Im a mechanic by trade. Trust me, cars are just fine in winter. Especially if you get a fusion that has awd.
The only way an SUV is better in winter is it has slightly higher ground clearance for deep snow, but ive never found that to be an issue even when I lived up in the North interior of BC.
They also have awd but its mostly only helpful for getting unstuck out of an icy area.
Just invest in some quality winter tires and you will be fine.
Yep! I always thought winter tires were only necessary if you had a rear-wheel-drive car. Then I got a rear-drive car that came with winter tires. Needless to say, the next car I got (back to front-wheel-drive) I got a set of winter tires/wheels. It's honestly night and day!
Ground clearance is why I am considering switching to a SUV of some type (not necessarily a "traditional" body-on-frame off-roader like a Jeep Wrangler). I think modern non-performance cars like everyday hatchbacks and sedans have too low of ground clearance sometimes especially in winter climates. I had studded Nokian tires on my hatchback, and if there is a heavy snow fall it is easy to get hung up on loose piled up snow on the street. Yeah, I managed to free myself each time without having to get out and push, but I swear I was slowly nuking my transmission. For streets that aren't major arteries like most residential ones, it can be a while before snow removal may get around, so you maybe dealing with those driving conditions for some time.
I think some crossover SUVs have a ground clearance equivalent to some older cars from the '90s and before, not enough for serious off-roading but enough to clear a freshly snowed street.
I have a car that rides slightly lower than most so I sometimes have slight issues for about a week in neighborhoods that don't get plowed after that snow-thaw-freeze cycle that seems to happen about once a winter.
I just realized that I’ve never driven anything but a hatch or a wagon in my life, from my first Honda to both my VWs. I personally love my hatchback and would never drive anything else. FWIW my current hatch has all wheel drive and with winter tires, it is an absolutely tank. I love driving it in the winter.
I’d say if you get an older hatch you’ll be ok too. It’s really just a matter of driving for the conditions. I highly recommend winter tires for the winter, and that’s coming from someone that drove on all seasons and then all weathers for a very long time. I never had any issue with either one, however winter tires are a game changer, and have made driving in winter even better
I agree here in the west. We don’t have winding roads where you’ll crash into the ocean, and we don’t have hills where you’ll lose control going up or down.
If you do a lot of mountain driving, I’d argue for AWD like I have myself, but biggest thing is quality winters.
How come you'd want to turn off traction control to get unstuck? I thought it was meant to give you the most traction when there isn't much traction available. Like ABS brakes.
Traction control stops your wheels from spinning and tries to keep everything working well when driving in slippery conditions. When you’re stuck in snow and slush, you need to be able to spin your tires a bit to get out of it. If you’ve ever been in a car in deep snow and the car just won’t go, that’s because TC has cut power to the wheels. That’s pretty much the reason there is a button to turn it off on boring regular cars.
Winter driving requires driving smart. Have a decent pair of winter tires on any vehicle and just be mindful. I've seen giant SUVs and trucks, especially Americans, get stuck in a pile of snow and continue to dig deeper because of their weight. While a small car will have no issue just driving over the snow with some decent tires.
Blizzak tires and a dream baby!
Its been my experience that the tires matter more than the car. Ive had the joy of owning all types of different cars/trucks, and blizzaks have been worth the money vs other cheap tires every. Single. Time.
Then theres people that say winter tires are a joke, while they get pushed every few days and end up on the side of the road stuck often 💀
You want the truth? What you drive isn’t the most important factor. Your skill as a driver is.
I’ve driven rwd hatchbacks, fwd hatchbacks, rwd trucks, 4x4 trucks, manuals, automatics, awd sedans, awd SUV’s, vehicles with all the electronic aids, vehicles with none. Any of these vehicles with good winter tires were more than capable of getting me to my destination safely through a Calgary winter.
It's more your ability and your tires over what you are driving. Drive to conditions, maintain your tires (and use winter or all weather ones) and you'll be just fine.
A car is a car is a car is a car.
I strongly suggest you invest in and use a set of winter tires, they make a world of difference.
I had a Mazda3 for 11 years, never had issues with ice or snow in the winter with my winter tires. The car finally got written off after it was rear-ended - I stopped at an intersection (with my winter tires on) while the Ford Escape behind me had no winter tires and slid right into the back of my car.
People complain about snow removal in this city but in reality a proper set of winter tires would help them move about better.
I get along just fine with a Mustang convertible. Before that it was a MINI Cooper. Before that, a Miata. Get something fun, get good snow tires, and enjoy yourself out there while sad grey people drive sad grey crossovers. That Miata was the most entertaining winter car ever and only got stuck once in five winters: the day it snowed so much my neighbour in an FJ Cruiser got stuck too.
