There are many reasons to love winter in Canada, but driving on icy or snow-packed roads may not be one of them. When you need to dig out your car and make it to work after a massive snowstorm, you'll want to have a vehicle you can trust to get the job done. Whether you prefer to drive an all-wheel-drive sedan or a powerhouse pickup truck, there's a winter-friendly vehicle to fit your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Here are five of the best cars you can drive during the winter in Canada.
Chevrolet Silverado
It's no secret that pickup trucks typically outperform smaller vehicles in severe winter weather. Chevrolet's flagship truck, the Silverado, can get you where you need to go, even during a severe snowstorm. This powerful truck offers a range of engine options, including a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine designed for optimal performance and maximum efficiency. This engine produces 460 lb-ft of torque and can tow up to 13,300 pounds. With the Silverado's impressive towing capabilities, you can even hook up a snowplow to clear your street after a brutal snowstorm. Choose a Silverado with four-wheel drive for enhanced traction on slippery roads.
The Chevrolet Silverado also comes loaded with advanced safety and driver assistance features to keep you safe on winter roads. New models come standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which includes features such as forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. These features can help improve your visibility and prevent potential collisions while driving in poor conditions.
Subaru Outback
With standard all-wheel drive, the Subaru Outback is a winter-ready SUV. Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system provides optimized traction in snow or rain by evaluating real-time data to deliver power continuously to all four wheels. When one wheel slips, the system automatically transfers power to the wheels with the best grip on the road. Newer Outback models also come standard with 8.7 inches of ground clearance to help you drive in deep snow. You can get most trims with additional features to keep you comfortable in colder weather, including heated front seats and dual-zone climate control.
The Subaru Outback comes equipped with standard safety features to help you drive on winter roads. These features include automatic high-beam assist, lane departure and sway warning, automatic emergency steering, and pre-collision braking. Depending on the Outback you choose, optional safety features may be available, such as blind-spot detection with lane change assist.
Toyota Camry
If you prefer the handling and efficiency of a sedan, get one that can handle winter conditions. The Toyota Camry is a good bet if you choose a model with available all-wheel drive. When the system senses the front wheels slipping, it sends torque to the rear wheels, which helps the car maintain its grip in rain or snow. Newer versions of the Camry offer two impressive engine options, or you can choose a hybrid version with a four-cylinder engine and electric motor, which produce a combined 208 net horsepower.
Other helpful winter features in the Toyota Camry include LED headlights and dual-zone climate control. Some models may come with an available cold weather package, which includes heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated power outside mirrors with blind-spot warning indicators. Newer models come standard with advanced safety features, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, road sign assist, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. These features can help you feel confident when driving on wintry roads.
Chevrolet Tahoe
For a full-size SUV that can handle snowy roads, choose a Chevrolet Tahoe. New models come with available four-wheel drive to increase the SUV's grip on slippery or uneven roads. The SUV also has several engine options, delivering up to 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The Chevy Tahoe has impressive ground clearance, and on some models, an air ride adaptive suspension can even adjust the SUV's height to increase clearance depending on the road conditions.
The Chevy Tahoe also comes with other features that make it a bit more bearable when you have to leave the house on a chilly winter day. New models come standard with tri-zone automatic climate control and remote start, so you can warm up the car before your trip. Rain-sensing wipers help keep your visibility clear, while LED headlights provide enhanced clarity during difficult conditions. Safety features in the new Chevrolet Tahoe include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, following distance indicator, and automatic high-beam assist.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep has a well-deserved reputation for making cars to withstand tough conditions, and the Grand Cherokee is no exception. The Grand Cherokee comes standard with an off-road capable four-wheel-drive system, providing maximum traction in any weather condition. On newer models, an available traction management system allows you to choose from different modes based on road conditions, including snow. Dual-zone climate control comes standard in newer Grand Cherokee models, and most trims offer heated front seats to keep you warm and comfortable on days when the outside temperatures dip below zero.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes loaded with safety and convenience features to protect you on snow-packed roads. Driver assistance features include forward collision warning with active braking, active lane management, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and high-beam assist. Optional safety features that can help you navigate difficult roads include a surround-view camera and night vision with infrared sensors.
Winter is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to purchase a winter-friendly vehicle to get you through the season. Whether you are looking for a Chevrolet Silverado or Tahoe, or one of our used vehicles, at Jim Tubman Chevrolet, we offer a wide selection of new and pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs, including many models with all-wheel or four-wheel drive. Browse our online inventory or stop by our dealership for a test drive. If you're not ready for a new car, our service centre can help get your current vehicle ready for a Canadian winter. Give us a call or contact us for more information. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Image via chevrolet.com
