The Philippines is one of the most typhoon-struck countries in the world. On average, 20 tropical cyclones hit the region.[1] With this reality, floods are a fixture across towns and cities during the rainy season.
Rising waters make it hard for motorists to drive. Plus, floodwaters can severely damage vehicles. Taking these into account, it only makes sense to get a car that can conquer seasonal deluges.
We’ve listed down the best cars for floods in the Philippines. Also covered are some features to look for and a couple of tips to keep your car safe from such an inconvenience.
What are the Features to Look for When Choosing a Car for Floods?
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Of course, you’re not looking for a car to use for floods on purpose. But it helps to know which features can help you deal with the said weather-related snag. Check out the following:
🔍 High Ground Clearance
Ground clearance is the distance of a car’s body from the ground. The higher the ground clearance, the more capable it is on flooded roads. Ideally, your car’s ground clearance should be at least eight inches or 200 millimeters.
🔍 Wading Depth
Wading depth is the deepest water level your car can safely drive through. This is an important factor to look at, as prolonged exposure to water can damage some parts located at the bottom of the car.
Cars that can manage high waters usually have a wading depth of 800 millimeters.
🔍 Power Output
You’re not supposed to drive fast through a flood. Otherwise, the water may enter the engine and damage electrical parts. But it helps if your car runs on an engine that can produce enough power for navigating submerged roads.
🔍 Big Tires
Bigger tires and rims can provide your car with additional height. In turn, you can navigate semi-flooded roads with confidence. The good thing is that you can easily modify this part of your car.
Read more: 10 of the Most Durable Car Models
10 Best Cars for Floods in the Philippines This 2023
What are the best cars for floods? You have a handful of options. Read on to see which car suits you best.
🚗 Mitsubishi Strada
- Price: ₱825,000 to ₱1,827,000
- Mitsubishi Strada ground clearance: 200 mm
- Mitsubishi Strada wading depth: 600 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 2 to 5 (depending on configuration)
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 2,447 cc (2.4L)
- Performance: 134 Hp and 324 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
Some of the best cars for flood are actually trucks. Their height and rugged build make it easy for them to wade through high puddles. If you’re looking for a high-quality truck with a relatively friendly entry-level price, the Strada from Mitsubishi is something worth checking out.
The wading depth of the Strada may be lower compared to that of others on this list, but it’s still more than capable when it comes to driving through flooded roads. Its higher trims have stability control, which is important for maintaining control over your vehicle while it’s wading through wet and slippery roads.
Other safety and security features include the following: airbags for the driver and the front passenger, electronic brake distribution, an anti-lock brake system, a blind spot detection system, and speed-sensing door locks.
Read more: Car Safety Features: Does Your Vehicle Have Them All?
🚗 Toyota Hilux
- Price: ₱861,000 to ₱2,077,000
- Toyota Hilux ground clearance: 279 mm
- Toyota Hilux wading depth: 700 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 2 to 5 (depending on configuration)
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 2,393 cc (2.4L)
- Performance: 148 Hp and 243 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
The Hilux may not be fully amphibious, but it has some features that make it one of the best vehicles for flooded roads. With a high ground clearance of 279 mm and a wading depth of 700 mm, this truck allows you to face certain flood risks.
The upper variants of the car offer more power. For instance, the Hilux Conquest can churn out 148 Hp of power output and a maximum torque of 400 Nm, supplying you with that extra push when you drive on challenging roads. Higher trims also have stability control that can help you navigate submerged thoroughfares.
🚗 Isuzu D-Max
- Price: ₱917,000 to ₱1,905,000
- Isuzu D-Max ground clearance: 195 mm
- Isuzu D-Max wading depth: 800 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 2 to 5 (depending on configuration)
- Transmission type: Manual or Automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,898 cc (1.9L)
- Performance: 148 Hp and 350 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
Another pickup truck on this list, the D-Max offers an impressive wading depth of 800 mm, making it ready for big puddles. If you’re a weekend warrior who traverses rough terrains, this truck allows you to drive through streams. After all, the D-Max is meant for the great outdoors.