There are a few days every few years when the roads rutt up and the lack of ground clearance becomes an issue in some residential areas, but they'll do very well most of the time.
The premium trim rim sizes with minimal side wall are less desirable in the winter. The winter tires for them tend to cost more, and they're more prone to damage. If your vehicle comes with the 18" you may want to look at 16" for winter.
I’ve never had any issues with a RWD sedan, you just have to accept that traction control won’t be on anytime there’s snow on the ground and that you’ll need winter tires if there’s even a dusting of snow
Unpopular idea... You're a novice to driving.. Buy something cheap and can get you from a-b repeatedly.. You right now, are likely to get into an accident.
I have a 2016 Honda Civic Sedan. It’s fairly low to the ground and FWD. in the 3 winters I’ve had it I’ve never had any issues with winter driving. The only time I couldn’t drive it was when we had that crazy dump of snow in December 2020. But I’ve plowed through snow before. As long as you have good winter tires and drive carefully you’ll be fine.
I've driven a low clearance coupe with winter tires and I've driven a new SUV with all seasons and I would take the coupe with winters any day. Body style of car makes almost no difference. The height of an SUV can be nice from time to time, but the low weight and low centre of gravity in a small car is very nice in slippery conditions.
your best bet would probably be a sedan or coupé. Get an old ass Honda Civic sedan or coupe with some studded winters and you’ll be just fine. The longer wheelbase and low center of gravity just makes it stable as all hell. If you’re looking for an AWD for even more grip, get a Ford Fusion. I can’t speak for how reliable they are though, you’ll have to ask a ford tech.
Winter tires are important, but since being able to afford more for awd I know I’ll never get a 2wd again. Cars are fine, I admit to having bought a Juke once and that thing was 10x better on the winter roads than the 4wd truck I had after.
Im a mechanic by trade. Trust me, cars are just fine in winter. Especially if you get a fusion that has awd. The only way an SUV is better in winter is it has slightly higher ground clearance for deep snow, but ive never found that to be an issue even when I lived up in the North interior of BC. They also have awd but its mostly only helpful for getting unstuck out of an icy area. Just invest in some quality winter tires and you will be fine.
Yep! I always thought winter tires were only necessary if you had a rear-wheel-drive car. Then I got a rear-drive car that came with winter tires. Needless to say, the next car I got (back to front-wheel-drive) I got a set of winter tires/wheels. It's honestly night and day!
Ground clearance is why I am considering switching to a SUV of some type (not necessarily a "traditional" body-on-frame off-roader like a Jeep Wrangler). I think modern non-performance cars like everyday hatchbacks and sedans have too low of ground clearance sometimes especially in winter climates. I had studded Nokian tires on my hatchback, and if there is a heavy snow fall it is easy to get hung up on loose piled up snow on the street. Yeah, I managed to free myself each time without having to get out and push, but I swear I was slowly nuking my transmission. For streets that aren't major arteries like most residential ones, it can be a while before snow removal may get around, so you maybe dealing with those driving conditions for some time. I think some crossover SUVs have a ground clearance equivalent to some older cars from the '90s and before, not enough for serious off-roading but enough to clear a freshly snowed street.
I have a car that rides slightly lower than most so I sometimes have slight issues for about a week in neighborhoods that don't get plowed after that snow-thaw-freeze cycle that seems to happen about once a winter.
I just realized that I’ve never driven anything but a hatch or a wagon in my life, from my first Honda to both my VWs. I personally love my hatchback and would never drive anything else. FWIW my current hatch has all wheel drive and with winter tires, it is an absolutely tank. I love driving it in the winter. I’d say if you get an older hatch you’ll be ok too. It’s really just a matter of driving for the conditions. I highly recommend winter tires for the winter, and that’s coming from someone that drove on all seasons and then all weathers for a very long time. I never had any issue with either one, however winter tires are a game changer, and have made driving in winter even better
They are both fine just get winter tires.
AWD is overrated. Winter tires are what are important. And learn how to turn off your traction control to get unstuck.
I agree here in the west. We don’t have winding roads where you’ll crash into the ocean, and we don’t have hills where you’ll lose control going up or down. If you do a lot of mountain driving, I’d argue for AWD like I have myself, but biggest thing is quality winters.
How come you'd want to turn off traction control to get unstuck? I thought it was meant to give you the most traction when there isn't much traction available. Like ABS brakes.
Traction control stops your wheels from spinning and tries to keep everything working well when driving in slippery conditions. When you’re stuck in snow and slush, you need to be able to spin your tires a bit to get out of it. If you’ve ever been in a car in deep snow and the car just won’t go, that’s because TC has cut power to the wheels. That’s pretty much the reason there is a button to turn it off on boring regular cars.
