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The upside of living in the countryside is that you’re likely to be surrounded by great driving roads that weave their way through the rural landscape.
But the downside is that you’re more likely to encounter mud, potholes, un-lit lanes, un-gritted sections of Tarmac, and imposing agriculture coming at you from the opposite direction.
That’s why the best cars for rural driving are as safe as they are fun, coming with all the latest driver assistance technology as well as styling that’s built for the tough stuff.
A high-riding SUV will give you the best possible view of the road, particularly when there are hedges to the left and right of you.
There are also countryside-specific versions of some of the UK’s most popular cars, such as the Audi A4 Allroad Quattro and the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack.
And when it comes to maintaining traction on slippery back-country roads, an all-wheel drive lease vehicle might be just the job.
If you have to pilot narrow country lanes each day, then a smaller, narrower hatchback might give you more confidence than with a much bigger SUV.
Cars like the Toyota Yaris Cross give you a slightly raised ride height as well as all-wheel drive, as does the MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid and the Suzuki Ignis Allgrip.
You might live in the countryside but work in the nearest city. In which case you’ll need a car that can handle a bit of everything - from rural driving to motorway blasts and nimble city driving.
Great all-rounders include the Volkswagen Golf, Volvo XC40 AWD and the Audi Q2 Quattro. All-electric, 4x4 all-rounders include the Mazda MX-30, Skoda Enyaq iV 80X Sportline, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD.
Nothing says ‘rural driver’ quite like a big SUV. And you’ll find plenty of leasing options in cars like the Land Rover Discovery, Skoda Kodiaq, Volvo XC90, BMW X7, Audi Q7, the Volkswagen Touareg and, of course, the Range Rover.
Some cars are better suited than others when it comes to negotiating muddy fields and bouncy green lanes.
The Subaru Forester e-Boxer Hybridhas all the sure-footedness you’d ever need while you can also choose from robust stalwarts like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, or a pick-up such as the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger.
Towing trailers and horseboxes is all part of the countryside way of life.
And the good news for lease customers is that there are lots of excellent towing vehicles available to lease (see our Towing guide).
It’s also worth remembering that, in many cases, you can add a tow-bar to your lease vehicle order. Click on a deal that you like and then hit the ‘Choose colour, trim and options’ tab. Scroll down and you’ll see things like ‘Towing Packs’ which you can choose for your lease for a small additional monthly cost.
If you’re confused or unsure about any aspect of leasing a car, give the Select Car Leasing team a call: 0118 920 5130
Living in the sticks is no barrier to electrified driving. And the ideal electric cars for rural motoring are those that combine a class-leading range between charges with a commanding view of the road and all-wheel drive.
The Audi Q4 e-tron has a range of up to 321 miles and is offered with ‘Quattro’ all-wheel drive. It’s also one of the best-looking midsize SUVs available.
You should take a look at the Polestar 2, BMW iX, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, Tesla Model Y, KIA EV6, and the Volkswagen ID.4.
While there's been a general decline over recent years in the volume of motorists driving around our cities, for many the car remains their preferred means of transport for getting around home and work.
If you live in suburbia, you’ll need a car that’s as cool as it is capable - and it needs to be loaded with tech, too.
Cruise the highways in comfort and safety - all while cocooned inside your peaceful and noise-insulated cabin.
