The Best Cars to Drive in the Snow

Midsize crossover SUVs with high ground clearance and four- or all-wheel drive, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, are the best cars to drive in the snow.
Written by Sarah Gray
Edited by Pat Roache
If you expect to encounter a lot of snow on the road, look for a crossover SUV like the
Jeep Grand Cherokee
with high ground clearance and all- or four-wheel drive.
  • SUVs, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Hyundai Tucson, and Mazda CX-9 are some of the best cars for driving in snow.
  • Sedans lack the ground clearance necessary to dominate in deep snow, but when equipped with all-wheel drive, they’re still great options for getting around on slippery roads.
  • When selecting the best cars for snow, look for high ground clearance and/or all- or four-wheel drive.

What are the best cars for driving in snow?

The best cars to drive in the snow need a high ground clearance and an effective drivetrain with all- or four-wheel drive.
  • High ground clearance: Look for a car with at least eight inches of ground clearance. 
  • AWD: Cars with all-wheel-drive (AWD) can automatically redirect torque to the front or rear wheels to stabilize grip on slippery roads.
  • 4WD: Four-wheel drive (4WD) locks front and rear wheel axles so that all wheels are operating at the same speed, which in turn reduces wheel spin when traction is low.
While ground clearance and drivetrain are necessities, the advancement of current car technology has brought a lot of additional safety features to improve snow driving. Here are some features that can improve your car’s safety in snow, as well as your comfort:
  • Adaptive headlights
  • Automatic high beams
  • Anti-lock braking and stability control systems
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Forward collision warning and mitigation
  • Heated mirrors
  • Heated windshield and wipers
  • Automatic temperature control
  • Heated seats and steering wheels
  • Remote start

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

Starting price: $56,030
Ground clearance: 11.3 inches
Drivetrain: Quadra-Trac II 4WD
The 2022
Cherokee Trailhawk
comes with three different options for AWD, but the Quadra-Trac II 4WD is best for tackling the snow. Better yet, the Trailhawk comes with just about every additional safety and comfort feature you could want for harsh winter driving.
Pro tip: For the most cost-effective option, upgrade the base-trim
Laredo
with the all-weather Trail Rated Package to get 4WD and comfort features. However, you’ll lose most of the safety features and about 2.5 inches of ground clearance—though 8.7 inches is still good for snow.
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Subaru Outback Premium

Starting price: $29,345
Ground clearance: 8.7 inches
Drivetrain: AWD
The
Outback Premium
comes equipped with an X-mode transmission setting to tune the vehicle for snow and mud. You won’t have to upgrade much—these Subarus come standard with plenty of desirable winter-weather features.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Starting price: $30,290
Ground clearance: 8.1 inches
Drivetrain: AWD
The base-trim
RAV4 Hybrid
is well suited to handle the snow with:
  • LED headlights 
  • Forward collision warning 
  • AWD, and 
  • High ground clearance. 
Upgrade to the
RAV4 XLE
for even more safety and comfort features, including:
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Fog lights
  • Heated mirrors

Hyundai Tucson

Starting price: $26,195
Ground clearance: 8.3 inches
Drivetrain: HTRAC AWD
The
Hyundai Tucson
is an approachable SUV with an optional Sports mode for extra rear-wheel support in more challenging terrains. You may lack some additional features and conveniences, but the performance won’t disappoint on snow and ice.

Volvo V90 Cross Country

Starting price: $57,295
Ground clearance: 8.3 inches
Drivetrain: B6 AWD
The
Volvo V90
luxury wagon performs like an SUV with standard AWD and Volvo’a B6 hybrid powertrain. Packing 295 horsepower will make getting out of a snow pile easier, and you can rely on plenty of standard safety features including:
  • LED headlights
  • Rain-sensing wipers
  • A slippery road alert.

Honda CR-V

Starting price: $27,900
Ground clearance: 8.2 inches
Drivetrain: Real-time AWD
The
Honda CR-V
doesn’t come standard with all-wheel drive, but it’s a worthwhile $1,500 addition. Here are some favorable features that do come standard:
  • LED headlights
  • Front collision warning
  • Front emergency braking
Pro tip: You’ll enjoy the most additional features for winter driving if you upgrade to the
CR-V EX
.

Mazda CX-9

Starting price: $36,505
Ground clearance: 8.8 inches
Drivetrain: i-ACTIVE AWD
The i-ACTIVE AWD on the
Mazda CX-9
favors front-wheel driving for the most part, but can immediately balance out for maximum grip when slipping ensues. Better yet, its refined, impressive powertrain gives this larger SUV the feel of a smaller sports sedan, making winter-weather driving feel effortless.

Best sedans for driving in snow

SUVs are the safest options when it comes to driving in snow, but an AWD sedan will get you around in a pinch. Some of the best sedans with standard or optional AWD include:
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