Categories: Tips & Tricks

What is it like to drive a small vehicle in the mountains?

Pros and cons to driving a small car in the mountains

Summertime is here and driving a small car without a lot of weight can feel scary in steep hills and mountains. While a small car can make sharper turns, there are times where the aggressive driving style and sturdy feeling vehicle would make drivers more comfortable. There are pros and cons to mountain driving in a small vehicle, and we will cover them for you. Read on!

Pros to driving in the mountains with a small car:

Pro #1: You can easily make those tight corners. When you are in the mountains, the roads are small. This means that a small car that can handle frequent use of the brakes.
Pro #2: Better fuel economy. You’ll use a lot of gas in the mountains because you can’t go very fast and you’ll use your brakes a lot! Gas stations are few and far between. You will be thankful to be using less fuel.
Pro #3: You’ll have more space on the road. Anyone who has tried to drive a huge car in the mountains probably knows that it was terrifying. You will feel like you are about to fall off the cliff. It’s definitely scary.

Cons to driving in the mountains with a small car:

Con #1: Even though you get better fuel economy, your gas tank is smaller. You will go through your gas and might find yourself a ways from any gas station. Bring a tank along with you to get you through if you get stuck.
Con #2: You can’t bring as much stuff. A smaller car can’t fit the cargo of a bigger car. It all depends on where you are going and how long you plan on being there. Make sure you save room for an emergency kit!

There you have it! From our side of things, we think that a smaller car is the best option for mountain driving. Even if a big car feels sturdy and secure, the benefits of a small car outweigh the potential issues!