If you’ve spent any time driving in snow, you know that the situation can get hairy at times. Even light snowfall can melt and refreeze, obscure problems with the road surface, and reduce visibility—especially at night. First-time snow drivers often find themselves traveling too fast for the conditions, and end up in a ditch or on the rear bumper of the car in front of them. We've compiled a list of the best cars for driving in the snow, but you may first be asking, "do I need all-wheel drive?"
Do I Need All-Wheel Drive?
Do I Need All-Wheel Drive for Snow?
Should I Buy Snow Tires In Addition to All-Wheel Drive?
What is All-Wheel Drive?
What is Four-Wheel Drive?
Are There Downsides to All-Wheel Drive Cars?
Do I Need All-Wheel Drive for Snow?
Many people believe that all-wheel drive is an absolute necessity in snow, so they’re committed to buying crossovers, SUVs, and AWD cars. AWD is a solid choice for people who spend time driving in poor road conditions. Having an AWD vehicle can help with starting off, as there are more wheels pulling the vehicle forward, and it can help keep the vehicle on the road while in motion. That said, AWD is not a hard and fast requirement for winter driving. In many cases, a good set of tires will do more good than AWD. Despite the risk of oversteer and sometimes difficult takeoffs, plenty of people get by in FWD and RWD vehicles with a good set of tires. So, while AWD can give you peace of mind, you’ll likely be just fine in a two-wheel drive vehicle, assuming you invest in good snow tires.
Should I Buy Snow Tires In Addition to All-Wheel Drive?
Tires are more important than which wheels are, or are not, being driven. Snow tires or winter tires feature unique tread patterns and rubber compounds that help them maintain traction and structural integrity in snow, ice, and cold weather. All-season tires might get you by in a pinch, but summer and performance tires are a no-go in weather below 40 or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Most new vehicles leave the factory with all-season tires, because they are suitable for the widest array of weather conditions, but some sports cars and even performance-oriented passenger cars get summer tires for better grip. While they offer excellent traction in warm weather, summer and performance tires have softer rubber compounds that can become brittle and crack in winter weather.
Knowing all of that, do you need winter tires and AWD? The thing to remember is that winter tires’ tread patterns help bite into the snow and provide better stability. All-wheel drive works to keep traction at all four corners, but it won’t help the vehicle stop. It also won’t do much good if the tires are worn or the wrong type. If you live in an area that receives occasional snow and there’s little chance you’ll need to drive in it, all-season tires will likely be just fine with AWD. However, if you need to travel in slippery conditions, it’s best to find a set of winter tires.
What is All-Wheel Drive?
All-wheel drive refers to a drive system in which all four wheels can be driven, depending on the situation. The system comes in two main flavors: full-time and part-time.
Full-time AWD involves both axles and runs all the time. The feature is popular in performance vehicles, because it improves cornering and handling on the road and greatly increases confidence and grip off-road. Automakers like Acura, Audi, and Subaru incorporate full-time AWD systems into sedans, coupes, and even convertibles, in addition to SUVs. The system is especially effective in snow and ice, but as we’ll learn later, AWD is not infallible.
Part-time AWD systems propel two wheels and engage the other two wheels when slippage is detected or more traction is needed. The system relies on sensors and mechanical components to determine when to apply power and how much.
What is Four-Wheel Drive?
Four-wheel drive, or 4WD, is older than all-wheel drive, and is used primarily in pickup trucks and SUVs for heavy-duty off-roading. Unlike AWD, 4WD locks the front and rear axles and sends power to all four wheels equally. The wheels rotate at the same speed, so grip can be enormous, but 4WD systems are not meant to be used for everyday driving situations. Because all four wheels turn together, there’s no need for complex wheel slip sensors and computers to manage operation.
Some vehicles come with part-time 4WD, which typically means that the rear wheels are driven all the time and the front wheels engage when needed. These systems do rely on sensors to make the decision on when traction is needed, but in most cases, the driver has to manually shift their vehicle into 4WD mode. When coupled with increased ground clearance, some 4WD vehicles are capable of tackling even the worst winter conditions.
Are There Downsides to All-Wheel Drive Cars?
All-wheel drive vehicles provide better traction than rear-wheel-drive cars (RWD) and front-wheel drive (FWD) cars, but they aren’t the best for heavy snow, and all vehicles struggle with icy roads. Vehicles equipped with the function are typically heavier than their two-wheel drive counterparts, which means a hit to fuel economy and a shift in the car’s weight distribution. The drivetrain components can also be more expensive and complex to repair or replaces, and vehicles equipped with AWD systems are more costly to buy up front.
If we’re talking about spirited high-performance driving, such as on a race track, people tend to prefer rear-wheel drive cars because they can induce oversteer. The term refers to the action of rotating a vehicle in a turn by encouraging the rear wheels to break traction and skid. It’s not the quickest way to go around a corner, but it can’t be done in an AWD or FWD vehicle. Think of motorsports like drifting, where the cars slide for most of the event, which requires rear-wheel drive.
Replacing tires can also be more painful with all-wheel drive cars. Since all four wheels receive propulsion power, they can wear more quickly than when there are only two. It’s also best practice to replace all four tires at the same time, instead of just the fronts or rears. This ensures proper traction and will help the tires wear more evenly.
Finally, towing an AWD car can be more difficult than a two-wheel drive model. Most tow truck drivers recognize that the AWD differential and other components can be damaged if two wheels are left on the ground to turn, so they’ll typically put the car on a flat bed. That said, the internet is full of videos with destroyed Subarus and other AWD cars that were towed improperly.
If you live in an area that receives significant snowfall and have to drive for work or family reasons, an all-wheel drive vehicle can be a great option to help you get where you need to go safely. That said, all new cars are expensive and all-wheel drive adds to the bottom line, so you’ll need to decide if navigating the snowy conditions is worth the additional costs.
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A Northerner’s Guide to Winter Tires
The Right Way to Store a Car
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