The 5 best SUVs and 4x4s to survive the snow

Storm Filomena has caused, and is still causing, havoc in Spain with snowfalls that will go down in history and that haven’t been seen in around forty years. Cities such as Madrid have been buried under a thick blanket of snow. Many volunteers have taken out their off-road vehicles and SUVs to help the population. What’s more, brands such as Ford and Suzuki have lent some units so that citizens could get to hospitals, medical centres, etc. After this storm, you’re surely feeling like getting behind the wheel of a true off-roader or an SUV with serious off-road capabilities.

We’re talking about large vehicles with a high ground clearance and tyres suited to the harsh weather, such as winter tyres. In Spain, there are still few drivers who use them, but this type of tyre can be a great help if you’re going to drive in difficult areas. They have a deeper tread pattern, which makes them ideal for snow, ice and even mud. In addition to fitting specific tyres, the chosen model should have a good all-wheel drive system. It’s true that nowadays the pure off-road segment is trending downwards, but there are still many models that may catch your attention, for example the Nissan Navara, the Nissan Pathfinder, the Mitsubishi L200, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Land Rover Discovery or the Dacia Duster 4×4. To help you decide, we have selected what may be the best SUVs for surviving the snow.

Land Rover Defender

The phoenix has risen from its ashes, and the Land Rover Defender has arrived on the market stronger than ever. The model offers a short wheelbase with reduced overhangs. This makes it possible to offer exceptional geometry. It is available in the 90 or 110 versions. The Defender has now become “the most demanding and capable Land Rover ever created, and offers 21st-century connectivity with unbeatable off-road performance.” Drivers can choose the off-roader with different equipment packs called Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban.

Among the new features, the new Defender features a revolutionary infotainment system called PIVI, which has an intuitive interface. The Land Rover Defender is available with diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid engines. The starting price of the Land Rover 90 is 54,980 euros, while the Land Rover Defender 110 starts at 61,480 euros in Spain.

https://youtu.be/u7Oc4g_CtZc

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class keeps its essence from generation to generation. The off-roader from the brand with the star has now improved many key elements so that it has become a very capable luxury SUV. It is one of the best options if you’re looking for a great premium car to move freely over mud, ice and snow. It is one of the few luxury SUVs that keeps the low-range gearbox and the locking of the three differentials. It is, without a doubt, the grandfather of modern SUVs from Mercedes-Benz. It was renewed in 2018 after more than 40 years of interrupted production. It is a brutal car, that’s for sure, and its price is brutal too.

https://youtu.be/7iGFH5HbWGM

Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser has just been renewed and has arrived with a major facelift that noticeably improves its characteristics. The model keeps its virtues and remains one of the most robust and effective off-roaders on the planet. On snow it performs very well thanks to the low-range gearbox and its three differentials. Two of the three can be locked. Its interiors are now much more refined, even reaching luxury. It has a ground clearance of 21.5 cm, a wading depth of 70 cm and very good approach, departure and breakover angles, not forgetting the low-range gearbox.

Subaru XV

The Subaru XV is one of those cars that loves snow, as it has key ingredients such as very good all-wheel drive and a fairly low weight. Add winter tyres to this and the Subaru XV becomes the ideal car, and no snowfall will be able to ruin your plans. It is also a versatile vehicle, since it can get you out of a snowfall just as well as take you to do the shopping or take the children to school. It is an SUV that is performing very well in the European market, as it stands out for its safety level and has the coveted five-star EuroNCAP rating. Drivers can choose between two engines: the 1.6 petrol or the ecoHYBRID. As standard it features paddles on the steering wheel to control the Lineartronic CVT gearbox.

The Subaru models have always stood out for their safety equipment called EyeSight, which includes systems such as pre-collision braking with autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, acceleration control or grip control, among others.

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Jeep Wrangler

Without a doubt, in this selection of the five best SUVs for surviving the snow, the Jeep Wrangler could not be missing. The quintessential 4×4 has just been renewed and modernised while keeping its essence. We are sure that the Jeep Wrangler will continue to win hearts wherever it goes, and it is also one of the off-roaders most coveted by off-road enthusiasts. The model is a derivative of the legendary Jeep Willys. It is currently available with three engines: two petrol and one diesel, although a plug-in hybrid version will probably arrive during 2021. Drivers can also choose between three equipment levels called Sport, Sahara and Rubicon, the latter being the most complete for driving off-road. Its strong points include the double-beam chassis, the low-range gearbox, the solid axles and its knobbly tyres.

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