What are the best cars for rough roads?

The best car for mountain roads will have a heavy-duty shock-absorbing suspension for smooth handling. Cars that can handle dirt roads often also have higher ground clearance and larger tires. The best vehicles for gravel roads or rural living come with skid plates for engine and underbody protection and have sturdier frames to ensure the car's stability.

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What's the best car suspension for bumpy roads?

Many car suspensions work just fine on bumpy roads. If you're looking for the best vehicle for rural living, for example, you'll find a lot of good candidates out there. Your best bet is to test-drive a few different cars to see what feels right for you. Before you head out, knowing the general aspects of suspensions may be useful. Learn how to test drive a car.

What are the different types of car suspension?

Dependent suspension

A car with a dependent suspension has a solid axle that connects the tires on the left and right of the car. So, as the left wheel goes down, the right wheel goes up. Automotive enthusiasts often recommend dependent suspension vehicles for driving on the roughest terrain.

Independent suspension

All four wheels operate independently with this kind of suspension. These are among the best cars for pothole roads because one wheel can dip while the other three stay level, allowing for a smooth ride.

Semi-independent suspension

This applies most often to the rear suspension on some vehicles, and you may hear it referred to as a "twist beam" suspension. If the left wheel drops, the right wheel rises, as with a dependent suspension — but to a lesser degree. As a result, the ride is a little bumpier than with a fully independent suspension but not as bumpy as an entirely dependent suspension.

Suspension springs and shock absorbers

Passive suspension: This is the most common kind and uses springs and shock absorbers to react to bumpy road conditions and smooth out the ride.
Active suspension: These employ hydraulics for the suspension to raise or lower the car body and can sometimes be computer-controlled.
Semi-active suspension: Your car's onboard computer controls semi-active suspension, but it only applies to the shock absorbers, not the suspension system.
Adaptive suspension: Like semi-active, adaptive suspension only applies to the shock absorbers. It only offers pre-set options rather than responding to road conditions.

What other kinds of car suspension qualities should I consider?

There are a couple more suspension qualities that provide steering stability while navigating steep approaches and sharp angles, such as raised suspension and locking differential suspension.

Raised suspension

This gives the car higher ground clearance. Some cars achieve this with lift kits. Others offer height-adjustable suspensions to customize your ride. And some are built with high clearance in mind from the start.

Locking differential

Most cars have an "open" differential, which means that the engine gives the most power to the wheel with the least resistance. So, if you have a wheel that's up in the air, it gets the most power — and the wheels on the ground get no power. With a locking differential, all the wheels get power. Electronic locking front and rear differentials typically offer the greatest active traction control.

What other features do the best cars for rough roads have?

What makes a car great for driving on rough roads isn't limited to the suspension. The build of the car, tires, and transmission all play a role, too. Here's a list of things that can affect how your car handles. Whether you're driving on rural roads, country roads, dirt roads, or even mountain roads, many of these features make for a smoother and safer ride.

Bigger tires and all-terrain (A/T) tires
Higher ground clearance
High clearance fenders and bumpers
Skid/scuff plates (underbody protection)
Hill descent control
4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
Longer wheelbase
Wider track
Rigid frame for stability

You may not be able to get every feature, but as you test drive cars, you'll discover that some attributes matter more than others to you. Learn more about how to buy a new car and mistakes to avoid.