Very Specific Question - The Coquihalla

I've been driving to the Kootenays from Victoria for the past 6 years. I have driven up the Canyon and along Route 3. As a time-saving measure, I am thinking of driving UP (north on) the Coquihalla next week. I am sure this is going to sound stupid, but..... When I drove south on it last year, I remember thinking, I'm so glad I'm not going north. Time issues this year are making me think about biting the bullet and driving north up that steep, steep, very steep hill. Anyone have experience with this. My 2015 Micra is low mileage and peppy enough, but will we be okay?

it should be fine, you may not do 180 but you probably should not anyway.it has over 100 HP and is a small car,strong crosswinds will affect it more, but it a modern car capable of traveling on any modern highway

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Originally Posted by MrMicra2015

it should be fine, you may not do 180 but you probably should not anyway.it has over 100 HP and is a small car,strong crosswinds will affect it more, but it a modern car capable of traveling on any modern highway

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Thanks for that reassurance. I remember going up the hills along the Hope-Princeton and some of them were pretty steep so I'll give it a try..... and save an hour off my drive.

EXCEPT if the weather turns bad and it snows (who wudda thunk at the end of May? but this year anything is possible). Then I will do the canyon.

I lived in Kamloops for a number of years and have traveled the Coquihalla more times than I can count......It still was a toll road when I first started driving it.....I've driven the Coq in all manner of vehicles, from a 1980 Honda Civic 1500 GL, a rented Suzuki Swift three cylinder, a 2000 Civic sedan, to a Honda Element....and in all weathers....and the only car I thought I would never want to take on the Coq again was the three cylinder Suzuki....You'll be fine in your Micra.....even with the long steep hills.......The only thing wrong with the Coquihalla is the scenery is not quite as striking as the Canyon route, imho.....

We used to live in Quesnel. 3 or 4 trips to Vancouver every year through the Canyon. I did it again the year before last.... and it looks so impoverished now. And I haven't been through since the fire that hit Lytton, so don't know if it affected a lot around there. Very sad. But yes, the scenery is magnificent. A beautiful drive.