Driving down a Canadian highway during the winter can have some picturesque views of snow-covered landscapes and frosted trees, but as for driving on snow? It’s not always so picture-perfect. No matter where you live in Canada, winter can extend its icy fingers, and that can cause any number of issues, such as freezing cold mornings when a car sputters to start, black ice on Canadian roads, snowdrifts to drive through, and more winter obstacles for your vehicle to get through. However, you can easily overcome these obstacles by having one of the best cars for Canadian winters and following proper winter driving safety tips!
But what constitutes having one of the best cars for winter? After all, it’s not just the model of the car alone that makes it so good for winter driving conditions. It’s also the type of features that make it suitable for driving during adverse weather conditions, and the care you provide makes your vehicle one of the best cars for Canadian winters. At Morison Insurance, our team is well-versed in Ontario's driving performance in winter conditions and knows what makes for a safer driving experience on snow-covered roads. That’s why we’re sharing what, in our opinion, makes for having the best cars for Canadian winter driving.
Ontario may experience warmer weather than some other Canadian provinces and territories, but its winters can still be quite frightful. Temperatures can dip below -30ºC, and depending on where you live, you can see anywhere from 129 cm to 126 cm of snowfall! When you factor in other factors such as extreme winter weather, icy roads, shorter daylight hours, and other challenges that come with winter driving, it’s no wonder that most residents want to choose the best car for Canadian winters when picking out a new vehicle.
So, what are the considerations for the best cars for winter in Canada? Whether you routinely drive across the country or prefer to stay in your little corner of Ontario, there are a number of factors that can influence whether you are driving one of the best cars for winter. For example, having snow tires, or winter tires, on your car can greatly improve its traction on snowy roads. While your car’s performance tires allow your vehicle to navigate dry or wet pavement or concrete better, they are often called summer tires because as the weather gets colder, their performance decreases, ensuring that no matter the type of vehicle you drive, you do not have one of the best cars for Canadian winters. All-season tires may also be good year-round, but for icy conditions, the best winter tires for cars are, as you guessed it, ones that are designed especially for winter driving.
Some other key features that all the best cars for Canadian winters have are:
Ultimately, these features aim to allow you to drive more safely and comfortably in the colder winter months, making them a must-have for the best cars for Canadian winter driving.
Above, we discussed some of the features of the best cars for Canadian winters, but what about the best types of cars? In terms of winter driving, you, of course, want a reliable car, but some cars are better than others when it comes to choosing the best cars for Canadian winter driving on snow-covered roads. We have outlined some of the best types of cars for winter in Canada below.
This SUV model is included on our list of the best cars for winter for a number of reasons. First, it boasts an all-wheel drive system, allowing it to have improved traction when faced with heavy snow or slippery conditions. It has a Multi-Terrain Select feature, which allows drivers to better optimize its performance in challenging conditions, including snow. It also has a number of safety features, such as Traction Control (TRAC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and Downhill Assist Control (DAC), allowing for better driving in winter.
Last but not least, the RAV4 has a spacious interior space, which not only makes for a more comfortable driving experience and room for gear, but in the event you get stuck or stranded somewhere, it also provides you with ample space you can hunker down in until help arrives or the snowy weather conditions clear up. All these things make the Toyota RAV4 one of the best cars for Canadian winters.
This crossover SUV boasts a two-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive mode, allowing the vehicle to better adapt to road conditions. It also has a SNOW Mode, which allows you to maximize the CR-V’s controllability in snowy conditions, with a smoother drive-by-wire throttle response to help minimize wheel spin in slippery conditions. It also comes with a Honda sensing suite, which includes features such as Lane-Keeping Assist and Collision Mitigation Braking System, which help make it one of the best cars for winter in Canada.
This Honda model also has a roomy interior, allowing you to carry a lot of winter gear, and provides you with a comfortable and safe space when you need it. These key features make the Honda CR-V one of the best cars for Canadian winters.
Another SUV on this list of the best cars for winters, the Outback has a symmetrical all-wheel driving system, allowing for greater control during the cold months when the harsh winter conditions are not exactly ideal for driving. The vehicle’s undercarriage sits 8.7 inches above the ground, an impressive ground clearance compared to similar vehicles, allowing you to drive through deeper snow.
The Outback also boasts a number of features, such as X-MODE, which allows the optimization of the engine and control of the transmission for optimal performance on slippery surfaces such as ice or snow. Its EyeSight Driver Assist Technology can also detect obstacles in the vehicle's path, making this one of the best cars for winter driving.
Famously used to tow the spaceship Endeavour, this truck is no stranger to lists like this one for best cars for Canadian winters. It has a number of features, such as heated seats and dual power glass folding heated mirrors, to make for a more comfortable driving experience in winter.
The F-150 has four-wheel drive capability, as well as a number of driving modes, to make for an easier winter driving experience. Like other entries on this list of the best cars for winter, it has a spacious interior with comfortable seating for lugging equipment around or hunkering down in.
Jeeps are the stereotypical off-road car, so this list of the best cars for Canadian winters wouldn’t be complete without a Jeep on it. The Grand Cherokee has a full-time four-wheel drive system as a standard feature, and its Quadra-Trac and Quadra-Drive II modes help provide excellent traction on slippery roads in the winter.
This jeep has 8.6 inches of ground clearance, allowing it to better go over patches of snow without issues, and its Hill Descent Control feature allows you to navigate slippery slopes with ease, making it a good addition to our list of the best cars for winter in Canada.
Even though you may follow all the proper winter driving tips and have the best car for winter, having the appropriate car insurance policy is crucial. Not only is car insurance in Ontario mandatory, but it adds various levels of protection, not just in the winter season. Our insurance brokers will compare quotes from leading insurance to help you get the best coverage for your vehicle. We are here to help!
This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. All information posted is merely for educational and informational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act upon any information in this article, you do so at your own risk. While the information on this website has been verified to the best of our abilities, we cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes or errors.
