The Best New Cars of 2022 for Snow Driving
From sedans to wagons to convertibles, these winter-ready cars will have you wishing for snow.
Subaru
On a stormy day in the depths of winter, snow can cover more than 70 percent of the continental United States. For the 30 percenters who send sunny-and-75-degrees photos to their freezing families, go on and smirk. Driving the right car during the cold months is essential and potentially life-saving to everyone else who braves a real winter. Every assault that winter throws—snow, ice, rain, sleet, slush, mud, hail, wind—can hamper your mobility.
Regardless, whether it's a light dusting or a Nor'easter, you can fight back (and even have fun) when the roads turn ugly with this list of passenger cars. Each is available with all-wheel drive, heated seats, and heated steering wheels. They have quick-warming cabins and defrosters, their traction control systems can be disabled should you need to spin the tires to get unstuck, and their on-road performance is generally impressive. Install a set of winter-rated tires, and when the first snow falls, you'll be happy to go out driving.
These are our picks of 2022’s best cars for snow driving.
Subaru
2022 Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru's lifted little hatchback is a beast in the snow. The compact Crosstrek conquers winter weather thanks to generous suspension travel, sophisticated all-wheel drive that continuously routes power to all four wheels, and more ground clearance than some full-size trucks. The Sport trim has two extra driving modes that optimize the car for deep snow, and comes with water-repellant upholstery. Despite its rugged capability, the Crosstrek easily gets more than 30 miles per gallon on the highway. The interior is a drag—it's old and very basic—but that’s the cost of buying a vehicle with a starting price under $24,000. If you can find better winter transportation for less money, it’s probably a snowmobile.
Mercedes-Benz
2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet
A soft-top convertible in the cold might sound like a penalty box, but this Mercedes-Benz remains extravagant at any temperature. The Mercedes-Benz E450 4Matic has a silky-smooth inline-six with hybrid assist, all-wheel drive, a sophisticated driver assistance system, an impeccable cabin, and a road presence befitting its high starting price of $75,500. And this mid-size E-Class goes further. It comes with a neck warmer that blows hot air on your collar and heats the stitched leather armrests on the door and center console. It cranks the front seat heaters high before automatically lowering their temperature. And it can raise the optional air suspension to clear snow-covered roads. Who said convertibles were only for sunny, 80-degree days?
Toyota
2022 Toyota Camry
For nearly 40 years, buying a Camry (and most other mid-size sedans) meant buying a front-wheel-drive car. In 2020, Toyota changed that. All-wheel-drive is now optional on LE, SE, XLE, and XSE Camry trims with a starting price around $28,000. Mated exclusively to the four-cylinder gas engine, AWD makes the Toyota a much better player in the snow. The current Camry is fun to drive, roomy, and can get wild with quad-exhaust tips and a red leather interior. The hybrid (front-wheel-drive only) gets an exemplary 52-mpg combined city and highway EPA estimate. Forget the Camry's reputation as a boring car. Order the right one for your needs and you'll be impressed with how much car you get—and how much you won't miss a RAV4.
Volvo
2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country
In New England and most cold states, the choice comes down to Subaru or Volvo. The just-over-$56,000 V90 Cross Country is a premium car inside and out—an unashamed station wagon, and a gorgeous one at that. The Cross Country's lifted suspension has rear air springs to keep the ride level, an off-road drive mode, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel with three levels, and the fast warmup that only a Volvo built in Sweden can provide. Even the Volvo grille emblem is heated to remove ice and snow from the radar sensors and camera behind it. First-rate technology and interior materials, especially the Nappa leather with the massaging front seats and four-zone climate control, are divine. Few cars look so elegant and pamper passengers this much in any season, making it one of the best cars for snow
Chrysler
2022 Chrysler Pacifica
Chrysler makes only three models, but their Pacifica minivan is one of the best anywhere, even if you might not think of it as one of the best cars for snow. Refreshed for 2021, the ’22 Pacifica starts below $38,000, is a modern packaging marvel, and is one of only two minivans with optional all-wheel drive. Chrysler's exclusive Stow 'n Go seating lets the two captain's chairs in the second row disappear into the floor. When they're in use, the underfloor cubbies double as hidden storage. The chassis and handling are the most car-like of any minivan, while upper trims like the Pinnacle have heated second-row seats with leather pillows and in-car multiplayer games on the rear screens. If you face light winters, the front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid is a great choice (but it loses the Stow 'n Go seats). Minivans remain deeply uncool in the eyes of many car shoppers, but the people who buy them don’t care: They know that no crossover, SUV, or pickup truck can match a minivan’s ability to move people or weather-protected cargo.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Clifford AtiyehClifford Atiyeh is an independent writer, photographer, and creative consultant. He has reported for dozens of websites, magazines, and newspapers in his 20-year journalism career, during which he has tested more than 650 new vehicles. His automotive expertise focuses on product development, market analysis, and the litigation and legislation affecting the industry. Clifford is vice president of the New England Motor Press Association and runs a marketing consultancy.
Related articles
View more related articles