Sold from 1986 to 1995, the Samurai was Suzuki’s first four-wheel-drive vehicle sold in the U.S. It was an instant hit upon its debut and a massive success—by 1988, Americans were buying about 8,000 Samurais per month. Controversy about the Samurai’s tendency to roll over in accidents was a leading cause of its downfall, but insane off-road capabilities combined with iconic style made the Samurai a beloved off-road vehicle and a venerated collectible.

Want to find out what makes the Samurai so splendid? Come along with

Jerry

, the car insurance comparison master and all-around

automotive super app

. We’ll break down the specs of the Samurai, how much you can expect to pay for a used one, and some alternatives if you’re looking for newer off-road capable vehicles.

Can the Suzuki Samurai go off-road?

Oh, yes. It may not be the most comfortable or feature-heavy choice, but what sets the Samurai apart is its notoriously capable off-road abilities. The Samurai was priced much more competitively than its rivals, too, with an initial base price of $6,650 in 1986.

This factor combined with its customizability led to its success in the U.S. market. Its performance, durability, and reliability in off-road scenarios were legendary, and finding one on the used market today can be a challenge. Expect to pay anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000. It can also be difficult to find one that isn’t heavily modded, which may or may not be a bonus point depending on what your goals are.

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Ground clearance

Off-road enthusiasts know that ground clearance is a critical number when looking at a vehicle’s capability. The distance from the ground to the lowest part of the vehicle’s chassis can mean the difference between clearing that boulder or getting stuck on it. Most experts recommend a ground clearance of at least 8.8 to 10.8 inches for offroading. The Samurai comes in at 8.1 inches, which is decidedly low. Most folks who are serious about off-roading in their Samurais gain three plus inches of clearance with a lift kit.

Torque

The Samurai has 76 lb/ft of torque, which by today’s standards isn’t terrific. The highly modifiable Samurai shines here again—turbocharging kits and engine upgrades are common and increase the engine’s overall power. Additionally, the Samurai’s light weight meant that you didn’t need a ton of power to get where you wanted to go.

Tires

Any Samurai on the road today is not sporting stock tires. There are a wide variety of tires you can get for the Samurai, and there are a few options that can even get you a few more inches of ground clearance.

If you’re off-roading, you’ll want a good set of all-terrain or even mud tires. The aggressive tread pattern in these makes them more suitable for rough, uneven terrain, but they don’t last very long for pavement driving.

Drivetrain

All-wheel drive is a must for off-roading, and it’s standard on most years of the Suzuki Samurai. In 1990 Suzuki experimented with a two-wheel-drive version but discontinued it in 1993.

Angles

Off-roading is all about the angles: specifically, the approach angle and departure angle. Here’s what that means:

Approach angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference

Departure angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference

Here’s where the Samurai struts its stuff as a nimble rock crawler. With an approach angle of 48 degrees and a departure angle of 39 degrees, the Samurai is capable of climbing up and over some pretty hard-core obstacles.

Off-road rating: Trail Boss

We’ve rated the Suzuki Samurai 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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The Suzuki Samurai earns the rating of Trail Boss, especially if you’ve got one that’s been outfitted for off-road adventures—which is where you’ll find the bulk of these guys nowadays.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the Suzuki Samurai

There was only one Suzuki Samurai, and their status as a collector’s car can make them a little hard to find. Plus, once they’ve been modded to maximize their off-road capabilities, they’re not exactly the best daily driver.

Here are a few new alternatives to the Suzuki Samurai that will appease your itch for something on the rugged SUV side, but will also let you ride in comfort when you’re on a grocery run.

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	2023 GMC Acadia	$35,000	With seating for up to seven and four-wheel drive available, this is an SUV that’s at home in heavy traffic and heavy snow.
Best eco-friendly alternative	2023 Toyota BZ4X	$42,000	This all-electric SUV is only available in front-wheel drive, but the X-Mode drive mode will help you tackle mud, snow, and dirt with confidence.
Best luxury SUV alternative	2023 Lincoln Aviator	$52,480	This rear-wheel SUV has available all-wheel drive and a host of driver assistance and passenger comfort features.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

One major drawback of owning an off-road capable vehicle is that not only are they often more expensive to buy and maintain, but they can also be more expensive to insure as well. Driving off-road means that damage to your vehicle is more likely, so insurance companies will charge you a higher premium as a result.

But you can offset that with ease by shopping for your car insurance with

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