Good off-road capabilities are essential for keen outdoor adventurers. If you’re ready to take on any terrain, you can travel where your heart desires. And while there are plenty of off-roading vehicles lining dealership lots, which ones are true trail bosses and which ones are just for show?

If you’re ready to get some mud on your tires but aren’t sure if your Ascent is equipped to handle the bumps,

Jerry

, the car insurance

super app

, is breaking down the off-road specs for the 2021 Subaru Ascent. We’ll look at key off-roading features like ground clearance and torque, and more capable off-roading alternatives to consider if you’re looking for a down-and-dirty SUV.

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Can the 2021 Subaru Ascent go off road?

Yes and no—the Subaru Ascent wasn't built as an off-roading vehicle, but with all-wheel-drive, a decent ground clearance, and good suspension, it’s capable of hitting some light off-road trails. However, it’s not an adrenaline junkie’s first choice for a car.

Starting at $32,795, the Ascent is Subaru’s largest vehicle, and loyal brand followers will appreciate the brand's versatility, ample passenger and cargo space, and a suspension system designed to smooth out bumps in the road for a comfortable ride. The high-strength steel frame provides a quiet drive on paved roads and added durability when headed off-road. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-MODE, your Ascent is ready to explore when you are.

What else makes the 2021 Subaru Ascent a solid contender for your epic off-road adventures? Let’s zoom in on some of the key specs.

Ground clearance

If you’re looking to take your vehicle off-road, ground clearance is one of the most important numbers to watch. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, the 2021 Subaru Ascent can stray off paved roads, but you won’t want to hit any significant obstacles.

Generally speaking, you want your ground clearance to be between 8.8 and 10.8 inches for optimal off-roading ability. The higher your vehicle’s minimum clearance, the more capable of conquering rough terrains without fearing damage to the undercarriage. Compare the Ascent’s ground clearance to the 2021

Jeep Wrangler’s

9.7 inches, and the Ascent is falling behind—but that doesn't mean it can’t tackle the trails.

Torque

For anyone who knows about off-roading, torque is something to savor—and for off-road vehicles, we look at low-end torque. The greater the low-end torque is, the faster you can go over obstacles. The low-end torque we’re talking about here means that rock-crawlers choose control over speed.

Low-end torque is essential if you’re going off-road because it prevents your engine from working overtime when you need to maintain momentum in sticky situations or go over rough terrain without too much speed. Low-end torque doesn’t require high RPM, so you don’t need to activate the throttle as much to keep the car moving forward.

The 2021 Subaru Ascent’s turbocharged 2.4L four-cylinder powertrain gets maximum torque of 277 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm. It doesn't have much power, and your chances of accessing it at a lower rpm are slim, meaning it’s not an ideal vehicle to trudge through mud with.

Tires

For anyone planning to stray from paved surfaces now and again,

all-terrain tires

are the way to go. But where the 2021 Subaru Ascent loses a bit of momentum is what's driving the vehicle: the Falken Ziex ZE001 A/S, 245/50R-20 102H M+S tires. Confused? Tire lingo isn’t the easiest to understand, but here’s what you need to know about them.

All-terrain tires, or A/T tires, are the go-to tires for those who want to master the streets and the trails—they’re the middle ground between all-season and mud-terrain tires that offer the capability for both conditions. However, A/T tires don’t tend to last as long as all-season tires, but all seasons don’t have the same grip as all-terrain tires.

While the Ascent may pack more durable all-season tires, they’re not the best option for off-road performance.

Drivetrain

If you’re taking your vehicle off the paved roads, all-wheel drive is a must—and it comes standard on the 2021 Subaru Ascent. While many SUVs come standard with front-wheel drive and optional AWD, the Ascent is one of the lucky few that don’t give you an option, setting you up to conquer anything.

Angles

Catching the right angle is one of the most important things about off-roading—that is, the approach angle and departure angle. Let’s break those down:

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

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

Simply put, if you want to climb a steep hill, you need an approach angle that is greater than what you’re trying to climb, or you risk damage to your front bumper or the undercarriage. The departure angle is the same but applied to the rear bumper and tires. Typically, a shorter overhang at the rear will have a greater departure angle than one with a longer overhang.

If it wasn’t clear that the Ascent isn’t meant for heavy-duty off-roading, here’s another example to clarify—the approach and departure angles of the 2021 Subaru Ascent are 17.6 and 21.8, respectively. Compared to the 42.2-degree approach angle of the

Jeep Wrangler

or the 33 degrees of the

Toyota 4Runner

, the Ascent isn’t capable of tackling seriously uneven ground.

However, it’s sufficient to push you through gradual inclines and the occasional dip.

Off-road rating: In a pinch

If you’re looking for a simple answer to the Subaru Ascent’s off-roading capabilities, we’ve answered it using

Jerry’s

super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table 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

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How does the 2021 Subaru Ascent fare? We give it an I rating. While it may look off-road capable, the Ascent is a solid crossover SUV built for paved roads. If you need to cover a bit of rocky terrain, it can get the job done, but if you’re looking to rock-crawl or trudge through water or mud, consider something a bit more rugged.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the 2021 Subaru Ascent

If you’re eyeing a vehicle that’s capable on the paved ground and can handle the occasional off-road adventure, the 2021 Subaru Ascent probably fits the bill. But even with excellent reliability, the Ascent still may not cut it for some drivers. Maybe you’re looking for something more affordable, or maybe you’re looking for the most rugged, off-roading beast you can find.

Here are a few of the best alternatives to the 2021 Subaru Ascent, regardless of what you’re looking for.

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best off-road alternative	2023 Kia Telluride	$35,000	The Kia Telluride is comparable in size to the Ascent, but the 2023 model boasts an X-Line and X-Pro off-road packages that increase the ride height and add special traction control modes.
Best roomier alternative	2022 Honda Pilot	$39,810	The Pilot wins the top pick for the best three-row, mid-size SUV. While it’s pricier than the Ascent, it has roomier rear seating and a smoother ride, but it doesn’t come standard with AWD. However, the price jump may be a turnoff for drivers looking for off-road capability on a tight budget.
Best eco-friendly alternative	2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid	$39,950	With available all-wheel drive, a powerful V6 engine, and a hybrid powertrain, the Highlander is better on gas than the Ascent. With approach and departure angles of 18.1 and 22.9, don’t expect it to save fuel powering you through rocks, logs, and mud.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Off-roading can be a lot of fun when you’re in the thick of the bush or trekking through heavy mud, but one of the biggest pitfalls—no pun intended—is that insuring an off-road vehicle can be costly.

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