Best cars for snow 2025

It might not happen all that often but every now and then the UK gets hit with the sort of snowfall that makes driving more challenging. But with a few tips and a bit of preparation, most snowfall shouldn’t stop you from getting to where you need to be. We’ll give you some tips here, but if you really want to be in the best position to deal with the annual snowfall, some cars are better than others. Below is a list of the good ones.
While SUVs or crossover style vehicles may look built to handle slippery conditions bear in mind appearances can be deceptive and many aren’t even all-wheel drive, and therefore no better in the snow than any other car. Indeed, winter tyres with cold weather optimised rubber compounds and tread patterns can make an even bigger difference than all-wheel drive and while there is an upfront cost (and faff in terms of swapping wheels around and having space to store whichever ones you’re not using) if snow is a regular occurrence where you live the investment could be worth it. Winter tyres are usually recommended when the temperature drops below seven degrees and, in some parts of Europe, are compulsory if you’re driving in snowy conditions so check before you travel. Recommended: Should I buy winter tyres for my car? Here’s our top pick of the best cars for snowy conditions, plus some general snowy driving tips…

Suzuki has a great heritage of building small, affordable all-wheel drive cars with the Ignis one of our favourites. We’ll raise our sights a little here though and suggest the bigger S-Cross for its extra space for winter essentials like shovels, boots and, yes, sledges!
The S-Cross range features various levels of hybridisation to help keep fuel costs down but most are just front-wheel drive. If you live somewhere it snows a lot and you need the reassurance of power to all four wheels we’d be recommending the mild hybrid version in the top level Ultra trim, which gets Suzuki’s self-explanatory ALLGRIP all-wheel drive system included. True, it’s a bit more expensive but the spec includes other winter essentials like heated seats and mirrors and all the luxuries you need. Read our full expert review of the S-Cross.

A favourite of ski resorts and other places where driving conditions demand a lot of a car, the Dacia Duster’s combination of affordability, toughness and no-nonsense practical features like sturdy rubber floor mats make it the perfect winter transport. The latest Duster may have grown up and got a bit more SUV-like in the process but stays true to the formula, clever use of unpainted and part-recycled plastics on the exterior contributing to the knockabout cred. And while the standard car and the new hybrid option are front-wheel drive only there’s still an all-wheel drive option combined with the proven 1.2-litre TCe 130 petrol, this also getting extra ride height and a dedicated snow driving mode among its extra features. With this and the range of outdoors-friendly accessories it’s the perfect affordable choice for when the going gets tough.

While cold-weather driving does put some additional strain on batteries and may see your range drop a bit there’s no reason to leave the electric car parked up just because there’s a bit of snow on the ground. Not all EVs are made equal, though, and the sometimes abrupt power deliver in some models may prove a challenge on slippery surfaces. Enter Toyota and its bZ4X, which was engineered from the start with more focus on off-road ability than most electric SUVs. Twin motor versions have power going to all four wheels and Toyota’s smooth power delivery helps find all the available grip, with no unseemly wheelspin. Same goes for the Subaru Solterra, which is basically a rebranded version of the samecar. Which may not seem like much, until you factor in Subaru’s formidable heritage in four-wheel drive cars and, as a result, enduring popularity from America’s ‘snow belt’ to the wilds of Scotland. The badge may be the only real difference between the two, but the Subaru one comes with some pedigree when it comes to all-weather dependability.

If you’re looking for a commercial vehicle to drive in winter, the Land Rover Defender Hard Top is a great choice.
Essentially a Defender converted into a van by removing the rear seats, it's a proper off-roader and available in both three-door 90 and five-door 110 forms. The three-door 90 version looks more like a typical commercial vehicle because the rear windows are replaced by panels, although its actual cargo space is significantly smaller at 1,355 litres, as compared to 2,059 in the 110 model. Either way, the Hard Top's Defender underpinnings mean it drives like a luxury car. It’s great in the snow too, especially the 90 model because its shorter wheelbase makes it feel a little more agile and manageable. A high level of safety kit is standard.

The latest Skoda Kodiaq may have made a decisive move upmarket in terms of its looks and luxuries but, at heart, remains as tough, spacious, practical and winter-friendly as ever. Available in fuel-efficient front-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid versions you can also opt for a winter friendly 4x4 model if you go with the diesel engine. True, it’ll be more expensive to buy and run but if you need a seven-seat SUV for a snowbound school run there are few better choices. An optional Winter Package meanwhile adds heating for front AND rear seats as well as a heated steering wheel. In for a penny, we’d be going for the optional heated windscreen as well if we needed to get around in all weathers, though there’s still the standard ice scraper tucked in the fuel filler cap for emergencies.

Jeep Compass

Jeep has cleverly reimagined its traditions as a 4x4 brand for the electrified age with its all-wheel drive hybrid system, which it brands 4Xe in a twist on the traditional ‘four-by-four’ terminology. Available on various models in the range we’re highlighting the mid-size Jeep Compass here but the principle is the same on any model carrying the branding, the conventional combustion engine driving the front wheels while an electric motor powers the rear. This can work on its own for zero (local) emissions driving around town or join forces with the petrol engine for longer trips or when you need power to all four wheels. As you might when the going gets snowy. While the engineering sounds complicated it’s easy to get your head around at the wheel, the Selec-Terrain mode switch by the gear selector including a Snow mode that automatically configures the system to the conditions.

Ineos Grenadier

[

While modern electronics can make even regular cars safer and more capable in slippery conditions than ever before if you REALLY want to keep moving in the most extreme weather you still need a proper, traditional 4x4. And they don’t get much more proper than the Ineos Grenadier, which was built from the start as an unofficial successor to the original Defender when Land Rover reinvented the model into a more modern, luxurious SUV. The Grenadier, meanwhile, sticks to more old-school mechanical methods to ensure it’ll get through whatever the weather, something we experienced for ourselves on a stunning drive through snow-covered Scotland on the original launch event. It goes beyond heavyweight engineering though, more thoughtful design features including oversized switches on the inside designed so you can still use them with your winter gloves on, which will be appreciated by the commercial users jumping in and out to open gates as they drive around their country estates or farms.

Recommended:
Electric cars in winter Top 11 tips for driving in snow How to drive in snow safely