Can your hybrid car really handle bad weather and tough terrain?

 When you think of hybrid cars, what's the first characteristic that comes to mind? 

We're willing to bet that it's not performance versatility. Most people think of eco-friendliness and fuel efficiency when they think of hybrid cars, and rightfully so. After all, these green Toyotas were designed to be as fuel-efficient as possible and also to offer a cleaner performance than their gasoline-powered counterparts. However, when you sink your hard-earned money into a new ride you want to ensure that it's a good fit for your needs and that it's going to be able to handle whatever situations might get thrown at you during your drive time, particularly when it comes to weather. Can your N Charlotte Toyota hybrid car really handle mother nature's worst? 

Is a hybrid car a safe bet in bad weather? 

Believe it or not, it can. Toyota hybrids in particular are engineered to be as versatile as possible and in that same vein, adaptable to all kinds of weather out on the road. Whether it's rain or snow you're facing, you're in good hands when you're behind the wheel of one of these green cars. Here's why. 

• Hybrid cars now come with on-demand all-wheel drive options. This makes them particularly capable of taking on rain, snow, slush, and ice with ease. You'll find this feature up for grabs in the N Charlotte Toyota Prius, RAV4, and RAV4 Prime. All-wheel drive supersedes front- or rear-wheel drive in bad weather because it means you have more control and more traction when taking on slick surfaces; each set of wheels (front and back) has an electric motor dedicated to them, giving you the power you need. 
• Hybrid cars also have more electrical components under the hood, which means there are fewer fuel-lubricated parts (and in short, fewer parts that can freeze and be damaged when the temperatures drop). This makes them especially handy in areas of the country where we see low temps on a regular basis. (That being said, make sure you give your hybrid car battery a little TLC in the winter - extreme cold can have a negative effect on them if you're not careful.) 

So in essence, if you're looking for a vehicle that's capable of taking on inclement weather conditions, you're going in the right direction if you're looking at a hybrid car. You don't need an oversized off-road SUV or a heavy-duty truck (unless you want one, of course) to be able to take on the open road when the skies aren't blue. 

Shop for a N Charlotte Toyota hybrid today 

If you have more questions about how all-wheel drive works, want to see it for yourself, or want to test drive any and all of our hybrid cars, call us! Toyota of N Charlotte is open seven days a week at (704) 875-9199. We're also conveniently located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville at 13429 Statesville Road.