Hot wheels

Your first thought for the best suited vehicle to the GCC climate might be the obvious: a tough 4x4 like the Hummer H3 or the Land Rover LR3. But while these multi-purpose "toughies" are designed, at least in part, to withstand the demands of driving under extreme conditions, in terms of reliability, the specialist makes don't always fare as well as you might expect. What's good off-road on occasion may not be quite so suitable or comfortable for everyday running around town.

There is a wide range of criteria that influence the suitability of a vehicle to the climate; It needs to be able to withstand extremes of heat both under the bonnet and in the interior, so cooling systems and air conditioning must function instantly and reliably, usually assessed during hot weather testing.

However, paintwork and interior surfaces should also be able to withstand the fading effects of solar radiation. Sand can also be a damaging factor – dulling paintwork, adding to corrosion and getting into the filtering systems. Humidity too contributes to corrosion as does rain, especially when it carries with it pollutants from manufacturing and traffic. And finally, for a few weeks of each year, you will want your vehicle to be water-tight as you negotiate the annual floods.

With these criteria as our tenets, here are our top 10 cars for the UAE climate. We've not placed them in any particular order because not everyone will want a 4x4 or a two-door convertible.


Hummer H2

In these current enviro-conservative times, the H2 may not be a popular inclusion on this list, but there is no denying that it is built like a tank and is as spacious inside as your average living room. While it's as heavy as a small village (3,900kg) and as easy to park as a cross-channel ferry, the 6.2-litre V8 Flexfuel capable powerplant (not sure it's quite enough to put a smile on Al Gore's face) is very unlikely ever to be overstressed or to cause problems. Solid build and the ability to ford over half a metre of water make the H2 a reliable 24/7/365 behemoth.


Toyota Land Cruiser VX-R

You only have to look at the sheer number of them on the roads to recognise just how well suited they are to both the climate and terrain even if the LC is still chubby to look at. What used to be a cumbersome truck to drive has now become extremely refined, thanks to the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System that provides on-road stability, a long suspension stroke and articulation for off-road exploring. You also have a list of options as long as your arm, including DVD player, navigation, Bluetooth, remote start and, to quote Toyota, "the world's most advanced air conditioning systems". It is also high up on the global reliability ratings of WhatCar? (third place).


Volvo XC90

Over and above the robust urbanite exterior protection that features on the XC90 and its exemplary safety record (which isn't to be sniffed at in the UAE), it is the interior comforts of the XC90 that make it most suited to our climate. With ventilated front seats, triple zone climate control (for third row passengers as well) and Volvo's Interior Air Quality System (IAQS), a ride in this roomy estate car with its ample rear storage is serene, secure and will also help safeguard your health.


Mitsubishi Pajero

The Pajero has a reputation for excellent handling over virtually any terrain, thanks to good front and rear clearance and fully independent suspension. It also features interior comforts you would expect in a premium sedan, including one of the best dual zone ACs with a coolbox between the front seats. Solid 3.0 and 3.8-litre engines make the best use of the four-wheel drive. The new Pajero Sport with its Mivec 3.5-litre engine has yet to prove itself here but could be a good alternative for the young at heart. The only minor drawback is the occasional reliability issue.

Bentley Flying Spur

If you want lifelong quality paintwork, sound-proofed glass, the ultimate in comfort with four zone climate control, massage function, roominess and performance, then you have to pay for it. The Flying Spur will glide you along in the cosseted luxury of an executive jet, while a galvanised steel body ensures this true ship of the desert lasts a lifetime. An optional electric glass solar-panel tilt and slide sunroof powers the ventilation fans when stationary – not sure it "gives back" to Mother Nature quite as much as the 650Nm 6.0-litre W12 takes, though.


Peugeot 607

For a number of years, and not uniquely, Peugeot has been installing athermic windscreens and tinted glass in its vehicles to help reduce the amount of heat that builds up inside when you leave a car sitting in the sun. Coupled with an efficient dual zone air conditioning system, a cool vent in the glove compartment for keeping your chocolate chilled, a rear sunblind, panoramic sunroof with one-touch electric curtain and a unique, stylish interior mean the 607 is a comfortable and practical family sedan. With 12 years anti-perforation warranty on the bodywork, three years paintwork warranty and a five-star EuroNCAP rating you could transport your family around in a lot worse.


Toyota Sequoia

The one redeeming feature about the Sequoia that has found it a place on this list is the fact that you can remotely start the engine (from about four metres away) and thereby start up the air conditioning on those steamy August days before you actually clamber into its cavernous cabin. It also features three-zone automatic climate control, high solar energy absorbing tinted glass and privacy glass at the rear, window shades, power tilt and slide moonroof with a sunshade and rear DVD system to keep the kids happy on long summer trips to the coast.


BMW 6 Series

For luxury with practicality and performance you can't go wrong with a BMW and the higher up the range you go, the more luxurious the experience becomes. The Six Series manages to combine incredible sporting looks, impressive driving dynamics and a near perfect interior ambience. It's the sort of car you'll never want to get rid of, and thanks to its lightweight rigid aluminium underpinnings, near perfect fit and finish, and quality materials throughout, corrosion and degradation of materials, you won't have to. And if you're at all climate-conscious, BMW has been awarded for having the most environmentally-friendly production processes of any premium vehicle manufacturer.


BMW 3 Series Convertible

As well as excellent performance, an exciting drive and great comfort, you get the best of both worlds all year round with the Three Series. This hard-top convertible is one of few drop-tops that look just as sexy covered up or topless.

During the winter months you can enjoy the wind in your hair with the roof tucked away, and in summer an efficient AC system (which can circulate the air in the cabin three times a minute) keeps the interior delightfully cool, while the hard top adds to the rigidity of the already solid body for a stunningly responsive drive. Under the hood, it has a state-of-the-art range of fuel injected engines (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5-litre) designed to maximise airflow into and around the engine for great performance and ultimately reliable, fun motoring all year round.


Honda CR-V

Although I'm not a fan of the CR-V, what warrants Honda's place on this list is the fact that their reliability record and levels of customer satisfaction are extremely high with very few major faults or recalls issued on any model. The CR-V is economical, a good size for the average family, able to hold its own in mild off-road situations and features a competent dual zone climate control. With a five-year powertrain warranty, five-year corrosion warranty and three years bumper-to-bumper warranty, you're pretty well protected should anything possibly go awry.


Bugatti Veyron

OK, this is number 11, but any car with 10 radiators (three for engine cooling, one for the intercoolers, two for the air conditioning, one for transmission oil, one for differential oil, one for engine oil and one for the hydraulic spoiler) has to be able to survive a UAE summer. How well it will fare over all the speed humps, however, is another matter.

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