Best Cars for Driving in Snow

Traction enables your tires to grip to the road and control your vehicle. Without traction, your car would not be able to accelerate, stop, or turn. This is just a list of things that can reduce traction: bald tires, worn shock absorbers, low tire pressure, or a change in roadway conditions such as snow, ice or rain.

Use light, steady pressure on the brake pedal to maintain the right speed. This allows your braking system to maintain traction. If you don’t have ABS, start slowly and keep it slow by lightly pumping the brakes. Never use cruise control in icy conditions.

• 2021 BMW 3 Series xDrive. Starting Price with AWD: $44,245 / Rating: 4.6 (2020)
• 2021 Dodge Charger SXT AWD. Starting Price with AWD: $34,890 / Rating: 3.6.
• 2021 Mazda3 AWD.
• 2021 Nissan Altima AWD.
• 2021 Toyota Avalon AWD.
• 2021 Toyota Camry AWD.
• 2021 Volvo S90.

55 miles per hour

With a modern 4WD, you can safely switch from 4Lo to 4Hi while driving, however, you will always need to stop before engaging 4Lo from 4Hi. Similar to sand, you want to drive in 4H since it offers you stability and you can build momentum as you track through the soft boggy mud.

4WD can be dangerous If you drive faster than conditions allow, you’re far more likely to flip and roll because of your higher center of gravity. 4WD doesn’t help you brake better or give you more stability in turns while braking. So slow down when you’re turning and brake sooner.

Actually, it is probably beneficial under these circumstances. However, you should never drive your vehicle on dry pavement while in four-wheel drive. The stresses placed on the drivetrain components are bad enough. The worst aspect is that you could lose control of the vehicle!

Just as a point of clarification, there is nothing wrong with using Auto 4WD. It won’t damage the vehicle and only engages when necessarily. Not that you would want to leave it on all the time, but if you are driving on roads with patches of ice or snow, then by all means, use it.

If you’ve got a vehicle that offers two-wheel drive or four-wheel-drive auto, then most of the time you may as well use the 4WD Auto setting. It’s fine for dry pavement, so the only advantage of running in 2WD would be some fractional fuel economy benefit—or saving wear on the front-drive system.

You use 2H for normal road driving. In 4H (four-wheel drive, high range) all four wheels are driving your vehicle. In many modern 4x4s you can switch from 2H to 4H without stopping, but still have to come to a complete stop to switch from 4H to 4L.

For snowy roads, as well muddy terrain and other light off road trails – even sand – it is normally best to engage your 4 high setting when needed as it provides power to all four wheels, helping increase your traction while reducing the risk of slipping and spinning wheels.