Best cars for winter

Winter can be tough on the roads with ice and snow causing problems for motorists, especially in more isolated areas.

With ever more extreme weather facing the UK, it’s not just snow and ice that you face but also an increased chance of flooding on the roads. Though there are some conditions that you should never try and drive in, getting a more capable vehicle can make a big difference in helping you to combat winter.

From rugged 4x4s to family SUVs and estate cars, we’ve looked at the best winter cars to suit a range of budgets.

Toyota Land Cruiser

If you want a tough 4x4 for winter, they don’t come much tougher than the Toyota Land Cruiser. Renowned for its unstoppable nature, this large SUV might be a bit old-school when it comes to refinements and on-road manners, but with huge ground clearance and a brilliant four-wheel-drive system, it can get places where few other cars in its class can.

Look after a Land Cruiser and it will keep on going and going, and as a result, used prices for them are strong. You can still expect to pay from around £15,000 for a high-mileage 2010-registered example, though if well-maintained, it shouldn’t depreciate much further.

Suzuki Ignis

At the opposite end of the 4x4 spectrum is the Suzuki Ignis, a car for those wanting something capable but still compact and affordable to run. Like most of Suzuki’s models, the pint-sized Ignis can be had with a lightweight four-wheel-drive system known as ‘AllGrip’. It’s not designed for extreme off-roading but will be a useful addition if you live off the beaten track.

The Ignis’ small hybrid petrol engines are brilliant on fuel too, and Suzukis generally have an excellent reliability reputation. The AllGrip models are fairly rare but expect to pay from around £9,000 for a 2017 example.

Dacia Duster

Dacia has become renowned for its cars’ excellent value for money, and the Duster is no exception. It’s the cheapest new 4x4 you can buy, and that value translates to used examples, though they do hold their value well.

Most Dusters will be front-wheel-drive, so you might have to look a bit harder to find a 4x4 example if you want that extra ability for winter. Prices start from £4,000 for the cheapest 4x4s, but we’d recommend a newer second-generation model, introduced in 2018, which can be bought for around £10,000.

Audi A4 Allroad

Another option if you’re looking for a car to help you tackle winter is a jacked-up estate car, which brings all the practicality of a standard ‘wagon’ but with greater ground clearance and four-wheel-drive for extra ability.

One of the best is the Audi A4 Allroad, which was first introduced in 2009. Coming with the firm’s quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard, it sits 180mm higher than the standard car, is widened and gets underbody protection to help with tougher terrain. The interior quality is also excellent, and it would make a great family car. Used prices start from around £5,000 for a 2010 car.

Subaru Forester

Subaru is renowned for its four-wheel-drive vehicles, and perhaps the most rugged and useful vehicle for winter is the Forester. It’s been around for more than a quarter of a century and several generations and remains one of the more sturdy SUVs on the market.

We’d recommend a third-generation model for the best balance of modernity and value, which was sold between 2008 and 2013. It brings impressive off-roading capability that makes it ideal for snowy conditions, while also having a very spacious interior. Prices start from around £5,000 for a Forester of this age.

Skoda Yeti

Even six years after Skoda stopped making the Yeti – its first SUV – this model continues to have quite a loyal following and remains a popular used buy. Its funky looks won’t be to all tastes, but it’s hard to dispute the Yeti’s incredibly versatile interior and brilliant build quality.

Only around a third of Yetis were sold with four-wheel-drive, but it’s worth seeking one out if you want a reliable and capable winter hack. You’ll be looking at around £5,000 for a high-mileage example.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Land Rovers are well regarded for their off-roading ability, and as long as you opt for one that is four-wheel-drive, all of them will come in handy during the winter months. But our vote goes to the family-friendly Discovery Sport because of its all-rounder ability.

Available with an optional third row of seats, albeit only suited for children, it offers a spacious and well-built interior. There are various off-roading modes to help you out in challenging conditions as well. The Discovery Sport isn’t known for its reliability, so it might be worth getting a used car warranty too. The cheapest used examples start from around £10,000.

BMW X5

The BMW X5 isn’t as well-suited to challenging conditions as other cars on this list, but with standard four-wheel-drive and on winter tyres, it could still be an ideal winter hack. The X5 is a large SUV that is perfect for family duties as well.

We would choose a third-generation X5, introduced in 2013, which brought sportier styling, more interior space and lots of modern interior tech. It’s available with a great range of engines, both petrol and diesel too, and would make an excellent tow car. Prices for a high-mileage X5 of this age start from around £13,000.

Ford Ranger

Another option, if you’re looking for a winter car, could be a pick-up, as with their increased ground clearance and usually-standard four-wheel-drive system, they can come in especially handy in the snow and ice, and more so on all-terrain tyres. One of the most popular pick-ups is the Ford Ranger, and we’d advise a third-generation model sold between 2012 and 2022.

By pick-up standards, the Ranger is excellent to drive, while higher-spec versions come with plenty of creature comforts. Prices for high-mileage models of this age start from around £8,000. Just be aware that because this is classed as a commercial vehicle, you might have to pay VAT on top of the purchase price.

Volvo V90 Cross Country

While various firms have offered jacked-up estate cars, it’s Volvo that has so often lead the way in this class. One of the firm’s most recent options is the V90 Cross Country, based on its largest estate car.

Offering great comfort, refinement and spaciousness, it’s an ideal model for those doing longer trips, yet with its standard raised ride height and four-wheel-drive, impressively talented in trickier weather. Prices for a Volvo V90 Cross Country start from around £16,500.

Prices correct at time of publication [01/2024].