The D-Max doesn’t skimp on safety components. It boasts blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and advanced driver assist system (ADAS), which incorporates Smart DUO Camera and rear radars.
The best thing about the Isuzu D-Max? It’s built for easy maintenance, given that it features multiple maintenance-free parts. This means great savings on your end in the long run.
Read more: Go Tough, Get a Truck: Best Pickup Cars in the Philippines
🚗 Suzuki Jimny
- Price: ₱1,217,000 to ₱1,330,000
- Suzuki Jimny ground clearance: 210 mm
- Suzuki Jimny wading depth: 300 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 4
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,462 cc (1.5L)
- Performance: 101 Hp and 130 Nm
- Fuel type: Gasoline
The Suzuki Jimny charms a lot of car lovers not only because of its boxy design but also because of its powerful features. While it only has a wading depth of 300 mm, it can still power through waterlogged roads, thanks to ALLGRIP PRO,[3] an off-road capability that lets you easily maneuver through rough and flooded terrains.
Safety is a serious business for the Jimny. It features airbags for the driver and the front passenger, an anti-lock brake system, stability control, electronic door locks, and ISOFIX, among others.
🚗 Ford Ranger
- Price: ₱1,249,000 to ₱1,910,000
- Ford Ranger ground clearance: 235 mm
- Ford Ranger wading depth: 750 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 5
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,996 cc (2.0L)
- Performance: 167 Hp and 405 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
The Ford Ranger’s nameplate befits itself–it’s designed to discover wild roads and uncharted places. Its entry-level trim is already packed with features for navigating flooded roads, such as an impressive wading depth of 700 mm and high power output.
The Ranger is also generous when it comes to safety and security features. It’s outfitted with airbags for the driver and the front passenger, side airbags, curtain airbags, electronic brake distribution, an anti-lock brake system, and electronic door locks, just to name a few.
🚗 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
- Price: ₱1,568,000 to ₱2,370,000
- Mitsubishi Montero ground clearance: 218 mm
- Mitsubishi Montero wading depth: 700 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 7
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-valve, 16-cylinder, 2,442 cc (2.4L)
- Performance: 179 Hp and 430 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
This seven-seater car is easily one of the most popular SUVs in the country. It’s a highly capable unit that can effortlessly tread different kinds of roads.
Its imposing height also makes it one of the best cars for floods in the Philippines. Further substantiating this benefit are its ground clearance of 218 mm and wading depth of 700 mm.
If you want a more powerful drive, go for the Montero Sport’s 4x4 variant. Pairing this drivetrain is its power output of 179 Nm and torque of 430 Nm.
The highest trim is also packed with safety features, such as airbags for the driver and the front passenger, side airbags, curtain airbags, an anti-lock brake system, and electronic brake distribution.
Read more: Upgrade Your Ride: 14 Best SUVs in the Philippines for Every Budget
🚗 Nissan Terra
- Price: ₱1,709,000 to ₱2,474,000
- Nissan Terra ground clearance: 225 mm
- Nissan Terra wading depth: 800 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 7
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 2,488 cc (2.5L)
- Performance: 187 Hp and 450 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
The Nissan Terra is one of the top nameplates in the midsize SUV segment. It confidently performs on challenging terrains, made possible by off-road features such as electronic locking rear differential, a durable body frame, and responsive suspension.
With a high ground clearance of 225 mm and a wading depth of 800 mm, the Terra is one of the best cars for floods. When it comes to safety, this SUV has airbags for the driver and the front passenger, side airbags, curtain airbags, an anti-lock brake system, stability control, and electronic brake distribution.
🚗 Toyota Fortuner
- Price: ₱1,736,000 to ₱2,595,000
- Toyota Fortuner ground clearance: 193 mm
- Toyota Fortuner wading depth: 700 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 7
- Transmission type: Manual or automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 2,393 cc (2.4L)
- Performance: 148 Hp and 400 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
The Fortuner is one of the best-selling SUVs in the Philippines. While considered midsize in its category, this car offers a lot of big things. First on the list is its capability to navigate flooded roads, thanks to its ground clearance of 193 mm and wading depth of 700 mm.
