If you regularly drive from Mendoza along RN 7 toward Los Libertadores — the Argentina–Chile Mendoza–Los Libertadores mountain route — buying a car involves far more considerations than a city commute. Puente del Inca is about 193 km from central Mendoza, at roughly 2,730 m above sea level. The Argentine government's strategic profile of Mendoza lists Las Cuevas as the province's highest settlement, at 3,557 m. In winter you may also face ice, low visibility, and temporary road closures.
This route certainly calls for enough climbing power, but horsepower and AWD only solve part of the problem. Whether you can hold a steady speed on descents, whether your tires and snow chains are a proper match, and how quickly you can see clearly again once the windshield fogs up often decide the trip long before that.
Test low gears and braking on long descents first
The Mendoza government's mountain driving advice is explicit: use a low gear on steep descents, avoid coasting in neutral, and slow down before corners. On a test drive, find a safe, long downhill stretch and check whether the automatic transmission holds a low gear easily in manual mode and how well the brake pedal can be modulated.
The BYD Han L 2025 DM-p AWD LiDAR Flagship can use regenerative braking to help slow down, and it has ventilated disc brakes front and rear. That said, its curb weight is 2,235 kg. With the car full of passengers and luggage, you need to shed speed well before the descent — don't wait until you're in the corner and keep braking hard.
The Chery Tiggo 9 2027 2.0T AT AWD Falcon 500 has a curb weight of 1,869 kg, uses an 8-speed automatic, and includes Hill Descent Control. Hill descent control suits low-speed stretches; on a normal highway descent you still control speed with the right gear. When test-driving, it's worth trying the two situations separately.
Winter grip comes down to tires and snow chains
Both cars have AWD, which makes pulling away on wet, slippery slopes easier. On ice and snow, grip still comes down to the tires. Mendoza's authorities require vehicles to carry snow chains when driving the Corredor Andino in winter and to use them as directed on site. Before setting out, check the local travel advisories.
Both candidates use large tires. When buying chains, tire size is only the first step: you also need to confirm from the vehicle manual which axle they can be fitted to, the wheel-arch clearance, and the chain types allowed. Ideally, do a trial installation before delivery. Unpacking chains for the first time at the roadside in snow rarely goes smoothly.
Choosing between the two depends on how you usually drive this route
If you head into the mountains often in winter and want fewer unknowns around recharging and refueling along the way, the Tiggo 9 is easier to plan around. Its four-wheel drive, automatic transmission, and hill-start assist are worth focusing on during the test drive. Fuel grade cannot be inferred from a similar trim; before delivery, confirm it against the fuel-filler cap, the vehicle documents, and the specific VIN, and check separately whether suitable fuel is available along the route in both Argentina and Chile.
If you mostly avoid bad weather and can charge reliably at home or at your base, the Han L lets you weigh everyday electric driving against mountain capability. The WLTP electric range shown on the model page cannot be treated as usable winter mountain range. Cold-weather heating, queuing, and sustained climbing all add to energy consumption, so leave margins in both charge and fuel before heading into the mountains.
The trade-off between these two is not only about the powertrain. The Tiggo 9 behaves more like a traditional gasoline SUV and is simpler to plan around. The Han L relies more on stable charging and active planning, and suits drivers willing to schedule trips around the weather and charging conditions.
Test these items before you buy
At delivery or on a test drive, try manual downshifting and low-speed hill descent control first, then check front-windshield and rear-window defrosting, heated mirrors, and tire pressure monitoring. In winter, also keep an eye on the low-voltage battery. When lane markings are buried under snow or visibility is very low, assists such as lane keeping may not read the road properly, so the driver still has to stay in control of the vehicle.
Whether the road is open changes with the weather. Before every trip, check the official Sistema Cristo Redentor status page to confirm the crossing status for the day, border opening hours, and chain requirements. Once the road is closed, wait for the authorities to reopen it.
Winter vehicle-buying checklist
| Item | Han L | Tiggo 9 | Verify on both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power and charging/refueling | Charging at base and cold-weather energy use | Fuel availability and refueling along the route | Fully loaded climbing and trip margins |
| Downhill control | Regenerative braking working with mechanical brakes | 8AT low gear and hill descent control | Slow down early on highway descents |
| Ice and snow grip | AWD is no substitute for winter tires | AWD is no substitute for snow chains | Chains allowed by the manual and the axle they fit |
| Winter visibility | Defrosting, heating, and low-voltage battery | Defrosting, heating, and low-voltage battery | Driver stays in control in low visibility |
Frequently Asked Questions
If I drive this route often, do I need AWD?
AWD helps with pulling away and climbing on wet, slippery slopes, but tires and snow chains still come first. If you only cross occasionally in stable weather, a two-wheel-drive car can also work, provided its tires, brakes, and low-gear control suit mountain driving.
Is the Han L's rated electric range enough?
You cannot judge it by the rated figure alone. WLTP is a standardized test cycle; cold-weather heating, climbing, and queuing all change real-world range. On this route, you still need to carry enough fuel.
The Tiggo 9 has hill descent control — do I still need a low gear?
Yes. Hill descent control is mainly for low-speed control; on long highway descents you should still slow down early and use the right 8AT gear to help control speed.
If the snow chains match the tire size, are they good to go?
You also need to check the vehicle manual for which axle they can be fitted to, whether the wheel arches leave enough room, and which chain types are suitable. After buying them, do a trial installation once.
Submit your vehicle and CIF quote request to Starvia Automotive, or contact Starvia Automotive via WhatsApp: +1 669 292 8680.
This article is compiled from public route information from the Argentine and Chilean governments and the vehicle catalog on Starvia's official English website. Road opening status and winter restrictions may change with the weather; always rely on the latest official information before setting out. Information verification date: 2026-08-18.