All opinions are mine and mine alone.
The most challenging part of vehicle testing always comes in the winter. Manufacturers will always find out the truth about how their car handles when it gets loosey-goosey on icy roads. However, there’s always been a debate among car brands, for which type or class of car would fare better in winter. Some cars are inherently going to do better, such as four-wheel drive or 4×4 cars. Does this mean it’s unfair for rear-wheel and front-wheel drive cars? Some cars that have these layouts have other advantages such as being lighter, lower center of gravity and better throttle response, etc. So we present to you, 5 different cars and we’ll see what type comes out on top!
Jaguar E-pace
Jaguar has been at the forefront of British SUV design and has come out with a home run hero in its E-Pace model. It’s a luxury SUV, but it’s got all the qualities of one of their sports car models. It’s a little high for an SUV, but it can be lowered when in sport mode or through a dynamic setting. Its weight doesn’t seem too impressive either, at 1768kg. But to handle all that bulk, it has a 2-liter engine with about 200bhp and 300-lb ft. The same engine in petrol produces the same amount of torque but produces 300bhp.
It has a great traction control system, with multiple levels of sensitivity. It’s been designed for parents so you should have no problem applying power even in wet or snowy conditions. It has a fancy anti-roll system due to its adjustable chassis. This allows for less ‘sway’ in icy conditions, whereby the car is pulled in a diagonal direction. The brakes are great and if you can fit winter tires, something that Jaguar supplies, you can conquer the country roads in winter with this great machine.
Big old truck
Some people will never ever abandon the belief that a truck is bred for winter streets. You have a long wheelbase, which will allow for better power application and directional stability. It will also allow for more spin control and the weight is distributed more evenly. That’s maybe why a company like Bayside CDJR, only has 7 Dodge Rams left in its stable. The new 2020 models have been sprouting wings and flying off the showroom. Both 2-door and 4-door trucks are very-well suited to winter driving. With the extra chunky tires, you can fit winter chains on and due to the weight and comfort, you won’t feel the vibration if you keep it below 20mph. The chains are rated to drive to about 40-50mph. And of course, all of these trucks are four-wheel drive, so you get power control at all four corners of the vehicle. This has nothing to do with its suitableness for winter, but you feel safer when you’re in a big truck like the Ram. If you do have an incident, you stand a high chance of coming out of it unscathed.
Range Rover Discovery
I think most of us can gather why a Range Rover features on this list. It’s probably the most recognizable brand for off-road driving. The new Range Rover Discovery SUV 2020 is a great street and winter car with many pedigree. We recommend that you go with the Sport model, because of its features just for this type of driving. It’s also a four-wheel-drive car but has engines that range from 300bhp to 150bhp. The MPG is the main party piece, with some models going up to 67mpg and others going to 55mpg. But how does it handle it?
The Discovery model has been lowered and made shorter. This has helped in its weight control as Range Rovers are known to roll a lot. But, with the multi-link suspension and the exquisite frame handling, it’s a very supple drive. It’s not dull behind the wheel, so you can feel the car sliding or slipping even though it’s electric steering. This makes it a calm, subtle ride even in horrible conditions with more information and more responsiveness.
Another crossover!
If you’re feeling like you’re experiencing deja vu, it’s because you are. Well, not really, but yet here is another SUV in the form of the Volvo XC60. it’s low speeding shape should turn a few heads, even if the badge is still somehow associated with soccer moms. But kidding aside, the Volvo brand has actually been whipping BMW and Mercedes likes in several handling departments. First off, Volvo makes the industry’s best braking system, that is the for. The extremely rapid ABS system and the energy transfer and transmission retarding allow the revs of the engine to drop down and lessen the inertia of the car when slowing. This makes it an inherent winner for winter drivers.
Tesla Model S
We’re learning a lot about all-electric cars and one of those is that they make for very good winter driving machines. They have their batteries fitted very low and in the center of the car. They are also all-wheel drive and have motors at each tire, so the additional weight helps traction. The power is instant so there is very little chance of biting grip and then letting go as the revs drop or go too high. The power can much easily be threaded and due to there not being any more than just one gear, you don’t have to find the right one for the right traction. The Tesla Model S is a great example of a good all-weather car. Of course, you have all the latest sensors and computer chips to help you predict the movement of the car and guide you through the power application process.
Winter is a very challenging season for all types of cars. Regardless of the level of skill a driver has, all 5 of these cars would give you a lot of help in staying safe, getting to work on time, and avoiding veering off the road or getting bogged down in the snow.
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