Best cars for the UK countryside

The best cars for the UK countryside make driving on rural roads more enjoyable. Four-wheel drive isn’t essential, but it can give added grip and reassurance when road conditions are tricky. A high driving position is a bonus, helping you to see over hedges and spot oncoming traffic, while suspension that copes well with potholes and bumpy surfaces is a must.

Some people will simply be looking for a car that puts the fun back into driving on country roads, but family car buyers also need plenty of space for people and outdoor kit.

The cars featured in this guide:

• Land Rover Defender

• Mazda MX-5

• Volvo XC40

• Suzuki Swift

• Volkswagen Golf R

• Kia Sorento

• Mini Countryman

• Citroen C3 Aircross

Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is probably the first car that springs to mind when picturing the best car for driving on UK country roads. And there are lots of good reasons for that. Not least the fact that it’s been doing exactly that, in one form or another, since 1948. Yep, almost 80 years. 

Of course, the latest Defender (introduced in 2019) is a world away from the first one. It’s bigger, more luxurious, and packed with mind-boggling tech features such as a Wade Sensing feature that tells you how deep any water you’re driving through is. Very handy if you live somewhere prone to flooding. The Defender remains pretty much unbeatable off-road, with lots of ground clearance and the software and hardware needed to get you just about anywhere. And, as ever, it’s a car that looks just as much at home outside a posh Cotswolds gastropub as it does trekking across a muddy field.

Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 is a back-to-basics, rear-wheel-drive roadster that doesn’t offer much power, but provides a huge amount of fun. Thanks to its agile feel and incredible balance, carving your way along a twisty country road on a sunny day in an MX-5 is about as good as driving in the UK gets. 

If the weather turns (and it probably will, given this is the UK we’re talking about), you can flip up the MX-5’s fabric roof in a matter of seconds. Or if you prefer your convertible a touch more winter-friendly there’s the MX-5 RF, which has a hard-top roof with a folding centre section. While the driving experience satisfies the heart, the MX-5 also satisfies the head. It’s comparatively cheap to buy, and maintenance and insurance costs are low for something so sporty. 

Volvo XC40

So you want a tough, safe SUV that gives you a view over the hedges and which is compact yet practical? Look no further than the Volvo XC40. It sits higher off the ground than many compact SUVs, which is just the job if there’s a rutted lane on the way to your favourite dog-walking spot, or if it’s been raining heavily (yes, that again) and the road you’re on looks more like a stream.

Inside, the XC40 is stylish yet versatile, with huge door bins and some clever storage areas that are perfect for stashing your outdoor gear. Every version is well-equipped, and if you’re buying a used model you have the choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models and front- or four-wheel drive. There’s also a pure-electric model, initially called XC40 Recharge and later renamed EX40. 

Suzuki Swift

The Suzuki Swift is a cute little hatchback with a secret: it’s available with four-wheel drive. You’d never guess, given the Swift’s diminutive dimensions and lack of SUV-style design details. Look closely, though, and you might spot that the four-wheel drive version has a slightly raised stance compared with the standard model. 

This is a car that’s tailor-made for wintry country lanes, yet it gives you the ownership costs and car park-friendly dimensions of a city car. Okay, it’s basic inside and the boot is teeny, but as a rural runaround the Swift is a great choice. Suzuki has a good reliability record as a brand, and standard features for four-wheel-drive models include heated front seats, keyless entry and a rear-view camera. 

Volkswagen Golf R

Hot hatches can be a great fit for British B-roads, and none more so than the Volkswagen Golf R. Like all hot hatches, it combines compact dimensions and sharp handling with enough power to have some fun (within legal limits) if the road is clear. But you also get the benefit of four-wheel drive as standard and that helps to keep you stuck to the road, especially if it’s icy, muddy or strewn with leaves. Or all three of the above.

When you want to take things steady, or simply get stuck behind a herd of sheep, you can revel in the Golf R’s comfortable, high-quality interior. And if it’s winter, you and a front passenger can keep toasty thanks to the standard-fit heated front seats. Pay for the optional winter pack and you get heated outer rear seats, too. 

Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is a big, seven-seater SUV that’s got the ruggedness, space and equipment to make family outings in the countryside that bit more enjoyable. It’s not so large that it feels cumbersome on narrow country lanes, yet it seats seven adults in comfort and the interior feels built to withstand abuse from muddy boots or boisterous kids. Fold down the third-row seats and there’s space for two large dogs to spread out, or to pile in everything you need for a weekend camping trip.

Every Sorento has an automatic gearbox and a four-wheel drive system that allows you to select Mud, Snow or Sand settings if you’re feeling really adventurous. Stick to the Tarmac and you enjoy a cushy ride that makes light work of bumpy B roads and potholes. You get a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or diesel power, with the diesel offering a maximum towing capacity of 2500kg that makes the Kia an especially good choice if you have a horsebox or large trailer to lug around. 

Mini Countryman

Well, with a name like that we had to include the Mini Countryman didn’t we? No, the Countryman is here on merit, because it offers the driving appeal you expect of a Mini in a package that’s suited to rural life. The Countryman’s high driving position and upright windscreen give you a great view, and its responsive feel gives you confidence on a twisty road, especially if you go for one of the ‘All4’ four-wheel drive models. 

The interior of the latest Countryman is a breath of fresh air, with a fabric-covered dashboard and huge circular touchscreen. There’s loads of headroom and most models have a sliding/reclining rear seat that allows you to prioritise comfort or load space. There’s a choice of petrol or pure-electric power and even the cheapest versions are very nippy. The John Cooper Works petrol models and the SE electric versions are downright fast, turning this rural-road SUV into a rugged hot hatch.

Citroen C3 Aircross

If you dread almost having your fillings shaken out on your rural school run, maybe you need a Citroen C3 Aircross. Thanks to its snappily-named ‘Advanced Comfort Suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’, this budget-priced SUV does a brilliant job of keeping you and your passengers comfy when the roads get rough. 

Despite costing thousands less than most mid-size five-seat SUVs, the C3 Aircross matches or even outdoes many for practicality. Five seats come as standard, but an extra pair of third-row seats are an option. Headroom and legroom in them are limited, but having the flexibility to bring extra friends or family along on your next hill-walking adventure could really make your day (and theirs).