I’m currently driving around Iceland. I have seen a Renault Megane, a plethora of newer Yaris’, one Yaris Cross (I lost my damned mind) and a crap ton of Suzuki Jimnys. Now, I’ve driven in some awful conditions in the states. Blizzards in Montana, Tornadoes in Texas, hail storms in the South and ridiculous wind in Arizona. I have driven in all of that in this tiny country, all in a short wheel base Kia Sportage. I was also outpaced by a fucking Yaris today, absolutely bombing down the mountain in 1c weather. Mind you, it was not a GR so AWD was out of the question.
I am so impressed by this Kia and all of the insanely capable Jimnys I am seeing coming off of F-roads.
If a harsh place like Iceland can coexist with RAM 2500s and modern Yaris’, why can’t we?
Oh, and when I say around I don’t mean poking around Reykjavik, I am literally driving the Ring Road around an entire country. Coolest experience ever.
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So the biggest trucks had to pull over for weather but it’s the Jimny that’s too small? And the coolest thing about little trucks is they float on snow. It’s funny you think a Jimny will get stuck in snow “over it’s headlights” when you can’t drive through 3ft of snow, either. And you nailed it about Montana snow, really did, by showing a map that indicates the route between OP’s friend’s two destinations is literally the highest category. Nailed it.
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Ground clearance is over 8" but I’m not sure why that’s relevant since you’re driving through the snow. Are you clearing over it or are you plowing it? And I feel like you don’t understand how a smaller, lighter vehicle can get by all the same with a smaller engine. You should also really go out with a tape measure and see how low the bottom of a bumper and how low the actual ground clearance a big boy truck is. And don’t go into lift kits and other mods because the global functional aftermarket for a Jimny is as big as a US pickup’s options are for actually leaving pavement.