But what about cars for the winter? When it comes to buying a new car, are there certain things in cars that we can look for in the colder months that make our life easier? Here are my suggestions….
Renault Kadjar SUV
The new, and rather good looking Crossover from Renault looks to tackle the likes of Dacia and Nissan in the small SUV market, but that doesn’t take away from the car’s rugged capability. It’s both stylish and economical - even the larger 1.6 engine twinned with the all-wheel drive system won’t break the bank.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
A comfortable, supremely spacious Land Rover with a right badge. The car might fall short of rival SUVs in some areas, but it’s almost certainly the perfect car for icy country lanes and muddy tracks. Watch out for a full review of the Land Rover Discovery Sport in the coming days here. The Discovery has one of the best credentials and historical brand names in the business, too.
Skoda Octavia Scout
This is a supremely capable car, and more than worthy of its place on this list. It’s a step up from the standard Octavia on which it’s based - the immense 2.0 engine twinned with the all-wheel drive system makes it a joy to drive - and there’s no doubt it’ll be able to get you almost anywhere during winter, whatever the weather. During normal driving it’ll only send power to the front, but when the going gets rough it does a great job of making you feel safe and comfortable.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4
Towards the upper end of the market, but no less worthy of attention on a list such as this. It’s a truly capable and formidable off-roader - the size of it alone is enough to make you feel safe and secure in the worst of winter weather. It’s great to look at too, and comes with bags of options and kit.
Suzuki SX4
If you’re on a bit more of a budget, but still want the practicality and badge that you might not get from the likes of the Dacia Duster, then the 2015 version of the venerable Suzuki Jimny might be just what you’re looking for. It won’t be up everyone’s street, but the unforgiving ride and basic, uninspiring interior can more than be forgiven for its ridiculously eager rugged nature and go-getting attitude. It’s only about £14,000 too, which is a lot of mud for the money.
This list of new cars for winter is of course hardly exhaustive, but if you’re in the market for a new car at this time of year, it’s worth bearing these in mind. Everyone loves a good off-roader, and you’ll be thankful for it when our newly named storms come knocking on our coastlines.
Keep an eye out for off-roading adventures and 4x4 reviews soon.