The 10 best cars for driving in the snow

Driving in snow can be really tricky – poor visibility, cold temperatures and slippery roads can prove treacherous in the wrong car, and if you live far enough north to be affected by big snowdrifts and closed roads then you’ll certainly want something that can handle some serious weather.

If you regularly tackle snow, or just don’t want to be stranded the next time old Saint Nick brings a flurry of the white stuff, then you might want to make your next car one that can manage snow with ease.

A good snow car is usually one with four-wheel drive. Lots of ground clearance helps, especially in deeper snow, and you don’t want anything too performance-focused – slick tyres are great on a track day but useless when it’s slushy outside. Every car we’ve chosen here has four-wheel drive, though it’s worth noting that a set of good winter tyres is much more effective in the snow. In our testing, a front-wheel drive car with winter tyres had more grip than a four-wheel drive car on summer tyres, so consider switching out your rubber before upgrading your car.

We’ve got a selection ranging from affordable hatchbacks right up to some of the best SUVs you can buy – and petrolheads, don’t worry, there are a couple of performance cars that can handle the snow in here too…

Best snow cars 2025

• Skoda Kodiaq
• Land Rover Defender
• Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks
• Volkswagen T-Roc
• Subaru Outback
• Porsche 911 Dakar
• Suzuki Ignis
• Toyota GR Yaris
• Toyota Land Cruiser
• Dacia Duster

1. Skoda Kodiaq

The Kodiaq is one of those cars that just does it all. It’s a fantastic family car, an efficient motorway cruiser, and comfortable to sit in over hours of crawling traffic. Opt for the four-wheel drive model and a decent set of tyres, and it’s great in the snow too.

The Kodiaq has a good amount of ground clearance and a well-proven four-wheel drive system which make it capable of tackling a lot more than you’d think. There are even dedicated driving modes for the snow, which help to apply power smoothly without the wheels spinning.

You can only have four-wheel drive with the diesel engine, but that is no hardship as it’s quiet, efficient and powerful. Plus, you can have seven seats – and there’s even a built-in ice-scraper to get your journey off on the right note.

2. Land Rover Defender

The best 4×4 by far… or so we’re told. The truth is that while the Land Rover Defender may not be quite as rough-and-tumble as it used to be, it’s still among the best off-roaders you can buy and its capability to take you anywhere, in any conditions, and in sumptuous comfort is truly remarkable.

Land Rover even gives you something called ‘All-Terrain Progress Control’ which is like cruise control for off-roading – simply set your desired speed and let the car work out how to keep you moving. All you do is point the wheel and relax.

Whether you opt for the charmingly awkward-looking Defender 90, the family friendly Defender 110 or the massive Defender 130, you can be sure that this car will get you where you need to go regardless of the weather.

3. Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks

I mean, it’s in the name, isn’t it? Arctic Trucks is an Icelandic company dedicated to converting cars into the best off-roaders on the planet. You may remember the Toyota Hilux that Top Gear used to ferry Jeremy Clarkson and James May to the North Pole – that was an Arctic Trucks creation. What better endorsement for snow driving is there?

The conversion Arctic Trucks does to the Isuzu D-Max is a special one because you can buy it officially through an Isuzu dealer in the UK, complete with warranty. It rides on monstrous 35-inch tyres, with a raised ride height and dramatically widened arches. Not only does it look the part, it performs.

The D-Max base vehicle itself is no slouch either. It has a comfortable cab with loads of standard equipment for a pickup truck, and the price even with the extensive Arctic Trucks conversion only matches a top-spec Ford Ranger or VW Amarok.

4. Volkswagen T-Roc

Normal cars with four-wheel drive are few and far between these days – even if you’re buying an SUV. The Volkswagen T-Roc is rare in that you can still buy one with all four wheels driven, which while it doesn’t make this family car a mud-plugging off-roader should mean it stands rather more of a chance in the snow than a regular SUV.

The T-Roc isn’t bad to drive either, while its interior is roomy, comfortable and packed with sensible tech.

Better yet, there’s nothing that really shouts about the fact that this car has four-wheel drive. If you’d rather blend into the crowd, this is a great option.

