The Christmas season is now in full swing and, as many of you can attest, the roads have been pretty jam-packed the past few days. It’s a tricky situation to navigate, and while we are celebrating Christmas today, it’s reasonable to expect that the roads are going to be just as bad over the next few days. Obviously, many of us are in different positions. Some have yet to complete their holiday shopping. Some probably have yet to start. There are also those who celebrated Christmas away from home and are planning to go back to their own addresses. Then there’s the always unpredictable mood of Mother Nature.
All these things could add up to a debilitating late holiday rush. So if any of you find yourselves in the aforementioned positions, be advised that we’ve picked out some cars that would work best in certain conditions.
Not everyone will be fortunate enough to have the specific kind of car they’re going to need should, for example, they get stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. But in the event that they do find themselves with the right car, at the right place, and at the right time, they should be able to navigate cleanly around the expected rush of the coming days.
These are the ideal cars you might need for certain situations. Good luck on your travels and happy holidays to all of you!
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
If you’re in a rush to get home
A list here on TopSpeed wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a car that upholds the tradition of our beloved website. Even at a time like Christmas, there are instances when you’re going to need a car that can get you from point A to point B in the fastest time possible. Obviously, there are a wide variety of options to choose from if speed and power are high up on the list of requirements. But, I’m sticking with an American original this time and going with the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Imagine having to rush home for the holidays and your option is limited to traveling on the road. Having a Corvette->ke1280 is going to help to get you where you need to go, especially if “home” is hours away from where you are. The Corvette Stingray,->ke4603 after all, has a 6.2-liter V-8 engine at its disposal, producing as much as 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque with a performance exhaust in tow. That’s good enough to hit a top speed anywhere from 180 to 190 mph, which would come in handy if you’re really pressed for time. I don’t suggest you go full blast on the Corvette, but knowing that it’s possible should be good enough. And, if you’re really in a serious rush, you can just opt for another American original that’s a little faster than the Vette. Can you say the Hennessey Venom GT?
If you need space for your holiday shopping
The Toyota Sienna may not be the sexiest car on this list and quite frankly, it’s not going to be the sexiest car on any list. But, when it comes to cargo space, few can hold a candle to Toyota’->ke88s resident swagger wagon. If you find yourselves in need of all that space, the Sienna->ke1053 has close to 150 cubic feet of space when the seats are stowed. That should be enough space to fit a wide range of presents, including items like a surfboard, some household appliances, and maybe even a Christmas tree if you still need one in your household. The Chrysler Town and Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan->ke2783 are logical alternatives since they come close to the total cargo space of the Sienna. The problem with these two vans is that cargo space shrinks significantly to just 33 cubit feet when the seats are in their upright positions. That’s no match for the Sienna’s 39-cubic feet of space in the same configuration.
If you have to drive in less-than-ideal road conditions
The heart of winter usually doesn’t strike until after the new year, but in some cases, heavy snow descends on our hapless souls on the onset of the holiday rush. Should you find yourselves facing the wrath of Mother Nature, having a vehicle with outstanding traction in the snow could be mighty useful. Admittedly, there are a lot of vehicles with this capability, but I’m going with a tried-and-tested model like the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The same qualities that make the Grand Cherokee->ke936 a titan in the off-road can also help it traverse in the ice and snow. It’s got a powerful 5.7-liter V-8 engine that produces 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. It’s got a high ground clearance and impressive traction capabilities that can be adjusted with a simple touch of a button. Most importantly, it has a four-wheel drive system that allows all four wheels to work in concert when the situation requires them to do so.
If you’re bracing yourselves for the holiday traffic
We’ve all been in this situation. You’re on the road and you find yourself stuck in a mile-long traffic jam because people are frantically doing their last-minute holiday shopping. Sometimes, the weather doesn’t help, either. It’s not the most ideal position to be in so if you do end up in this unenviable place, it’s best to have a car that’s not gonna burn fuel while remaining idle and stuck in horrendous traffic. This is where an electric car comes in handy, especially one offers the best range. A Tesla Model S would certainly help in that regard, specifically the 85D, which has a range of 270 miles. It may run counter to the whole range thing, but knowing that a Model S->ke3329 has a stout battery should dissuade any concern about burning up fuel while stuck in traffic. It’s admittedly expensive at $85,000, so if you want a cheaper alternative, a $25,000 Kia Soul EV and its 93-mile range should do the trick.
If you live in the city and you need to get around
If you live in the suburbs or in a small town, then this shouldn’t be a problem. But on the chance that you live in a city, and a pretty big one at that, the holiday season can be a headache for a variety of reasons. Sure, public transportation can be a big help, but suppose you have to buy items that are going to be difficult to carry on the bus or in the subway, you’re going to need a car that has enough space for what you buy and still nimble and agile enough to navigate around the city’s streets. In this instance, a BMW i3 could fit the bill. It’s got suitable size that doesn’t impede itself in small streets. It has a nice hybrid engine that produces enough power to get you around while also maintaining good range and mileage that might come useful whenever you get stuck in a gridlock. Oh, and about that space. It may not have the kind of cargo space to fit a Christmas tree, but if you’re only buying the usual holiday knick knacks, the i3->ke4694 can accommodate that space.
