The Michigan CDJR buyer's guide: lake-effect snow, Up North roads and the home of the plants

Michigan weather depends on which side of the lake you are on. West Michigan, including Grand Rapids and the Lake Michigan shore, is lake-effect country with frequent snow squalls. Northern Michigan, around Gaylord and Traverse City, gets heavy snowfall, and the Upper Peninsula's Keweenaw region often sees 200 inches of snow or more in a winter. Detroit, Lansing and Ann Arbor see less, but the freeze-and-thaw cycle makes potholes a spring tradition.

Up North driving also means long stretches of two-lane highway, deer at dusk and the Mackinac Bridge, which closes or restricts high-profile vehicles in high winds. Wind and ice are factors for trailers and tall SUVs on the bridge and on US-23.

The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are assembled in Toledo, a short drive from southeast Michigan, and they fit Michigan's mix of snow, sand trails and cabin roads. The Grand Cherokee, built in Detroit, is the family SUV for Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, and the Grand Wagoneer, built in Warren, suits big families and lake-house towing with up to 10,000 pounds in 4x4 form.

The Ram 1500, built at Sterling Heights, is a natural choice for Michigan owners who tow boats to the Great Lakes or snowmobiles Up North. All of these are built close to where Michigan buyers live.

In lake-effect country, 4x4 or AWD is a baseline, and a set of dedicated winter tires does more than any option package. Heated seats, heated steering wheel and remote start are practical on any Michigan commute. Check for wiper de-icers and heated mirrors, which vary by trim.

For towing, factory trailer brake controllers and the right axle ratio help with boat and snowmobile trailers. Ask your dealer about undercoating or rustproofing options, since Michigan's salt use is heavy. For work trucks, Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups include snowplow prep as standard.

Michigan buyers often have a personal tie to the industry, and Stellantis is headquartered in Auburn Hills. Plants in Detroit, Warren and Sterling Heights assemble the Grand Cherokee, Durango, Grand Wagoneer and Ram 1500, and engine plants in Dundee and Trenton make the 2.0-liter Hurricane 4 and the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The Pacifica and Charger, though, are built across the river in Windsor, Ontario.

Wash the underbody regularly in winter and inspect brake lines and suspension components yearly. For EV charging, Southeast Michigan and the Grand Rapids area have the best coverage, and the northern Lower Peninsula and the U.P. have fewer fast chargers, so plan trips carefully.