10 Cars for Mountain Driving

Whether you have a favorite winter destination at the top of a mountain or you want to explore during warmer seasons, these are the cars for mountain driving.

These vehicles offer much more than your typical package of features needed to handle the highways. When you might be faced with gravel inclines, slippery downslopes, or some obstacles in your path, you’ll want to have a vehicle that’s packaged to give you the best chance to reach your destination with the least amount of trouble. We just happen to have that list for you.

The Iconic Subaru Outback is a Mountain Goat

You won’t find the Outback on a mountain ledge and wonder how it got there, but this impressive SUV is nimble and rugged on the trials. For many years, the Subaru Outback has been an iconic off-road vehicle that gave us something more. You’ll be glad to have the seating offered, the standard Symmetrical AWD, and the impressive towing capacity. This is a vehicle that gives you an easy way to get where you need to go and makes the adventure more fun for you and your crew.

Enjoy a Grand Time with the Jeep Grand Cherokee

Aside from the Wrangler, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has the most impressive history of off-roading. Jeep fits this SUV with plenty of features to make it easy to take out on the trails. You can tow up to 7,200 pounds and give five people the comfort of the seating offered. With an impressive 4WD package, this is a vehicle that is one of the best cars for mountain driving that you’ll find. If you want three rows of seats, the Grand Cherokee L gives you one more row and a longer wheelbase to make sure everyone can go along.

The Toyota 4Runner Was Made for the Mountains

Just look at the Toyota 4Runner; it looks like it was hand-delivered by the old-school SUVs that we no longer see in the market. Although the 4Runner has a body-on-frame construction, it also brings you the benefits of many modern features. Enjoy the massive 90 cubic feet of cargo room, 5,000-pound towing capacity, and Toyota Safety Sense package of safety features. You can go anywhere and do just about everything when you drive this Toyota SUV.

Kia offers the Telluride to do Everything

When you want one of the best cars for mountain driving that’s also comfortable and easy to enjoy on paved roads, you’ll be glad to take the Kia Telluride out for a drive. This midsize SUV has three rows of seats and 5,000 pounds of towing for you. The Telluride stands 8.0 inches off the ground, giving you enough clearance for a few roots and rocks along your way to the top of the mountain.

Take the Ram 1500 Up the Side of Any Mountain

It’s easy to understand why the Ram 1500 would be a great choice when driving up a mountain. This truck is rugged, tough, resilient, and packed with the features you need. Choose a model with 4WD, the right engine, and a higher stance, and you’ve got a vehicle that can go everywhere. This truck seats five people comfortably and can pull the trailer you want to take to the mountain lake for some fun by the water.

Let the Honda Passport be Your Ticket to the Top

The Honda Passport is made to handle the outdoors and is built perfectly for climbing up the side of any mountain. The AWD system is perfect, delivering up to 70% of the engine power to the rear axle or moving the power to one wheel when needed. This system will keep you going and show you that it’s one of the best cars for mountain driving. You’ll also admire the ground clearance and cargo room offered in the Honda Passport.

Take the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk on Your Adventures

The Trailhawk trim takes the mild-mannered Jeep Cherokee and turns it into a trail-riding beast. This impressive SUV has a 4WD system with a true low range to ensure you can move slowly through the toughest terrain. This SUV delivers up to 8.7 inches of ground clearance and is equipped with tow hooks and skid plates to make sure you can get where you need to go. This Jeep is a true off-roader and a bit of an outlier in this conversation.

The Toyota Land Cruiser has Always Been an Off-Road Champ

Even though the Toyota Land Cruiser isn’t offered in the automotive market any longer, doesn’t mean you won’t find a used model and have a great time. The Land Cruiser is a big beast of burden and is easily one of the best cars for mountain driving. This big brute doesn’t know how to quit, and it brings you the towing capacity needed to bring some extra gear for your time at the top of the mountain.

Go Up the Mountain in Class With the Land Rover Range Rover

If you don’t mind spending a little more, the Land Rover Range Rover is one of the most incredible off-road machines you can take on the side of a mountain. This amazing luxury SUV is perfect for spending time in the wilderness, even though most of these models are relegated to city streets. You can be different and use the Range Rover and all of its amazing off-road gear for what it was meant to do; climb up and down the side of a mountain.

Lest We Forget; the Jeep Wrangler is the Perfect Choice

What vehicle is made more for the challenges of mountain trails than the Jeep Wrangler? The simple answer is none. This is the perfect choice when you’re looking for the best cars for mountain driving. As long as you only have five people or fewer riding along, the Wrangler can get you wherever you want to go. In addition to offering the package of off-road gear it’s well-known for, this SUV is one of the most accessorized in the world. Surely you’ll want to add a few things to your mountain climber.