Top 6: Best Cars for the Countryside 2023

What makes a car good for country roads?

There is nothing quite like driving through the British countryside on a long summer's day, but it is important to also think about the challenges of rural driving. Having the right car can make all the difference when tackling the imperfections of Britain's unpredictable roads and weather conditions.

Mud, potholes, flooding, snow drifts, and icy roads are just a few of the conditions that drivers battle with in the countryside. These are all significant factors to consider when selecting a car for handling the rural environment and longer commutes.

In order to help narrow down the search for a car suitable for country dwellers, we have created a list of six cars we recommend for tackling country lanes without compromising their ability to handle urban driving.

• Land Rover Range Rover
• MINI Countryman
• BMW X3
• Land Rover Discovery
• Audi Q7
• Porsche Cayenne

Land Rover Range Rover

Well known for its optimal comfort and exceptional driver visibility, the iconic Range Rover SUV is more than capable of handling the unpredictable country roads. No twisty road is too challenging for this motor, as it confronts sharp bends and rocky lanes with ease.

The all-new Range Rover comes with a host of luxury off-road capabilities thanks to the Pivi Pro system. Off-road technologies include an all-wheel drive system to help increase grip on slippery surfaces, rear-wheeling steering system, and Wade mode, which raises the body to ford up to 900mm of water.

There is certainly no shortage of space inside the Range Rover, which has enough room for the whole family and more, with up to seven seats and a remarkably large boot space. The impressive pulling power of the Range Rover can tow trailers weighing up to 3,500kg.

Older models of the Land Rover Range Rover are also available, and can be every bit as efficient in tackling the capricious country roads. All trims, except the Vogue entry-level, include JLR's Terrain Response System, which enhances off-road capabilities by electronically configuring the vehicle's systems depending on the surface the driver selects.

MINI Countryman

As the name suggests, the MINI Countryman is a fantastic choice for countryside drivers. The Countryman SUV is the biggest MINI in the range and offers the well-loved MINI design, superb levels of practicality, and a spacious interior.

Boot space in the new MINI Countryman is a highly capable 450 litres as standard, and with the three fully-fledged rear seats folded flat, creates a 1,390-litre space. In older models, you can expect a respectable 350-litre boot capacity, which increases to 1,170 litres when the rear seats are folded.

Taking the family on a countryside drive is an effortless and enjoyable experience in the Countryman. Sharp handling, maximum traction, and exceptional ground clearance make this car ideal for rural roads. The innovative Dynamic Stability Control can apply brakes on different wheels as required to assist in keeping the car under control in poor driving conditions.

BMW X3

The BMW X3 is a highly desirable SUV that can tackle any terrain. Providing lashings of space and a towing capacity of up to 2,600kg, the BMW X3 is more than suitable for the countryside.

Country rides have never been more stress-free thanks to the smooth suspension of the new X3, which does a great job of ironing out bumps in the road. With a combination of exceptional traction on the road and decent off-roading capabilities, the xDrive all-wheel-drive delivers a thrilling ride on twisty country roads and tackles corners confidently.

Practicality is priority in this BMW, with 550 litres of boot space as standard and an impressive 1,600 litres with the rear seats down. Whether you prioritise comfort or performance, there is a variety of new and used models for every need and requirement.

Land Rover Discovery

Few motors do off-roading as well as the Land Rover Discovery. This spacious SUV commands all terrains, benefiting from a supreme off-roading ability whilst providing comfortable, long-distance journeys for commuters and families.

With a spacious interior and up to seven seats, the Discovery can comfortably seat the whole family, in addition to pets and luggage. Another advantage is the split tailgate, making it simple for a dog to jump in the boot unaided.

Winning the WhatCar? Tow Car Awards multiple times since they were established, the Discovery is a terrific vehicle for towing trailers.

The new Land Rover Discovery is filled with the latest driver assistance technologies and safety features to help drivers navigate around unpredictable country roads. Features include blind-spot assist, a 3D surround-view camera system, and wade sensing. Off-roading equipment includes hill descent and gradient acceleration control.

Audi Q7

The powerful Audi Q7 is an ideal SUV for adventurous individuals and families alike, providing up to seven seats as standard and a massive 865-litre boot. The 3.0-litre TDI diesel is the most popular engines, achieving 282bhp, 600NM of torque and accelerating from 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds.

With the ability to tackle light off-roading due to Audi's standard quattro four-wheel drive system and a towing limit of 3,500kg, the Audi Q7 can navigate the countryside with ease.

Achieving the maximum five stars NCAP rating, this luxury sports utility vehicle makes an excellent family car, providing an equally pleasing drive whether on countryside back roads or motorways.

Porsche Cayenne

Porsche's bestseller is an outstanding car for exploring the B-roads in the countryside and venturing off-road. The Cayenneis a prestigious purchase, and you can trust the car to live up to expectations in terms of reliability.

The Cayenne has an impressive towing capacity of up to 3,500kg and the cargo area is large enough to carry a family of four's luggage for those long countryside trips.

If that wasn't enough, off-road conditions are taken care of by gravel, mud, sand, and rock driving modes, with different ride-height options for each.

Find your perfect used car for the countryside

All of the cars above have different features, but one thing they all have in common is their ability to meet the demands of the countryside. Whether you are driving along twisty B-roads, attacking off-road tracks, or commuting on the motorway; at least one of the above vehicles will be more than suitable for your requirements.

At Stratstone, we stock an extensive range of used cars that are more than at home in the countryside, including all of the models featured here. Start your search today.