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Tackle the British winter with a 4x4

Every winter the same stories hit the headlines. Severe weather conditions, icy roads, floods, snow and even landslides threaten to put all wintery excursions on hold as the temperature drops. It’s becoming clearer that in the UK there needs to be more preparation before the winter truly sets in now that our weather is getting more extreme.

There used to be a time when 4x4 cars were reserved for farmers, landowners and the rich and famous. Now it makes perfect sense to arm yourself with proper road-faring equipment as severe weather conditions become more and more frequent.

You don’t have to compromise on style though. Although in a 4x4 vehicle safety and comfort is paramount, there’s no reason for an SUV to be clumpy or frumpy. Streamlined exteriors teamed with luxurious leather interiors make them perfect to take you from blizzard to beach with plenty of room for the kids and the dog too.

With additional extras built in from the humble but extremely useful cup holder to the glide of a perfectly-designed foldaway rear seat, these days 4x4 cars put as much emphasis on the comfort of their ride to the hi-tech gadgetry under the bonnet.

Average 4x4 vehicles operate with a two litre diesel engine, giving them optimum power for even the toughest of journeys. With this power comes heightened safety for you and your family. Honda 4x4s, for example, carry ABS locks as standard, a unique ISOFiX child seat security system, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) brake systems and Vehicle Stability Assist to make it easier to keep control of your vehicle on unstable terrain.

There are plenty of new car deals at this time of year that could see you driving home with the SUV you’ve been dreaming of. Imagine all the winter breaks and long weekends you could enjoy with the freedom a 4x4 gives you. No more worrying about getting snowed in and no more fighting for boot space – you can even tow a trailer or a caravan if you’re planning a bigger trip.

All in all, a 4x4 is a surprising vehicle. It’s more comfortable and more stylish than you’d expect, filled to the brim with features designed to make your life easier, and they are the safest class of vehicle on the road during bad weather.
With authorities warning that winter 2012/2013 could be one of the harshest yet this millennium, it’s about time we started thinking about safer ways to travel to our favourite places. Given the new-found affordability of 4x4s and the abundance of features they have, it makes complete sense to trade in the family car for something altogether more all-terrain.

After all, you don’t need both when an SUV does everything your hatchback or saloon did with the added bonus of traversing glaciers, rocky mountain passes and the school run with ease. Why would you settle for anything else?