Which cars are best suited for winter: snow and ice will no longer scare you

Winter weather requires careful driving, so you need to choose a car that is capable of providing comfort, reliability, and safety. The vehicle's transmission affects how the car drives in icy and snowy conditions.

The best cars for winter driving should guarantee the safety of the driver and all passengers. Carzing notes that you should pay attention to anti-lock braking system, traction control, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist.

Transmission for winter weather

The all-wheel drive transmission is not used for standard roads. All-wheel drive is chosen for driving in snow, mud, sand and other uneven terrain where extra traction is needed. With all-wheel drive, power is transmitted to all wheels.

As a rule, highways and city streets are suitable for all-wheel drive in icy or snowy conditions. However, it is better to drive on deeply snow-covered streets with 4WD (four-wheel drive).

Sports cars usually have rear-wheel drive. It is designed for better cornering and high speed driving.

Keep in mind that rear-wheel drive does not work well in ice and snow.

The transmission may be suitable for moderate winters without snowfall and ice, but on icy roads and snow-covered streets, such cars can slip.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Many modern vehicles have an anti-lock braking system. It is designed to prevent the wheels from locking up and is activated automatically.

Traction control

Traction control improves traction on ice or wet roads. This function maintains vehicle traction by limiting wheel spin, which is especially important in severe weather conditions.

LED headlights and taillights

LEDs shine brighter than halogen bulbs. Thus, drivers can see the car better in snowy or foggy weather.

Rain-sensing windshield wipers

These are automatic windshield wipers that respond to humidity. The driver doesn't have to worry about turning on the wipers when it suddenly snows or rains.

Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist

This system makes a noise when another vehicle is out of your line of sight. These warnings can help prevent accidents.

Forward collision warning

This system warns the driver of the possibility of a head-on collision with a vehicle or pedestrian detection. It can work in conjunction with emergency braking. If the driver fails to heed the warning, the emergency braking system can be activated to stop the collision.

Which car to choose for winter driving

Not every car is suitable for driving on slippery roads. Buyers should choose a vehicle based on their budget, reliability, and the weather conditions in which they will be using it.

Drivers living in regions with moderate winters are advised to choose sedans that include all-wheel drive and safety features to facilitate navigation on slippery roads.

If the climate is more severe (for example, in mountainous areas), you should choose SUVs or trucks with 4WD. They can overcome deep snow or snow-covered driveways. In this case, rear-wheel drive may not be the best choice of transmission.

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