On tire sidewall
Inside the door jamb
Winter weather driving can be a shock if you’re not used to colder climates. It’s one thing to learn new driving habits for driving on snow and ice, but another thing entirely to not have a car prepared for winter terrain. Having a good set of winter tires helps, but driving a winter-ready car makes a significant difference in staying safe on the road.
What’s important in a winter car? What makes automobiles ready for winter? Are winter tires required for driving in the snow, or will all-season tires do the job?
We’ll answer all that and more, as well as provide a few examples of winter cars with recommended tires for winter driving.
What Makes a Vehicle Good in Snow and Cold?
The #1 important quality of a winter car is the type of drivetrain, as in front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), all-wheel drive (AWD), or 4-wheel drive (4WD). That’s a lot of options, so which is the best?
AWD or 4WD are the best picks for cold temperature driving, but it's important to understand how they differ.
A part-time AWD system usually operates as front-wheel or rear-wheel drive and automatically sends power to all wheels only when slip is detected. Full-time AWD systems apply power to all four wheels at all times, using electronic monitoring sensors to respond when it senses slipping, skidding, or failing to move. Both AWD systems are automated, respond quickly and are designed to improve control on slippery roads.
4WD is unique in that it locks your front and back wheels to the same movement speed so that you get very good driving performance in any slippery, off-road driving condition. Many 4WD systems must be manually engaged, especially part-time systems, which aren’t ideal for dry pavement. Some newer vehicles offer automatic or full-time 4WD that adjusts based on road conditions. If, for instance, it snowed in the morning and you need to commute to work, you may engage the 4WD system in an area that hasn’t been plowed yet.
Learn more about the differences between all four drivetrains in this article.
Besides the drivetrain, there are a few miscellaneous features important for winter cars:
- Remote start
- High ground clearance (the space between the road and the underside of your car)
- Anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control, electronic stability control (ESC)
- Heated seats
- Snow tires
Do Winter Tires Matter?
Yes, having winter or snow tires will definitely make a difference on any vehicle's performance in the winter. A winter or snow tire is designed with:
- Soft and flexible materials, which are better in freezing temperatures
- Deep, wide, jagged tread grooves that improve snow/ice traction
- Treads with wider blocks that are designed to expel excess snow
- Studs (optional on some, for the harshest winters)
With so many features specific to winter and snow, it's important to know that you should not drive on snow tires year-round.
Some types of snow tires range from being inefficient on dry surfaces, while others — studded winter tires — are downright illegal. If you drive a snow tire on dry pavement, it may make a lot of noise or not feel as responsive because it’s been optimized for ice and snow. Snow tires will also wear down a lot faster when driving on the road, so most people will swap their tires out between the seasons. See When To Change Winter Tires.
As an alternative, consider all-season or all-weather tires. These tires act as a middle ground, having some features useful for winter driving while not being totally optimized for snow and ice. Learn more about winter tires in this article and how they work here.
Our 5 Picks for Winter Vehicles
Toyota Land Cruiser
The Land Cruiser is a great choice for a winter SUV. With approximately 8.3-inch ground clearance, 4WD, and massive 18-inch wheels (depending on trim level), this is a monster of a car to drive through winter weather. This is definitely one of the pricier options on our list, with a base price of $55,000 to $60,000***, so it’s a bit of a dream package for winter driving. But it does come with all the best modern safety features, a 326-hp engine, and M + S all-season tires.
Starts at $321.01 per tire.*
Features: Studdable* winter tire, zig-zag circumferential grooves, and thin gauge sipes that have biting edges to grab snow and ice. Studs not included.**
Starts at $264.99 per tire.
Features: Studdable winter tire with snow grooves, a high sipe count, and an improved grip on icy or snowy surfaces. Studs not included.**
Subaru Forester
The Forester, much like many Subarus, includes a signature AWD system. What other Subarus don’t have is the 2026 Forester’s 8.7-inch ground clearance (varies by trim level), automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. At an MSRP of around $30,000, it’s one of the best value options on our list but you will need to get the premium package for some of the extra features (like heated front seats, for example). For safe snow driving, it has a decent 180-hp, 4-cylinder engine.
Starts at $250.72 per tire.
Features: Best in class ice and snow traction, reinforced sidewalls, three-peak mountain snowflake rating, and a tread compound that maintains its shape in freezing temperatures.
Starts at $165.99
Features: Studdable winter tire built with winter sipes that have biting edges, a larger tread footprint, and excellent wet performance. Studs not included.**
Kia Telluride
An full-size SUV with a minimum 8-inch ground clearance and an MSRP of around $36,000 (depending on trim level), this is a solid choice for a winter car, especiall with the optional AWD package. The base model comes with an impressive V6 291-hp engine, remote start, 3 row seating, automatic braking, and blind-spot detection. Although this hits most of our most important features, if you upgrade to the $42,090 EX, you'll get AWD and a few other nice winter features (like heated front seats).
Starts at $267.81 per tire
Features: Winter tire designed for SUVs and crossovers that comes with two circumferential grooves to help reduce hydroplaning, reinforced tread blocks, and a tread compound that increases grip on wet and snowy roads.
Starts at $292.75 per tire
Features: Studless winter tire that has large block edges for better snow control, maximized surface contact, and cold-temperature rubber that maintains stiffness in freezing temperatures. Also comes with a hydrophilic coating that reduces the chances of ice freezing to the tire.
Hyundai Kona
Even with the AWD package, the Hyundai Kona has a base price of around $28,000, making it a great subcompact SUV option for winter weather. The Kona gets around 8.1 to 8.3 inches of ground clearance and options include collision sensors, automatic emergency braking, lane assist, and more awesome safety features that really round out this vehicle’s safety. We’d also like to highlight this SUV’s MPG, which is a standout on this list for fuel efficiency at 28-29 for AWD.
Starts at $160.11
Features: Studdable winter tire designed for maximum winter control with biting edge sipes for exceptional grip and a flexible rubber compound that’s reliable in the cold. Studs not included.**
Starts at $185.51
Features: Studless winter tire with a 40,000-mile warranty and roadside assistance. Tread design features large tread blocks with biting edges to dig through snow and ice.
Toyota Camry LE AWD
Although sedans lack the ground clearance recommended for winter vehicles, the Camry is nevertheless a top pick for a winter sedan. Check out the LE AWD package, which starts at around $30,000. It comes with a suite of safety features (depending on trim levels) like: collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane assist, automatic high beams, and blind spot monitoring. It also has an optional cold weather package that adds heated front seats and steering wheel.
Starts at $137.41 per tire
Features: Studdable winter tire with a three peak mountain snowflake rating, high-sipe density for better braking/traction, and a curved groove design that improves snow traction and water evacuation in the tread for better road contact. Studs not included**.
Starts at $232.79 per tire
Features: Studless winter tire with superior winter grip and stability. Comes with a three-peak mountain snowflake rating and a durable sidewall designed to resist impacts and abrasions.
*Prices are subject to change without notice. Tire costs can vary based on availability, manufacturer pricing, and market conditions. For the most current pricing click the product links.
**Studs not included and must be installed separately where legal.
***Vehicle prices subject to change and vary based on special offers, model and trim levels, and location. Vehicle prices were obtained from manufacturers' websites as of December 2025 except where noted.
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