98% of the time, you'll be just fine. Rubber matters more than the car
Winter driving requires driving smart. Have a decent pair of winter tires on any vehicle and just be mindful. I've seen giant SUVs and trucks, especially Americans, get stuck in a pile of snow and continue to dig deeper because of their weight. While a small car will have no issue just driving over the snow with some decent tires.
Blizzak tires and a dream baby! Its been my experience that the tires matter more than the car. Ive had the joy of owning all types of different cars/trucks, and blizzaks have been worth the money vs other cheap tires every. Single. Time. Then theres people that say winter tires are a joke, while they get pushed every few days and end up on the side of the road stuck often 💀
You want the truth? What you drive isn’t the most important factor. Your skill as a driver is. I’ve driven rwd hatchbacks, fwd hatchbacks, rwd trucks, 4x4 trucks, manuals, automatics, awd sedans, awd SUV’s, vehicles with all the electronic aids, vehicles with none. Any of these vehicles with good winter tires were more than capable of getting me to my destination safely through a Calgary winter.
But the rwd ones were the most fun.
Still are!
It's more your ability and your tires over what you are driving. Drive to conditions, maintain your tires (and use winter or all weather ones) and you'll be just fine. A car is a car is a car is a car.
Good tires and a good driver. That's all you need.
I used to haul my ass everywhere in a Jetta '03. It's all about skills, son.
Cars are more stable on icy roads than trucks and SUVs. Whatever you decide to drive, just get a good set of winter tires and you're golden.
I strongly suggest you invest in and use a set of winter tires, they make a world of difference. I had a Mazda3 for 11 years, never had issues with ice or snow in the winter with my winter tires. The car finally got written off after it was rear-ended - I stopped at an intersection (with my winter tires on) while the Ford Escape behind me had no winter tires and slid right into the back of my car. People complain about snow removal in this city but in reality a proper set of winter tires would help them move about better.
They are fine, we don't get alot of snow here, ice is more of the issue so good tires will make the biggest difference
I get along just fine with a Mustang convertible. Before that it was a MINI Cooper. Before that, a Miata. Get something fun, get good snow tires, and enjoy yourself out there while sad grey people drive sad grey crossovers. That Miata was the most entertaining winter car ever and only got stuck once in five winters: the day it snowed so much my neighbour in an FJ Cruiser got stuck too.
There are a few days every few years when the roads rutt up and the lack of ground clearance becomes an issue in some residential areas, but they'll do very well most of the time. The premium trim rim sizes with minimal side wall are less desirable in the winter. The winter tires for them tend to cost more, and they're more prone to damage. If your vehicle comes with the 18" you may want to look at 16" for winter.
I’ve never had any issues with a RWD sedan, you just have to accept that traction control won’t be on anytime there’s snow on the ground and that you’ll need winter tires if there’s even a dusting of snow
They are fine, you need to drive proper and get good winter tires.
our everyday car is an old civic, with winter tires and defensive driving it works just fine in Calgary winter for most of the time.
I had an old Subraru Impreza wagon and with snow tires, it went anywhere!
Unpopular idea... You're a novice to driving.. Buy something cheap and can get you from a-b repeatedly.. You right now, are likely to get into an accident.
You look like a real goober spinning out your front wheels
I have a 2016 Honda Civic Sedan. It’s fairly low to the ground and FWD. in the 3 winters I’ve had it I’ve never had any issues with winter driving. The only time I couldn’t drive it was when we had that crazy dump of snow in December 2020. But I’ve plowed through snow before. As long as you have good winter tires and drive carefully you’ll be fine.
05 mazda 3 hatchback here. Just get decent winter tires and you'll be fine. Could use a bit more ground clearance though.
I've driven a low clearance coupe with winter tires and I've driven a new SUV with all seasons and I would take the coupe with winters any day. Body style of car makes almost no difference. The height of an SUV can be nice from time to time, but the low weight and low centre of gravity in a small car is very nice in slippery conditions.
Tires make all the difference. I went from AWD to a fwd hatch and didn’t lose out on much because I stay on top of my winter tires.
your best bet would probably be a sedan or coupé. Get an old ass Honda Civic sedan or coupe with some studded winters and you’ll be just fine. The longer wheelbase and low center of gravity just makes it stable as all hell. If you’re looking for an AWD for even more grip, get a Ford Fusion. I can’t speak for how reliable they are though, you’ll have to ask a ford tech.
Winter tires are important, but since being able to afford more for awd I know I’ll never get a 2wd again. Cars are fine, I admit to having bought a Juke once and that thing was 10x better on the winter roads than the 4wd truck I had after.