The Best Off-Roading EVs of 2024 Will Electrify Your Outdoor Adventures
Even if the mainstream off-roading community wants to avoid the inevitable, electric vehicles will soon transform adventures in deserts, forests, and snowy mountains alike. Electrified powertrains offer huge advantages off the tarmac, even if getting out of the city can seem like the opposite of how many EV companies view and market their products today.
Compared to an internal-combustion off-roader, an EV runs quietly, amplifying the immersive sounds of nature without scaring off wildlife (as much). An added bonus: Engine noises also don’t drown out the sound of tires rolling over dirt, rocks, and snow—and in fire-prone areas, EVs remove the danger of temperature and spark issues starting a wildfire.
The biggest trade-off to off-roading an EV currently involves range anxiety and weight gains, of course, but Moore’s law means that batteries keep getting lighter and lighter while offering more range. And lower speeds typical of off-roading make EVs the perfect use case in terms of efficiency, even if impressive power and torque figures can help any EV blast along at top speed, too.
The electric off-roading market will continue expanding in the near future—including improvements to the reliability of Tesla’s controversial Cybertruck—but for now, here is an excellent selection of EVs, e-motorcycles, and even e-MTBs to transform that next adventure into a futuristic romp out in nature.
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Best Off-Road EV Pickup Truck: Rivian R1T
The increasingly popular Rivian R1T pickup truck might look best in Los Angeles or Marin, California, but despite its undeniable greenie-weenie status, it runs surprisingly well off-road, too. Haters are quick to point out the truck’s independent four-wheel suspension rather than solid axles, plus a curb weight that can reach over 7,000 pounds. But, with adjustable ride height and impressive suspension droop stats, the R1T can hang with the best stock internal combustion engine pickups in most terrain.
Plus—especially for the quad-motor R1T—the ability to deliver 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque in low-traction situations completely revolutionizes the concept of crawling. And all that power shows up in a big way while trudging through dunes and along dirt trails. Solid range at an EPA-estimated 352 miles makes the Rivian R1T perfect for day trips and longer overlanding adventures alike, though mounting more legit mud-terrain tires will likely cut into that figure substantially. Check our our full Rivian R1T review.
Best Off-Road EV Full-Size SUV: GMC Hummer EV SUV
The enormous brick that is the revived Hummer obviously presents trade-offs for real-life convenience. Such futuristic design hews more closely to the H2 or H3 than the original military Humvee-derived truck that debuted in the late 1990s. But as much as everyone wants to hate it—and sure, the crab walk feature is a hell of a gimmick—the new Hummer EV SUV performs pretty well off-road.
A tri-motor version can pump out up to 830 horsepower and the enormous 212-kWh battery allows for a range estimate that tops out at a legit 314 miles. More importantly, a serious air suspension system can raise the Hummer EV to create up to 16 inches of ground clearance, in so-called Extract mode, and a 49.6-degree approach angle. The only thing it needs to hit the trail with a bit more confidence would be a spare tire or two, and a heavy-duty jack to change out wheels or help a rescue effort since nothing will likely be able to winch out this 9,640-pound behemoth.
Related: GM's Hummer EV Is Its Most Monstrous Electric Flex Yet
Best Off-Road EV SXS: Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic
As the world of high-performance side-by-sides keep blowing up, thanks to the escalating power and suspension wars between Can-Am with the Maverick and Polaris with the RZR, big-time power stats seem all too common these days. But the use case for an electric side-by-side still needs work given additional weight and charging inconvenience.
That’s why Polaris decided to partner with Zero Motorcycles to electrify the Ranger UTV before the RZR. But electric torque makes the Ranger XP Kinetic a ripping little ranch cart, and one that won’t scare away livestock or wild critters. Pack the short bed with gear, get out into the woods, and explore for about 80 miles of range—not a huge number but plenty to get lost and found again.
Best Off-Road EV Dirt Bike: Stark Varg
While the Varg is currently the fastest dirt bike on the planet—gas or electric—it's also the most user-friendly thanks to its integrated adjustability. The power output (and how it’s delivered) can be dropped as low as just 10 horsepower using the full-color touchscreen dash (which is also a removable Android smartphone), and you can tinker with selectable traction control settings and regenerative braking. You can even choose between different “flywheel” settings to make the Varg emulate the feel of a four- or two-stroke engine. The possibilities are nearly endless.
