Brands revealed the best new off-road vehicles for the 2019 model year at the North American International Auto Show. Our reporter was on hand to find the top adventure trucks and cars hitting the market this year. This year’s North American International Auto Show has been a busy one for new vehicle launches, especially on the truck and adventure vehicle side of things.

Automakers have listened, and are offering more capability, better performance, improved fuel economy, more gear storage, and lots of options. Do any of these new adventure rigs tick the boxes on your adventuremobile checklist, The Ascent will be the largest Subaru ever made. It has three rows of seating for up to eight.

It looks like a large mashup between an Outback and Forester, and is built on an enlarged version of the global Impreza/Crosstrek chassis. To move the big Ascent, Subaru developed a brand new 2.4L Boxer engine. It offers 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque. The new chassis and engine combine to offer an impressive 5,000-pound towing capacity.

This new bigger Subi retains the go-anywhere adventurous spirit the brand is known for. It offers symmetric all-wheel drive as standard, 8.7-inch ground clearance, and a full 500-plus-mile range. All that adds up to capability in any weather and on a wide variety of terrains. This Ascent can get your whole family, or a big group of friends, way out into the wilderness.

It is also perfectly set up to haul a ton of gear and has a comfortable place to sleep. The dirtbag Subi life has never been more comfortable! While pricing and fuel economy numbers haven’t been released just yet, it’s easy to say that the new Ascent will be a great addition to the Subaru lineup. You’re sure to see lots of these at adventure destinations soon, as well as at local kids’ soccer games.

Slated as “the most capable mid-size sport utility vehicle,” the 2019 Cherokee will hit dealer lots very soon. The new Cherokee is bigger, more refined, more capable, and arguably better looking than its predecessor. With 1,000-pound cargo capacity and 27 cubic feet of cargo room (up to 54.9 with the rear seats folded), this new SUV has plenty of capacity to haul your adventure gear quiver and a few friends. A new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine option offers up impressive performance (270 hp and 295 pound-feet) and towing capacity (4,000 pounds), but Jeep does recommend to feed it premium fuel.

That won’t be easy on the wallet. The real reason to buy any Jeep is its “Trail Rated” capability. The new Cherokee doesn’t disappoint, with a full 8.7-inch ground clearance, lots of wheel travel, and impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles. Bottom line, this Jeep is ready to go off road.

It’ll handle any weather conditions you can throw at it, especially if you tick the right boxes on the order form. Mercedes fully rebuilt the iconic “G” to bring it squarely into the 21st century. From afar, it looks very much the same as the boxy off-road beast we all know and love. But get a little closer. You’ll see a much more refined shape as well as luxury and technology in every direction.

You’ll also notice that it’s quite a bit larger - 2.1 inches longer and 4.8 inches wider. With over 300,000 G-Classes built, and nearly 80 percent of those still on the road, the new G will build upon an impressive legacy. The solid thud of closing doors has been retained.



It’s ready for rough trails with full locking differentials, a rear tire carrier, prominent corner indicators, and the familiar BiTurbo V8. But otherwise the 2019 G-Class is a completely new beast. The refined interior has gone even further upscale. It now offers a full 5.9 inches more rear passenger leg room and over 2 inches more elbow room for all passengers. Off-road prowess has been improved even further, with a new suspension setup that utilizes IFS up front and a trailing arm solid axel setup in the rear.