What Are 7 Great Cars for Snow Driving?

This winter, snow seems to know no boundaries, with storms happening across the country — even in normally steamy areas like Florida. How a car or truck handles the white stuff can take on added significance when shopping for a new car — and it might push one model of a given type ahead of another.

Related: Winter Driving Tips

Not all shoppers want a rugged SUV to take on winter weather, so our list of models below for winter driving features a mix of vehicle types and highlights cars with features and technologies to keep you comfortable and mobile when weather conditions sour.

While the right car is important, the tires on it play a critical role in successfully navigating winter weather. In fact, the right tires can mean the difference between making it safely to your destination or getting stuck in the driveway. In areas of the country with significant snowfall or poor snow removal, the right tires for the season might be a set of winter tires. The difference versus all-season tires — both when accelerating and braking — is night and day.

On to the list. All prices listed below include the destination fee as well as the base price with available all-wheel drive when it’s not standard.

Vehicles for Snow Driving

• People mover: 2025 Chrysler Pacifica (AWD)
• Sedan: 2025 Nissan Altima (AWD)
• Pickup truck: 2025 Honda Ridgeline
• Electric vehicle: 2024 Kia EV6 (AWD)
• Small SUV: 2025 Kia Seltos (AWD)
• Wagon: 2025 Subaru Outback
• Large SUV: 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4WD)

If You Want a People Hauler: 2025 Chrysler Pacifica (AWD)

• Base price: $47,140
• Combined fuel economy: 20 mpg

Minivans are a great choice to move people and cargo, and the Chrysler Pacifica — which earned our Best of 2017 award in the current generation’s debut year — is comfortable, quiet and offers innovative technology like an available Uconnect Theater rear-seat entertainment system with built-in games. The Pacifica saw freshened styling and new multimedia technology when it was updated for 2021, and it offers AWD on all trims. For 2025, Chrysler simplified the Pacifica lineup, reducing the overall number of trim levels from five to three. The van’s standard remote start, heated front seats and heated steering wheel can help take some of the edge off bitterly cold days when parked outside.

If You Want a Sedan: 2025 Nissan Altima

• Base price: $30,070
• Combined fuel economy: 28 mpg

Nissan’s mid-size sedan offers AWD, which is not something you see throughout the mid-size sedan class. AWD is available starting on the SV trim, which is one up from the base variant — and it’s affordable, adding just $1,500. In a review of the Altima’s AWD system, Cars.com editor Aaron Bragman said, “The Altima’s AWD system is seamless, well integrated, and helpful on wet roads or in loose, powdery snow; on hardpack or crusty, slick ice, it helps but can’t work miracles.”

The Altima has loads of safety goodies, too. Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard across the 2025 Altima line; the safety tech suite includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, reverse automatic braking and automatic high beams. Rear parking sensors and a driver attention monitor are also standard.

If You Want a Pickup Truck: 2025 Honda Ridgeline

• Base price: $41,600
• Combined fuel economy: 21 mpg

With its unibody platform based on front-wheel drive, the mid-size Ridgeline isn’t like other pickup trucks, but Honda’s unique approach provides certain benefits in winter driving. Whereas a typical rear-wheel-drive truck may not have much weight over its driven wheels, limiting traction in slick conditions, the Ridgeline has the weight of its V-6 engine over two of its drive wheels and standard AWD across all trims for winter-weather capability. Honda’s Intelligent Traction Management system provides four drive modes, each with unique programming: Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand. A mild refresh for 2024 added an off-road-themed TrailSport trim to the lineup. In a story on the TrailSport, Cars.com contributor Matt Barnes said the TrailSport trim is “a vehicle that’s great for all-weather conditions on pavement and one that can easily manage well-maintained dirt and gravel roads.”

If You Want an EV: 2024 Kia EV6 (AWD)

• Base price: $51,245

Most EVs offer dual-motor AWD, and the added weight and low position of the battery (which lowers the vehicle’s center of gravity) can offer superior handling in slick conditions. On the other hand, cold weather can take a toll on an EV’s range — up to 40%, according to one study by AAA. The Kia EV6 is prepared to take on the demands of winter with AWD available starting on the base Light trim and a range of up to 282 miles for the dual-motor models. The EV6 also features a heat pump climate-control system and winter mode designed to maintain its range, charging and driving performance in cold temperatures. Additionally, heated front seats come standard across all trims, while second-row heated seats and a heated steering wheel are optional.

For 2025, Kia is updating the EV6 with new front, rear and interior styling, larger battery packs and additional tech features. Pricing and mileage efficiency information aren’t yet available, however.

If You Want a Smaller SUV: 2025 Kia Seltos (AWD)

• Base price: $26,085
• Combined fuel economy: 29 mpg

While larger, heavier vehicles offer some advantages when it comes to winter driving, a subcompact SUV like the 2025 Kia Seltos can be a better fit for maneuvering around tight city streets and parking spots in snowy conditions. Claiming the top spot in a recent Cars.com affordable SUV comparison, the Seltos offers standard AWD across most trims, including the base LX. It’s available on other variants for between $1,500 and $2,200, trim depending. The Seltos also offers a lot of standard safety tech, including automatic forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane departure steering assist, lane-centering steering and automatic high beams. Plus, available winter-friendly features like heated side mirrors, remote start, automatic climate control and heated front seats can make the coldest months of the year seem more bearable.

If You Want a Wagon: 2025 Subaru Outback

• Base price: $30,430
• Combined fuel economy: 28 mpg

Although the number of available wagons has dwindled in the U.S., the Subaru Outback — longer, lower lifted wagon-like shape and all — remains popular amid increasing competition from traditional SUVs, and it’s a good choice for shoppers looking for a capable winter vehicle. Its standard 8.7 inches of ground clearance rivals that of many taller SUVs, and it comes standard with AWD. The Outback was updated for 2023 with an enhanced EyeSight driver-assist suite as well as available winter-friendly convenience features including heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel and heated windshield wiper resting points to help keep the rubber blades from freezing to the windshield. For 2024, EyeSight was made standard across the lineup. For 2025, the Limited trim gains a few popular options as standard equipment, including a power moonroof, heated steering wheel, driver attention monitor and the larger 11.6-inch Starlink infotainment touchscreen.

If You Want a Larger SUV: 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee (4WD)

• Base price: $40,830
• Combined fuel economy: 22 mpg

With the Grand Cherokee, Jeep offers lots of versatility as well as capability with its AWD system and even more robust, off-road-oriented Trailhawk trim. The Grand Cherokee comes as a five-seat model or as a three-row with seats for seven in the long-wheelbase L version. It’s also available in plug-in hybrid 4xe trim (which we’ve tested extensively during our two-plus years of ownership). Only the Laredo and Limited trims of the regular Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L come with RWD standard, with 4WD as a $2,000 upgrade; all other trims, as well as every Grand Cherokee 4xe, come with 4WD standard. The most off-road-capable variant, the Trailhawk, is limited to the 4xe trim. What’s more, it also offers cold-weather accessories such as heated exterior mirrors and a heated steering wheel. Lastly, Jeep dropped the Grand Cherokee’s price considerably for 2025, making it even more appealing.

More From Cars.com:

• Should You Warm Up Your Car in Winter?
• Video: Winter Driving Tips
• Do You Need an All-Wheel-Drive Minivan?
• Song of Ice and Tire: Does Snow Buildup Cool Car Performance?
• How to Free Your Car From a Snowbank or Ice Patch

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