4 Cars To Avoid If You Live in a Rural Area

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When you live in a rural area, some of the best vehicles are ones that have decent off-roading capabilities and can handle those long, winding roads, potholes, hills, gravel and the like while also not breaking your budget. Ones with decent gas mileage also tend to be better, especially if you don’t have a lot of gas stations nearby or if gas prices are high.

While everyone’s preferences, budget and needs are different, there are some vehicles you might want to avoid if you live in a rural area. Here are just a few.

Also see four cars to buy if you live in a rural area.

2024 Ferrari Roma

• Starting price: $247,308 to $281,920

For many car owners, price and fuel efficiency are major factors when choosing a vehicle. The 2024 Ferrari Roma is sleek and sporty, but it’s also not the most economical vehicle out there. So unless you plan to travel infrequently and have money to spare, you may want to steer clear.

For the specs, this coupe has a 612-horsepower, twin-turbo V-8 and an eight-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. It gets only about 17 mpg in town and 22 mpg on the highway. It can go extremely fast, though, with a top speed of 199 mph. It’ll also get you from zero to 60 mph in about 3.1 seconds.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6

• Starting price: $38,650

The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is much more cost-efficient than pretty much any luxury vehicle out there. It’s even cheaper than many other electric vehicles (EVs). Plus, it’s stylish and offers solid performance.

The base model has 149 horsepower. It comes with a single electric motor for the rear wheels, though you can opt for other options. For example, you can get a Long Range battery pack that’ll keep your vehicle going for longer. The vehicle also comes with 225 horsepower and a 320-horsepower, dual-motor option, which provides an all-wheel drive experience.

The reason the Hyundai Ioniq 6 makes this list is it’s electric. While charging stations have become more prevalent throughout the country, there are still many rural areas that lack them. So unless you live somewhere with a couple of reliable charging stations — or you’ve got an at-home setup — you might be better off with a hybrid or gas-powered vehicle instead.

2025 Porsche 911

• Starting price: $122,095 to $187,995

The 2025 Porsche 911 is a luxury sports vehicle that comes with a new T-Hybrid powertrain, which is based on a 3.6-liter boxer engine. If you opt for the Carrera version, you’ll get a twin-turbo, 3.0-liter flat-six with 388 horsepower.

Aside from this car’s high price point, the downside with this vehicle is that it’s a two-seater. You can opt for a two-plus-two seat configuration, but you still might not have a ton of space — both for you and the things you need to carry. The trunk’s volume is about 5 feet cubed. Depending on where you’re going, you might want to opt for something with more cargo space or some kind of towing capacity.

2024 Rivian R1T

• Starting price: $71,700

Having a truck in a rural area can be rather practical, but an EV like the 2024 Rivian R1T has its drawbacks — not least of which is charging it. Again, this depends on where you live and the availability of charging stations in your area.

If charging your Rivian R1T isn’t going to be an issue, then here are some things that are worth knowing before you purchase. It can reach 60 mpg in three seconds flat. And it can tow up to 11,000 pounds, which is great if you’ve got a small trailer or boat.

This vehicle can also charge quickly — and it’s got three battery packs to choose from. The standard option offers up to 270 miles with a single charge, while the large pack lasts for up to 352 miles. If you need to cover longer distances, the max battery pack sits at 410 miles.

In terms of fuel economy, EVs are hard to beat. The Quad-Motor R1T can reach 74 MPGe in the city and 66 MPGe on the highway.

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