Best Cars for Snow for 2025
These are the best cars, SUVs, and trucks for snow based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle’s ground clearance and key features for driving safely in the snow
Best Cars for Snow by Vehicle Type
Driving on icy or snow-covered roads dramatically raises the potential for an accident. Consumers who face these road conditions during winter weather need to identify the best cars for snow to improve their confidence and safety. All new cars, and even used cars up to 10 years old, include standard safety features like anti-lock braking systems, traction control, and stability control, which enhance safety on slick surfaces. But safe driving in snowy conditions requires additional driver assistance technology, along with increased ground clearance and winter tires.
iSeeCars has listed the best cars for snow below and organized them by vehicle type. To earn a spot on these lists a car has to have all-wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) as standard or optional equipment. All-season tires or snow tires must also be offered, while forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking must be standard. Finally, every car on this list needs at least 5.5 inches of ground clearance. Snow driving may involve just a few inches of light powder, but when encountering deep snow a vehicle without sufficient ground clearance can get stranded, even if it has all-wheel drive and dedicated snow tires.
It’s worth noting that an AWD system is not always necessary to deal with cold weather. Front-wheel drive (FWD) – and even rear-wheel-drive (RWD) – powertrains can navigate roads with a light dusting of snow, assuming the driver uses smooth, controlled inputs for acceleration, braking and turning. Cars with an automatic transmission also make it easier to apply power smoothly. But an all-wheel-drive system greatly enhances traction as the temperature drops and the snow level rises, which is why the vehicles listed below are the best cars for winter driving.
Many of the best cars for snow are also the best vehicles for off-roading because the same driving conditions apply to both circumstances as the depth of snow increases. That means SUVs, crossovers, and pickup trucks have a natural advantage in snowy conditions. Subaru gets credit for providing standard AWD in nearly every model they sell, with brands like Ford, Hyundai, Kia, and Mazda offering it as an option on nearly every truck and SUV, and even some sedans. Of course all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive will slightly reduce fuel economy, but it’s a worthwhile tradeoff for drivers who frequently encounter slick roads.
Beyond drivetrain considerations, buyers in cold climates should prioritize convenience features like automatic high beams, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and multi-zone climate control. Once upon a time these premium items were limited to luxury automakers like Acura, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, but in recent model years mainstream brands from America and Japan have offered them, either as standard features or optional on upper trim levels.
Use the lists below to see how cars rank for snow driving in each vehicle category. Models are ranked primarily by ground clearance, but when two vehicles are within .5 inches of ground clearance iSeeCars uses a model’s safety score and iSeeCars overall quality score to break ties. Information on new and used pricing, fuel economy ratings, and key features is also provided for each model.
Best SUVs for Snow
Best Trucks for Snow
Best Hybrids for Snow
Best Electrics for Snow
How We Rank These Cars
The best Cars for snow rank vehicles by their ground clearance and key features helpful to driving safely in the snow.
For a vehicle to make the iSeeCars Best Cars for Snow list, it has to have standard or optional four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and at least 5.5 inches of ground clearance. Vehicles that meet these requirements are ranked by their ground clearance, as higher ground clearance allows for safer and more effective travel over increasingly deep snow. When two vehicles are within 0.5 inches of ground clearance we prioritize by each model's safety score, then by key features for driving safely in snow, and finally by the iSeeCars Score, to break ties.
The iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).