes, a 2,500-pound towing capacity, and other features that make the Pioneer 1000-5 excel on off-road terrain of all difficulty levels.

MORE: What to look for when buying an ATV

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Ground clearance

The most important thing to consider before hitting the trails is your vehicle’s ground clearance or its ride height. The more space there is between the lowest part of your car and the ground, the less likely it is to take damage when rolling over large obstacles.

With a generous 12.2 inches of ground clearance, the

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 has the chops for truly tough terrain, surpassing even the

Ford Bronco

and its 11.5-inch ride height. This means that the Pioneer 1000-5 can be a great option for experienced off-roaders who want to test their skills on trails ranked difficult or higher.

MORE:

What is frame damage to a car?

Torque

Your vehicle’s turning power, or torque, is another important spec to look at when it comes to rolling over rocky ground or driving up a steep hill. The

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 combines the power of its 999cc twin-cylinder engine with its four-wheel-drive system, roller rockers, brake-traction control, and Honda’s torque-biasing limited-slip differential to minimize friction and adjust the wheels on terrain where traction is difficult to maintain.

Tires

The

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 comes equipped with a set of OTR Dirt Master UTV tires. These tires have an overlapping tread pattern that offers solid performance on virtually any terrain, and the deep V-shaped center tread improves traction when driving in mud, snow, or sand.

Drivetrain

The

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 uses intelligent four-wheel-drive technology to maintain traction even when one of your wheels is spinning because it’s stuck in the mud or in a hole. It also offers lighter steering, a tighter turning radius, reduced kickback, and an optional turf mode for when you need as much traction as possible.

Angles

If you’re going to drive your car over rocky, uneven, or steep ground, it’s a good idea to be aware of its rollover angle so you don’t accidentally flip. With a rollover angle of 36.6 degrees, the

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 can handle some pretty large obstacles or steep terrain conditions before it gets into trouble.

Keep in mind that this measurement only applies to lateral stability—steep side angles can still be dangerous and should only be attempted by experienced off-roaders.

Off-road rating: Trail boss

If you’re still not sure if the

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 is the right off-road vehicle for you,

Jerry's

super-technical DIRT rating system can help you decide. Here’s how it breaks down:

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

Based on its impressive ground clearance, superior tires, high rollover angle, and four-wheel-drive system, we think the Pioneer 1000-5 deserves a T rating. With an experienced driver behind the wheel, this dedicated off-road UTV can offer outstanding performance whether you’re riding over sand dunes, through mud, or scaling a craggy mountainside.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the Honda Pioneer 1000-5

If you’re in the market for a UTV that can handle your weekend excursions to the backcountry, the

Honda

Pioneer 1000-5 is a great pick—but for drivers working with a different budget, or who simply aren’t sold on the Pioneer 1000-5 yet, here are some alternatives:

Alternative	Model	Starting price	Description
Best low-cost alternative	Polaris Ranger	$10,699	This no-frills UTV has less power and ground clearance than the Pioneer, but can still handle moderate-to-difficult terrain.
Best comparable alternative	Kawasaki Teryx4	$19,399	With 11.2 inches of clearance, four-wheel drive, and off-road tires, the Kawasaki Teryx4 offers similar performance to the Pioneer 1000-5 but has sportier exterior styling.
Best high-end alternative	Yamaha Wolverine X4	$24,249	This off-road automobile offers impressive ground clearance, a powerful engine, four-wheel drive, and some premium features like a 28-gallon cargo box, high-back seats, and knee padding.

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

If you’re planning to buy a dedicated off-road automobile like a UTV, don’t forget that you’ll also need to insure it—just like a regular car. The good news is that it's usually much less expensive to insure a dedicated off-road vehicle than it is to insure a trail-rated SUV that would be used for both on- and off-road driving.

If you’re about to add a new UTV to your

car insurance

, now is the perfect time to

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