5. Subaru Outback

Subaru built its legacy on a few things – safety, flat ‘Boxer’ engines, and permanent all-wheel drive. Few manufacturers have stuck to their guns like Subaru, and so while the Outback estate may not be the most modern car, or the best to drive, it’s one of the best cars you can buy if your commute takes you off the beaten track.

The brand’s famous ‘symmetrical’ all-wheel drive is more sturdy than the part-time systems employed by most alternatives and gives the Outback a real sense of stability and solidity even on slippery roads.

The gentle power delivery of its naturally-aspirated engine – plus a suite of well-judged off-road assistance tech – makes this an even better option if you want a car that’s great to drive in the snow.

6. Porsche 911 Dakar

Talk about the left-field – well, this is a Porsche that’s more than happy to cross it, or any field you care to mention. ‘Dakar’ refers to the legendarily challenging Paris-Dakar rally, and Porsche’s success with a specially modified 911 back in 1984.

The latest model gets four-wheel drive, chunky tyres and raised suspension, but retains its athletic driving position, and 480hp flat-six engine mounted at the rear. It’s a sports car that thinks it’s a farm vehicle, and we can’t think of many more fun vehicles to drive in the snow.

Of course, with only a few available for sale and a price tag of nearly £180,000, the Dakar isn’t exactly accessible. The good news is that you can get a regular 911 with four-wheel drive too – and while it doesn’t get the off-road tyres or raised ride height of the Dakar, it’s still a seriously accomplished all-weather sports car.

7. Suzuki Ignis

What if the £180,000 911 Dakar (above) is a bit too rich for your blood? Well, for one-tenth the price, you can pick yourself up a Suzuki Ignis, which while it won’t beat the 911 in a drag race does run it close for desirability and personality.

The cute-as-a-button Ignis is available with Suzuki’s surprisingly capable AllGrip four-wheel drive system, and its featherweight body skips across the snowdrifts rather than burrowing in. Fitted with winter tyres, we’d rather do a trip in the snow in an Ignis than many four-wheel drive SUVs.

It’s also surprisingly practical for a small car, and its tiny dimensions mean it’s a fantastic city car too. It’s also hyper-efficient, which is always a bonus.

8. Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser is up there with the Land Rover Defender when it comes to iconic SUVs – and it’s just as capable, too. A beefy diesel engine, unstoppable off-road prowess and a sense of unshakeable solidity means you won’t find many more reassuring cars to drive through the snow.

Speaking of reassuring – the Land Cruiser can be had with Toyota’s ten-year ‘Relax’ warranty, which is a full seven years longer than Land Rover covers the Defender for. You’ll be able to see out a whole decade’s worth of winter driving in a Land Cruiser, though previous experience with Toyota’s legendary reliability suggests you probably won’t need to lean on that warranty at all.

9. Toyota GR Yaris

The GR Yaris may look a lot like the regular hybrid Toyota Yaris, but peer closer and you’ll notice that this three-door car is almost totally bespoke. It’s designed as a rally car first and foremost, featuring four-wheel drive and a hugely powerful 1.6-litre engine that gives it serious cross-country pace.

While the low ground clearance means you probably won’t be picking your way through deep snowdrifts, you may well instead find yourself with the tail out and a big grin on your face as you drive down a slippery B-road.

The truth is, the GR Yaris makes you feel like a racing driver even when you’re pottering about the city. It’s tremendous fun and fantastic to drive in all conditions.

10. Dacia Duster

Dacia’s budget SUV has always been a great way to get a surprising amount of off-road ability for the least amount of money. For less than £24,000 you can get hold of a proper four-wheel drive car, fitted with a sturdy 1.3-litre petrol engine and a manual gearbox for maximum simplicity.

The Duster’s hardwearing interior is made for the outward-bound life too, but has a few more creature comforts than previous models did. Gone are the days when a base-spec Dacia didn’t even have a radio – now you get air-con, remote locking and a touchscreen on even the lowest four-wheel drive Duster.

Best of all, it’s totally unpretentious and looks fabulous – chunky and rugged without being overblown. And should the worst happen, and you drift off a slippery road, you don’t need to panic that you’ve banged up a hundred grand car.

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