The Fortuner’s power output measures 148 Hp and 400 Nm, giving you that needed boost when traversing a flooded road. Its entry-level unit is also equipped with enough safety and security features, such as a driver’s airbag, a front passenger’s airbag, a knee airbag, an anti-lock brake system, immobilizer, stability control, and electronic door locks, among others.
🚗 Ford Everest
- Price: ₱1,799,000 to ₱2,525,000
- Ford Everest ground clearance: 227 mm
- Ford Everest wading depth: 800 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 7
- Transmission type: Automatic
- Engine: Four-cylinder, 16-valve, 1,996 cc (2.0L)
- Performance: 168 Hp and 405 Nm
- Fuel type: Diesel
The Everest perfectly blends luxury and style, but what makes it more appealing is its reliable utility. With a ground clearance of 227 mm and a wading depth of 800 mm, it’s definitely one of the best cars for flood-prone areas.
The Everest’s titanic size and solid build are made to conquer the great outdoors. You can take it while camping, rock climbing, and other weekend warrior activities. For safety, it’s outfitted with a driver’s airbag, a front passenger’s airbag, a knee airbag, side airbags, curtain airbags, an anti-lock brake system, and stability control, among others.
🚗 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron
- Price: ₱6,250,000 to ₱7,250,000
- 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron ground clearance: 206 mm
- 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron wading depth: 500 mm
- Other key specs:
- Seating capacity: 5
- Transmission type: Automatic
- Performance: 335 Hp and 664 Nm
- Fuel type: Electric
Battery plus water is a combination that spells disaster, but the luxurious 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron proves otherwise. This electric SUV can take on flooded roads with its wading depth of 500 mm. Its impressive performance of 335 HP and 664 Nm makes for easy and effortless driving, especially in challenging conditions.
Drive without worries with the 2024 Q8 e-tron’s suite of safety features. This car comes with six airbags, an anti-lock brake system, electronic stability control, and ISOFIX.
How to Keep Your Car Safe from Floods
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Just because the best cars for floods can endure bad weather doesn’t mean that you should haphazardly drive through submerged roads.
Here are some flood protection tips for cars:
👉 Install the Right Accessories
If floods are an inevitable reality in your area, you must prep your car with the right accessories. For one, go for bigger tires or rims to add height to your vehicle.
If you have a truck or an SUV, a snorkel can help your car breathe underwater. This works by feeding your car engine air to complete a fuel combustion cycle. Ask the car manufacturer for recommendations regarding this one.
👉 Drive Slowly But Surely
Slow down while you’re traversing a waterlogged road. Driving fast through a flood is dangerous, as your tires may lose contact or grip with the wet road. This issue is called aquaplaning.[3]
Aquaplaning happens when a layer of water comes between your tires and the road, causing your car to lose contact with the road and become unresponsive to your steering.
Driving fast through water is also inconsiderate. The big splashes that you create can frustrate other drivers and pedestrians.
👉 Don’t Stop Your Car
Once you decide to drive through the flood, you’re not supposed to stop. Otherwise, water will get into your car and ultimately cause expensive damage.
Revving the engine may help since it will keep water from entering your car's engine.
👉 Check Your Car After the Drive
Once you leave the submerged road, keep driving at a low speed. Take your car to a professional mechanic to check if the flood damaged the electrical components.
👉 Don’t Risk It
If the flood height is more than what your car’s wading capacity can take, don’t risk it. Back off and choose a safer route. It will unnecessarily extend your trip, but at least you and your passengers are safe.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the best cars for floods, the next step would be to choose one that suits your lifestyle. This requires talking to various dealerships, test-driving different units, and consulting with friends who know better. It may take time, but at least, it’ll keep you from experiencing buyer’s remorse.
Once you have your hands on your flood-proof car, add a layer of protection by getting car insurance. Make sure to choose one that comes with Acts of God/Nature that can protect you financially from certain natural disasters, such as floods.
Fund Your New Car with a Personal Loan
Finally decided on which car to buy? If you need extra cash to make that purchase, consider getting a personal loan. Compare your options and apply easily through Moneymax:
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Metrobank
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