All Terrain Mobility Scooters Off Road

All Terrain Mobility Scooter Buying Guide

How to choose the best all terrain mobility scooter comes down to four specs. Ground clearance, tires, suspension and climb rating decide where a scooter can go. Range, weight capacity and price decide whether it fits your day. This guide compares every model on this page on those specs, then matches them to the ground you ride.

• Compare the models side by side
• What makes a scooter all terrain
• Pick a scooter for your ground
• When a wheelchair or ATV fits better
• Ride safely on slopes
• Price, Medicare and warranty

All terrain mobility scooters compared

Every figure below comes from the product page of each model and prices update live. Climb ratings are the maker’s figure, usually measured on firm ground with a rider inside the weight limit, so leave a margin on wet grass and loose gravel.

Seated all terrain scooters

Stand up off road scooters and electric ATVs

The lighter MIA FOUR X2, FOUR X2L and SPYQE models in the grid above are two wheel drive versions of the same platform. MIA limits every US unit to 25 mph.

Which scooters are 4×4 or all wheel drive

A 4×4 or all wheel drive scooter powers every wheel, so when one wheel spins on sand, mud or wet grass the others keep pulling. Every Afiscooter and the Merits Silverado Extreme drive the rear wheels only. Going by their spec tables, these are the models we sell that can drive every wheel.

• The MIA FOUR X4 is ridden standing and switches between 4×4 and 2×4 on a 7200W drive. It is rated for 30 degree climbs and 25 mph.
• The seated MIA Mobility Scooter Package with the 4×4 upgrade is rated for 30 degree climbs, against 11.31 degrees with its standard two wheel drive.
• The EZ-Raider HD4 is ridden standing and drives all four wheels with four 1200W motors.
• The TerrainHopper Overlander 4ZS is seated, has its own motor on each wheel and sits 10 inches off the ground.
• The RMB Multi Point AWD is a seated 3 wheel scooter with a 500W front motor and a 500W rear motor, and it runs in front, rear or all wheel drive.

Two motors alone do not make a scooter 4×4. The EZ-Raider HD2 has two 1200W motors and drives the rear wheels, and the MIA FOUR X2 and SPYQE models use a dual hub motor and are two wheel drive.

Four wheel drive earns its place on soft sand, mud and loose gravel on a climb, where a rear drive scooter can spin. On lawns and packed paths a rear drive model such as the Afiscooter S4 All Terrain is enough.

What makes a mobility scooter all terrain

Ground clearance, tires, suspension and climbing power decide it. A scooter that is strong on all four handles grass, gravel and dirt paths. One that is weak on any of them gets stuck or shakes you on every bump.

• Ground clearance. About 5 inches clears roots, ruts and curb cuts on most paths. The EZ-Raider machines sit 8.4 to 9.5 inches off the ground and the TerrainHopper 10 inches.
• Tires. Air filled tires grip loose ground and soften bumps. Wide tires spread your weight so you sink less into grass and gravel. Solid tires never go flat, but they grip and ride worse once you leave the pavement.
• Suspension. Look for shocks at the front and the rear. On a gravel path it is the difference between a ride you enjoy and one you stop taking.
• Climbing power. Compare the climb rating in degrees rather than motor watts. It tells you which hills the scooter is rated for with a rider inside its weight limit.
• Range. Grass, gravel, hills and cold weather all drain a battery faster than flat pavement. Expect less than the listed range off road and plan your turnaround point.

An all terrain mobility scooter is not an ATV. The seated models travel at a walking to jogging pace, steer with a tiller and are built for paths, lawns and park trails. Mud holes, deep snow and rocky trails need a four wheel drive machine.

Which all terrain scooter fits your ground

Sidewalks, curbs and broken pavement

Every model on this page handles cracked sidewalks and curb cuts. For narrow paths and tight corners the 3 wheel Afiscooter S3 turns in a 56 inch radius against 90 inches for the S4. The Shoprider Excursion has 4 inches of clearance and suits pavement and packed paths more than rough ground.

Grass and lawns

Dry, level grass is easy for any scooter with air filled tires. The Cheetah Ninja ADA rides on turf tires made for golf course grass and doubles as a golf cart. The Afiscooter S4 with Off Road Wheels adds extra wide rear tires that sink less into soft lawn. Wet grass on a slope is where scooters lose grip, so slow down there.

