Do you live in terrain that is hilly? Do your city streets feature plenty of inclines and declines that can be nothing short of treacherous in miserable weather? If so, when it’s time to purchase a car you’re looking for something a little different. We’ve put together a list of the top five used cars to buy if you live in these areas.
Things to consider
Before you even start your shopping one thing to consider out of the gate is whether you want an automatic or standard car. For people that live in hilly areas a standard vehicle will require a lot more effort to drive. As well you may want to consider getting an AWD (all-wheel drive) vehicle, giving you that added bit of control and power. With that said, we’ve compiled a list of the top five automatic vehicles worth investigating.
Top five vehicles
Toyota RAV4: This car has consistently performed well over the years, and offers features such as: lots of trunk space, an interior that feels spacious, and according to Kelley Blue Book it has "excellent resale value." It's an SUV with the power you need to get up and down those hills with ease and control.
Subaru Outback: With a name like "Outback" then one would expect this one to do well in a variety of terrain. The 2014 edition came in a variety of four-cylinder options as well as the option to go with standard if you prefer. This one is classed as a small sport utility vehicle, seats five, and has your typical fuel economy numbers.
Toyota Tacoma: If you're thinking a pick-up may be what you're after then this is a great option. The consumer rating on Kelley Blue Book for the 2014 model was an impressive 9.2. This one is classed as a compact truck, making it easy to handle even if you're new to trucks. It's even got a relatively smooth drive, and will handle the hills with ease.
Nissan XTerra: If you can manage to get your hands on one of these SUV's, you'll find that navigating through hills can be a breeze. It's not much to look at, but it is built to be reliable, solid, and powerful. Kelley Blue Book describes the 2015 model to be “as tough as nails," and can even carry over to the trails with ease.
Jeep Wrangler: The Jeep Wrangler is a well-known vehicle classed as a small sport utility vehicle. This one is extremely easy to handle, seats four comfortably, and is a blast to drive. Thanks to the numbers posted by Kelley Blue Book for the 2014 model, it's clear it's not the best for fuel consumption.
Final Thoughts
Picking the perfect vehicle for hilly terrain means doing a whole lot of test driving, and research. The five listed above top our list and are sure to make you the king of the hill.
