10 Best Cars For Canadian Winters: Our Top Picks For Traversing The Great White North
If you’ve lived in Canada for some time now, you’ll know that driving in the snow is no joke. Slippery black ice, reduced visibility, and fluid freeze can all turn a standard trip to the grocery store into a nerve-wracking drive. While you can find tons of tips and tricks for navigating wet and snowy roads, the safest option is to head out with a winter-ready vehicle.
Here, we’ll help you pick out the best cars to ply snow-, sleet-, and ice-covered roads. From crossovers to SUVs, these are our top picks for the best cars for Canadian winters.
Important Factors for Choosing the Best Winter Cars
Before we talk about specific models, let’s take a few steps back. When you’re shopping for a winter car, there are three key features you need to be on the lookout for:
Winter Tires
Regardless of the brand or type of car you’ve got your eye on, there’s one feature you can't go without - winter tires.
Many shoppers believe that all-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles are enough to take on the dangerous snow and ice. However, this is not the case when it comes to handling extreme winter conditions. Although AWD and 4WD vehicles are reliable, safe, and can provide you with more traction and anti-lock brakes that keep your car from skidding, its the winter tires that keep the wheels turning.
While all-season tires are suitable for navigating most weather and road conditions, they may not be enough for the harsh Canadian winters. Unlike all-season tires, which can harden and lose traction once it gets too cold, winter tires are made of specialized rubber compounds that stay nice and supple even in sub-zero temperatures. Aside from their unique chemical composition, winter tires also have unique grooves and edges in the tread that can wick melted snow and water away from the ground – which means that you get much more traction.
Studded Or Studless?
Back in the day, studded tires and chains were your best bet for surviving winter driving. However, thanks to modern advancements in rubber compounds and technology, studless tires are just as safe! Plus, they don't come with all the downsides.
Studded snow tires are embedded with small, sharp metal studs within the tread. They are designed to plow through the snow and dig into the ice, which provides greater traction for the car. While studs on tires are great for plying trails that are completely blanketed in snow or ice, they can damage and dig into the pavement when the surface isn’t covered. In addition, studs are known to produce a considerable amount of noise.
Although studded tires have uncompromising winter grip, studless tires have become a more preferred choice for many winter drivers with its advanced tread designs and rubber compounding.
All-Wheel Drive And Four-Wheel Drive
When it comes to better traction and ability to move through slippery conditions, all-wheel drive and four-wheel vehicles drive are far more superior than a common two-wheel drive vehicle.
Even so, many drivers choose two-wheel drive vehicles for their budget friendly prices, fuel efficiency, and lightness. In front-wheel drive (FWD), where the engine's power drives the front wheels of the vehicle, there is better traction due to it’s weight distribution and engine above the front tires. Rear-wheel drive (RWD), on the other hand, has power transferred to the two back wheels. RWD cars ensures each set of tires have just one task, allowing them to have equal amount of stress. The front set of tires are used for sterring, while the rear-wheels provide power. While FWD and RWD each have their own sets of advantages, they can lead to over and understeer in slippery conditions.
In comparison, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drivetrains power each of the car's four wheels, but in different ways. AWD uses center differential to transfer torque to the wheels that need it the most. This usually happens automatically with no input from the driver. 4WD, on the other hand, usually requires a switch that engages all four wheels. These two drivetrains are essential for off-roading and driving on slippery roads since they offer maximum traction and distribute torque evenly.
Anti-lock Brakes
Anti-lock braking systems or ABS are now a standard feature in modern cars. The system is designed to help you steer your car as you brake by sensing when your tires are locking up and then "pulsing" the brakes to keep you from skidding. ABS makes it easier for you to control your car when driving through winter roads and stopping on ice. It also helps with shortening stopping distances on wet, slippery roads or during panic braking.
Top Cars for Canadian Winters to Consider
Toyota RAV 4
Year after year, the Toyota RAV 4 finds itself among the top five best-selling cars in Canada. This compact crossover is popular among adventure junkies, whether they're hitting the coasts or driving up our snowy mountains. The 2020 Adventure variant boasts multi-terrain drive modes, allowing users to drive over rock and dirt, mud and sand, and yes, you guessed it, snow.
Aside from its impressive AWD, the 2020 Toyota RAV 4 Adventure has an 8.6-inch ground clearance, making it one of the higher crossovers on the market today.