Gravel and dirt paths

Packed gravel and dirt trails suit the Afiscooter S3 and S4 with their front and rear suspension. For long country rides the Merits Silverado Extreme lists up to 55 miles per charge. Deep loose gravel is a job for wide tires or four wheel drive.

Hills and slopes

Read the climb rating before anything else. The Afiscooter S3 and S4 are rated for 11 degrees at reduced speed and 8 degrees at full speed, and the Merits Silverado Extreme for 10 degrees. For steeper ground the MIA Mobility Scooter Package with the 4×4 upgrade is rated for 30 degrees and the TerrainHopper Overlander for 35 degrees. Our mobility scooters for steep hills page lists more models built for climbing.

Beach and sand

Hard, wet, packed sand near the waterline is fine for an all terrain scooter such as the Afiscooter S3 or S4 with golf tires or the Cheetah Ninja. Soft, dry sand is different. A mobility scooter sinks in it even when it is sold as all terrain. Soft sand needs four wheel drive, and our mobility scooters for soft beach sand list the MIA, EZ-Raider, TerrainHopper and Outrider machines that cross it. Our guide can a mobility scooter go on the beach explains the difference with photos.

Trails, fields, farms and hunting ground

Rough trails need clearance and traction. The EZ-Raider HD4 drives all four wheels with 9.5 inches of clearance and the MIA FOUR X4 switches between two and four wheel drive. Both are ridden standing. If you need to sit, the TerrainHopper Overlander pairs four wheel drive and 10 inches of clearance with a proper seat and an optional joystick.

When a different machine is the better answer

• If you steer with a joystick, need a reclining seat or cannot hold a tiller, an all terrain electric wheelchair is the safer choice.
• For mud, soft sand, deep snow and steep trails, look at off road wheelchairs and 4×4 adaptive ATVs such as the Outrider Coyote 4WD, with 6.5 inches of clearance and up to 120 miles of range.
• If you can stand, have good balance and want speed for trails, compare our electric ATVs.
• If your trips are mostly pavement and the car trunk, folding mobility scooters are lighter and easier to carry.
• For two riders, see the all terrain models in our two seater scooter for adults range.
• For golf, the Cheetah Ninja doubles as a golf cart, and a Golf Skate Caddy standing golf scooter suits golfers who can stand.

Riding safely on slopes and rough ground

• Drive straight up and straight down a slope. Crossing a slope sideways is how scooters tip.
• Stay inside the climb rating and the weight limit. Both matter more when the ground is wet or loose.
• Slow down before bumps, turns and downhill stretches, and use the low speed setting on rough ground.
• For scale, a wheelchair ramp built to the ADA standards rises no more than 1 inch per foot, about 4.8 degrees. A grassy hill that looks gentle can be twice that.
• Try new ground with someone walking beside you, carry a phone, and turn back with half your battery left.
• Check tire pressure before rough rides. Afiscooter lists 1.7 bar, about 25 psi.

Outdoor use, rain and storage

Keep the scooter under a roof, in a garage, carport or shed, or under a fitted weather cover. Sun, rain and frost wear out seats, wiring and batteries. Charge it in a dry place.

Light rain on the way home is fine for most models, but mobility scooters are not waterproof. Never ride through standing water deep enough to reach the motor or batteries, and dry the scooter off afterward. If you ride in all weather, an Afiscooter with a canopy and rain sides from our canopy and enclosed mobility scooters keeps you dry.

Price, Medicare and warranty

The seated models in our tables start at $4,495 for the Cheetah Ninja ADA. The Afiscooter S4 All Terrain is $6,399. Four wheel drive machines cost more, and the TerrainHopper is priced by quote.

Medicare Part B pays for a scooter only when it is medically necessary for moving around inside your home. You need a face to face exam and a written order from your doctor, and a scooter needed only outside the home is not covered (CMS policy L33789). When it is covered you pay 20% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible, and the supplier must be enrolled in Medicare (Medicare.gov).

Warranties vary more than prices. Afiscooter gives 2 years of in home service on parts and labor. Merits and Shoprider give a limited lifetime warranty on the frame. MIA and TerrainHopper cover parts only, so you pay for labor.