Another feature we’re extremely impressed by: the personalization offered by Stark on every Varg ordered from the factory. Each bike gets either a 60- or 80-hp motor, with suspension that’s been custom-sprung for the owner’s weight, and buyers also get to choose between an 18- or 19-inch rear wheel, as well as whether they want to have a hand brake or a traditional foot brake like a gas-powered machine.
Related: This Dual-Sport Motorcycle Is the Best New Adventure Bike of Its Class
Best Off-Road EV Adventure Motorcycle: Zero DSR/X
Zero arguably sparked the e-motorcycle industry, and now leads the charge (two puns, both fully intended) in sporty and ADV electric bikes. The company’s quality keeps stepping up alongside battery capacities and motor performance, and the new DSR/X truly rides as well as some internal-combustion ADV bikes.
It’s still on the heavier end, especially once adding saddlebags full of gear and a range extender battery onto the base bike’s 544 pounds. And range estimates vary wildly from 180 miles in the city to approximately 85 miles while riding at 75 miles an hour—luckily, off-road riding tends to be a bit slower, so Zero estimates a fully loaded DSR/X can manage up to 200 miles on mixed surfaces typical of an off-road adventure. Impressive throttle modulation and modern traction control tame the 166 lb-ft of torque, and the low-slung battery helps to prevent too much tipping from an otherwise heavy bike.
Best Off-Road EV Mountain Bike: Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate
In 2021, Americans bought more e-bikes than EVs. Most popular e-bikes target urban buyers, though, with retro-futuristic styling built out of the cheapest possible components that lower the cost of entry while making serious sacrifices by increasing weight in a big way. Even many of the best e-MTB options still tip the scales at 50 pounds and up, but as the name suggests, not the Lightrider E Ultimate from Swiss bike maker Thömus.
With a carbon-fiber frame and a supremely svelte Shimano powertrain, the Thömus weighs just 33 pounds and offers enough electric assist to make riding uphill a cinch, allowing you to save energy for downhill runs. The full suspension setup helps to absorb bumps that heavier electric 29ers take much more harshly, and progressive grunt from the e-motor can provide a bit of help on flatter roads while riding to and from the trailhead.
Best Off-Road E-Bike: QuietKat Ranger AWD
QuietKat has been building some of the best e-bikes for getting out into remote places with lots of gear, whether you're going hunting, fishing, or just on an extended camping trip. Its bikes are big, burly, and made to withstand pounding on tough trails deep in the wilderness. They are hefty, but they will last.
The latest model from QuietKat, the Ranger AWD, just dropped and is the best one yet. It's the brand's first model with all-wheel drive, and can conveniently be turned on and off with a simple switch on the handlebar controls. You can toggle between rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and front-wheel drive. Two 750-kW motors in the hubs supply the grunt and can keep the 90-pound Ranger rolling for a 52-mile maximum with the 17.25Ah battery, while the upgraded thumb throttle is more finely tuned with a granular response to input.
A single-speed drivetrain provides simplicity to make the Ranger more robust and able to be put back online in the backcountry, while a 120mm front shock, 26-by-4.5-inch fat tires, suspension seat post, and comfy, wide saddle all work together to absorb bumps when off-roading. The thick frame is made from an aluminum alloy and features an integrated pannier rack that can hold up to 325 pounds. Two piston hydraulic disc brakes with beefy 203mm rotors deliver plenty of stopping power, even when you're cruising through gnarly mud and dust.
Related: Donnie Vincent on the Best Hunting Gear He Trusts With His Life
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve driven just about everything with a motor over the past six-plus years in the automotive industry, from a Bugatti Chiron to Hyundais, motorcycles, and even World War II-era tanks. During the pandemic, I discovered off-roading first as a way to escape from L.A., then progressed quickly into the more hardcore worlds of rock crawling and rally racing. But the slow pace of overlanding on a budget, rather than in some of the awesome million-dollar rigs I’ve tested, still brings together my love of nature, gear, trucks, and cooking over an open flame better than just about anything—including that Bugatti.
