Best Trucks for Snow for 2025
These are the best trucks for snow based on iSeeCars' analysis of each vehicle’s ground clearance and key features for driving safely in the snow
The best midsize truck for snow is the Jeep Gladiator (11.6 inches inches of ground clearance), with the Ford F-150 being the best full-size truck for snow (12.0 inches inches of ground clearance). The Hyundai SANTA CRUZ ranks #1 for the best small and compact trucks for snow (8.6 inches inches of ground clearance).
Trucks have always performed a wide variety of practical purposes, and in recent years they’ve become popular off-road lifestyle vehicles and even daily commuters. Among their many uses, pickup trucks offer several cold-weather applications due to their high ground clearance and available four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems. They can serve snow plow duty for individuals or small businesses, and even maintain their towing capabilities in icy conditions and through deep snow.
iSeeCars has identified the best trucks for snow and listed them below, with full-size trucks and midsize trucks ranked according to ground clearance. When two trucks are within .5 inches of ground clearance iSeeCars uses the truck’s safety score and iSeeCars overall quality score to break ties. While every modern truck offers standard traction control and stability control, we only included trucks that come with standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Standard or available snow tires or all-terrain tires were also must-have items to make the cut. We didn’t include heavy duty trucks like the Ford F-250 and Ram 2500 because their size and weight can make them tricky to maneuver on slippery surfaces.
Full-size American trucks like the Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 utilize 4-wheel-drive systems based on rear-wheel-drive platforms. Most midsize trucks, including the Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma, also feature four-wheel drive. But the midsize Honda Ridgeline, and compact trucks like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, use AWD drivetrains for improved traction in winter driving. These all-wheel-drive systems don’t include a low-range transfer case or locking differential, but they can still handle winter weather, along with modest off-road adventures through dirt and mud.
Trucks remain the most versatile vehicles in the automotive realm. They can handle anything from a heavy load to heavy snow, especially with trim upgrades that include four-wheel drive, winter tires and a heated steering wheel. Use the lists below to see which trucks have the highest ground clearance. New and used pricing and fuel economy information is also provided for each model.
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).