Audi A4
Who says you need a big and bulky car to make it through the winter? For those who prefer sleeker vehicles, Audi's A4 is a great option. The luxury sedan is equipped with Audi's pioneering Quattro all-wheel drive technology, which makes driving smooth and easy, even over snowy and icy roads.
The Audi A4 isn't just a powerhouse sports sedan – it's a tech-head's dream car too. With onboard Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a slew of other neat features, this car will have you forgetting about any miserable weather happening outside.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is one of the few cars to consistently rival the Toyota RAV 4 in terms of sales. The 2020 version boasts a hybrid engine that not only performs well but allows for a more fuel-efficient drive. Its roomy cabin and spacious trunk make it a popular choice for road-tripping, just like its Toyota counterpart.
Plus, it gets up to 8.2 inches of ground clearance, making it easily maneuverable even over rough terrain.
Subaru WRX
Subaru's Symmetrical AWD is often touted as the best all-wheel drive system out there, and it's standard for all WRX and WRX STI models. Aside from its incredibly well-balanced and efficient drivetrain, this compact sedan is also equipped with a powerful turbocharged engine and track-tuned suspension that gives greater control over slush. As far as braking goes, you can opt for the WRX Premium and get the high-performance Brembo Performance Brakes for a peace of mind when driving on cold and wet roads.
Another upside to this compact sedan? It's one of the most fun and exciting vehicles to drive.
Jeep Wrangler
If you're big on adventure, the Jeep Wrangler could be the best car for you. This rugged off-roader has everything you need to road trip through Canada's great outdoors. With a tough exterior, great ground clearance (8.3 inches), optional 4WD, and turbocharged four-cylinder engine (on the new JL version, at least), the Wrangler makes plying snowy, icy trails an easy feat.
While this SUV isn't the most spacious or comfortable ride, it makes up for it in classic Jeep fashion with its removable doors and top, making it a true all-season performer.
Ford Fusion
Ford's mid-size sedan may look unassuming, but it's a solid winter car that can hold its own against the big dogs. For one, it's equipped with Ford's Intelligent AWD system which senses road conditions and adjusts torque automatically for better traction and handling. It's also known for its sporty, responsive steering and generous trunk space, as well as its comfortable interiors. As for safety, you also get a standard rearview camera that makes it easier (and safer) to reverse in bad weather.
All in all, the Ford Fusion makes for a great alternative to bulky, fuel-inefficient SUVs and crossovers.
Nissan Pathfinder
Of all the vehicles under the Renault-Mitsubishi-Nissan alliance, the Nissan Pathfinder may be one of the best for winter driving. Sure, its 7.0-inch ground clearance falls short compared to its competitors, but it's got an impressive 6,000 lb. towing capacity to make up for it.
And with a 3.5-liter V6 engine boasting 260 horsepower, All-Mode intelligent 4 x 4 which offers better traction over slipperier roads, as well as hill start assist and hill descent control, this is an SUV that can manage colder climates without much trouble.
Mazda 3
Powerful engine? Check. Comfortable, spacious cabin, and trunk? Check. All-wheel drive? Check. Sleek, no-frills body? Check! Of all the vehicles on this list, this one stands out for its ability to straddle the line between luxury and mainstream, all while maintaining everything you would need to survive a particularly bad winter day. If you're trying to decide between prioritizing form and function, the Mazda 3 is a perfect balance.
Honourable Mentions
Now that you know you have seen our favourites, it's time to start shopping for a new car, but before you do, check out these honourable mentions:
- Land Rover Discovery Sport. With great clearance and an impressive AWD system, it's no wonder there's a lot of love for this Land Rover.
- Lexus LX 570 AWD. With TORSEN torque-sensing tech and four-wheel Active Control assist, you can be sure that you're in safe hands in this Lexus.
- Lincoln Aviator. Apart from the obvious, this SUV has something quite unique – a heated wiper system to defrost any buildup on the windshield. It's also a spacious, high-tech, and luxurious SUV that’s similar to the CX-9 from Mazda.
- Ram 1500. Unlike the Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles listed above, the Dodge Ram 1500 is neither a sedan nor an SUV. It's a full-on pickup truck with towing prowess and standard winter tires.
Conclusion
Winter driving is no easy feat. With the slippery roads, low visibility, and negative temperatures that can affect your car’s performance, finding the perfect vehicle to power through the great Canadian weather every year is an extremely important decision. Fortunately, though, there's no shortage of cars that can perform in the face of such conditions.