People these days are actively getting into adventure sports. Paddlesports such as kayaking and canoeing are a few of the most popular forms of activities. But how do you carry your kayaks and paddles to the creek? Even though automakers provide utility packages on some of their models, things can still get pretty tight and rough. Tying them up on 'non-compatible' cars sure plays the party spoiler before even the fun could begin. To get that out of your mind and to make sure you look forward to your paddle-sporting every weekend, we have listed ten vehicles that are the best on the market for kayaking and canoeing.

Subaru Outback

The Outback is a phenomenal product that mixes between a car and a crossover, but it's not a wagon, either. It blends the best of both worlds while looking tough and handsome. It has a roof rack with built-in crossbars that can be detached when not required, and a low roof that makes it easier to tie down your stuff. The Outback also boasts a ground clearance of 8.7-inches, and thanks to the well-tuned suspension, it can be taken over treacherous passages with ease. On the inside, it comes with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, moonroof, power tailgate, etc. It comes with a sticker price of $26,400.

Engine

2.5-liter, four-cylinder mill

Horsepower

175 horses

Torque

174 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

All-wheel drive

0-60 mph

7.1 seconds

Top Speed

139 mph


Read our full review on the 2018 Subaru Outback.

Nissan Rogue

Unlike its name, the Rogue is actually a straight-forward, no-nonsense crossover that knows its duties and does them well. Its utility and versatility make it one of the best cars for kayaks. It's available in hybrid avatar as well. Nissan also offers the Rogue with an all-wheel-drive setup on every trim. The spec list includes stuff like seven-inch touchscreen, moon roof, etc. You can also get yourself a surround-view camera system on the higher trims to help you maneuver through tight spaces. It starts at $25,000.

Engine

2.5-cylinder, four-cylinder mill

Horsepower

170 horses

Torque

175 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Front Wheel Drive

0-60 mph

9.1 seconds

Top Speed

125 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Nissan Rogue.

Ford F-150

The F-150 holds the 'best-selling' title for a reason. You can expect the utility of a typical pickup truck along with the luxury that this segment has not heard of. It looks handsome, comes with multiple powertrain options, and is filled with features inside the cabin. Inside the spacious cabin, Ford has offered features like eight-inch touchscreen system and moon roof, among others. The Ford F-150 starts retailing at $28,200

Engine

3.3-liter, V-6 mill

Horsepower

290 horses

Torque

265 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Rear wheel drive

0-60 mph

7.8 seconds

Top Speed

105 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Ford F-150.

Subaru Forester

The Forester is known for its utility and comfortable ride quality, both of which are quite necessary when you're in the market for a vehicle for kayaking. The crossover provides an immense amount of cabin and cargo space, lots of safety tech, and a good fuel economy as well. . It is fairly loaded on the inside as well, with 6.5-inch touchscreen, keyless ignition, etc. To make things better, Subaru has offered the Forester with an all-wheel-drive system as standard. The automaker sells the Forester from $24,300.

Engine

2.5-liter, four-cylinder

Horsepower

182 horses

Torque

176 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

All wheel drive

0-60 mph

8.5 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Subaru Forester.

Honda CR-V

The CR-V cracks into this list for its excellent versatility. Whether you're hauling luggage, people, or your outdoorsy items, this Japanese SUV makes a strong case for itself. The CR-V comes loaded with stuff like a seven-inch touchscreen system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, moonroof, and heated front seats, to name a few. Overall, the CR-V is one of the best cars for kayaking. The CR-V starts at $24,400.

Engine

1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged

Horsepower

190 horses

Torque

179 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Front wheel drive

0-60 mph

8.8 seconds

Top Speed

112 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Honda CR-V.

Volkswagen Atlas

The Volkswagen Atlas is one of the best cars for kayaks, thanks to its room-like cabin space that can swallow just about anything. The Atlas has the typical VW fit and finesse inside the cabin and is designed to serve well as a daily commuter and for those adventurous weekend getaways. Thanks to the roof rails, you can also tie up your stuff 'on' the car. The Atlas is not devoid of any tech features and is in line with the competition. Volkswagen has offered it with two engine options, but both of them require visits to the fuel pumps frequently.

Engine

2.0-liter, four-cylinder

Horsepower

235 horses

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Front wheel drive

0-60 mph

7.2 seconds

Top Speed

135 mph


Read our full review on the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.

GMC Canyon

It might be an odd duck in this list, but do not underestimate the GMC Canyon. Even though its ride and handling have gotten better over time, the GMC Canyon still feels like a truck and will primarily be used for off-roading and carrying kayaks and stuff. The Canyon can be a great camping vehicle once you add a canopy to it. GMC offers a lot of customizations on the Canyon, but that increases the prices significantly. The interior is classy and refined, and the automaker also offers multiple, robust engine options. GMC sells it for $22,200 in base form.

Engine

2.5-liter, four-cylinder

Horsepower

200 horses

Torque

191 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Rear wheel drive

0-60 mph

6.8 seconds

Top Speed

99 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 GMC Canyon.

Toyota RAV4

The RAV4 is clearly not the winner on this list, but it is backed by a long history and its hauling capabilities. It is one of the most stylish crossovers out there today. It comes with a wide range of trims, has a lot of safety tech, and can wander through unknown terrains confidently. We would recommend the Adventure AWD trim that comes with better off-roading skills and is tougher than the other variants. In terms of features, Toyota offers the RAV4 with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, keyless ignition, and dual-zone climate control, to name a few. The car comes with a starting sticker price of $25,500.

Engine

2.5-liter, four-cylinder

Horsepower

203 horses

Torque

184 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Front wheel drive

0-60 mph

7.8 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota RAV4

Nissan Pathfinder

The Pathfinder is mainly known for its utility and cabin space, and that is exactly what this list is all about. The Pathfinder has no dearth of space whatsoever on the inside, and you can create a lot more by flipping the rear seats. Other than its luggage lugging prowess, the Pathfinder can also haul people comfortably on long journeys. Despite the big engine, it will not interest enthusiasts, but the car's feature list is quite rich. Nissan also offers the Pathfinder with an all-wheel-drive setup on every trim level. Not to mention, there are roof rails where you can tie your kayaks safely. The Nissan Pathfinder starts retailing at $31,000.

Engine

3.5-liter, V-6 mill

Horsepower

284 horses

Torque

259 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Front wheel drive

0-60 mph

7.4 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder.

Honda Passport

The Pilot's sportier alter ego needs a mention here even though it does not stand out from the crowd. It is an all-rounded vehicle that neither excels, nor disappoints in any department. The all-wheel-drive trims of the Passport sit slightly higher off the ground than the other trims. The Passport features an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless charging pad, etc. The top-trim is priced well north of $40,000 but the base trim retails at $32,000.

Engine

3.6-liter, V-6 engine

Horsepower

280 horses

Torque

262 pound-feet

Drive (AWD, FWD, RWD)

Front wheel drive

0-60 mph

6.2 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph


Read our full review on the 2019 Honda Passport.