Best Luxury Cars for Snow for 2025
These are the best luxury cars for snow based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle’s ground clearance and key features for driving safely in the snow
The best luxury small and compact car for snow is the BMW 3 Series (hatchback) (6.5 inches inches of ground clearance), with the BMW 5 Series being the best luxury midsize car for snow (6.1 inches inches of ground clearance). The Genesis G90 ranks #1 for the best luxury large cars for snow (5.8 inches inches of ground clearance).
The best luxury hybrid car for snow is the Lexus LS 500h (5.8 inches inches of ground clearance) and the best luxury plug-in hybrid car for snow (PHEV) is the BMW 3 Series (Plug-in Hybrid) (5.8 inches inches of ground clearance). Topping the list for the best luxury electric cars for snow is the Polestar 2 (5.9 inches inches of ground clearance), while the Porsche 911 (coupe) ranks first for the best luxury sports cars for snow (6.3 inches inches of ground clearance).
The best luxury convertible for snow is the BMW 2 Series (convertible) (5.5 inches inches of ground clearance), with the Volvo V60 Cross Country being the best luxury wagon for snow (7.8 inches inches of ground clearance).
Today’s all-wheel-drive sedans are remarkably capable at taking on icy roads and winter weather, while modern luxury cars and luxury sedans provide an excellent blend of turbo-enhanced horsepower, an engaging driving experience, and premium amenities. Combine the two concepts – a luxury sedan with an advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, and you get the best of both worlds while enjoying superior fuel economy compared to a crossover or SUV.
iSeeCars has identified the best luxury cars and luxury sedans for snow and listed them below. These premium vehicles are organized by size and ranked according to ground clearance. To earn a spot on this list, a luxury car has to offer an all-wheel-drive system as standard or optional equipment, along with advanced driver-assist technology in the form of forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking as standard equipment. Available winter tires or all-season tires are also required, along with at least 5.5 inches of ground clearance. When two luxury cars are within .5 inches of ground clearance iSeeCars uses the model’s safety score and iSeeCars overall quality score to break ties.
While a front-wheel-drive (FWD) or rear-wheel-drive (RWD) luxury sedan, with proper snow tires, can be proficient in cold weather, the best cars for taking on snowy conditions will leverage an AWD system for added confidence and control. These systems complement the basic safety features all recent model year cars offer, including anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control. Luxury car shoppers faced with deep snow driving, or planning adventurous off-road excursions, should consider a truck or SUV with a traditional four-wheel-drive system.
Top-rated AWD luxury cars will provide additional cold-weather features, including a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and an adaptive automatic transmission with a winter driving mode. Additional safety features, such as automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and smart cruise control, are not specific to winter driving, but do improve vehicle safety in all weather conditions. Larger touchscreens, more powerful V6 engines, and heated rear seats can be found on the top trim levels of midsize or large luxury sedans.
For each of the luxury cars listed below, additional information, including new car pricing, used car pricing, and mpg specs, is provided. Keep in mind that different automakers use different terms to refer to their all-wheel-drive systems. Audi uses Quattro, BMW uses xDrive, and Mercedes-Benz uses 4Matic, but they are all just brand-specific terms for all-wheel drive.
Shoppers looking for a lower-cost sedan with cold-weather functionality should check out our Best Sedans for Snow page, which features mainstream models from brands like Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota.
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).
