Cool Runnings: 5 affordable cars that make for great winter rides

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There’s no single “best” car for winter. Instead, there are cars (and crossovers, coupes, trucks, and more) that each represent a unique collection of pros and cons relative to the specific way you’ll use it.

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Larger families obviously need more seats – and we’ll leave those vehicle recommendations to the parents on staff – but for the average individual or couple, you don’t need the excessive price that comes with a large SUV or truck, or the higher costs to keep it running.

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And when it comes to winter, smaller, lighter cars stop quicker and handle better, making it easier to keep your vehicle under control and avoid collisions. While some modern safety systems have not yet been perfected for heavy snow or extreme cold, they can still often be life-saving or crash-avoiding, so we prefer to have them for the benefits they offer most of the time.

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Although these vehicles are the best we have tested and researched, it’s important to test-drive a wide range of alternatives for yourself when shopping for a vehicle that needs to serve you year-round. One of these may not be the best choice for you , but they are great benchmarks in a variety of segments against which to measure other vehicles you drive.

All of the vehicles below can be had for between $30,000 and $40,000 Canadian dollars, the latter figure representing the approximate average new-car transaction price in Canada. Finally, each of the machines listed has left a positive impression on your writer after 1,200-plus kilometres of wintertime testing in Northern Ontario. They stand out with above-average performance, confidence, and peace of mind on winter roadways.

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I hope my list of favourites helps encourage you to test-drive a wide range of vehicles as you seek out a new ride with some winter driving swagger.

Subaru Impreza (Compact Car)

The Subaru Impreza kicks off this list because you can’t really do a list of best winter driving machines without the brand. Where I live in Northern Ontario, the Impreza is a go-to among small cars, as one of the only AWD-equipped options in its segment. Plus, it is Canada’s most affordable AWD vehicle, coming standard with Symmetrical AWD from about $20,000. If you’re the type of driver who prefers the road feel and response of a car over a bigger, heavier truck or crossover, Impreza is one of your best affordable choices when it comes to driving manners. A strong brand reputation for safety and resale value are bonus items.

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One can kit their Impreza as a sedan or hatchback. Lightly used models look relatively solid and can be had for even less money — and there’s even a high-performing turbocharged engine option available if you opt for the sporty WRX.

I’m a big fan of how the Impreza feels when you’re driving it in real life, in the dead of a Northern Ontario winter. The AWD system is drama-free, it knows what it’s doing, and it never seems to wastefully spin a wheel. No digging: just bite, and acceleration.

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Impreza also nicely captures the responsive and eager handling feel that car drivers tend to prefer over crossovers, and the ride quality on really rough roads is excellent. Though some drivers may wish for a bit more space and performance, an Impreza is just the ticket if you want lots of traction, refreshing handling, good fuel mileage, and a rough-road ride that feels expert at standing up to the potholes and frost heaves without crashing into them.

My fondest Subaru Impreza memory? Comfortably cruising around Sudbury’s suspension-smashing backroads in a blizzard and feeling the suspension do an above-average job of smoothing out the ride.

Toyota Prius AWD-e (Hybrid Car)

Lots of shoppers are hybrid-curious, as this fuel-saving technology becomes more and more popular. There aren’t a lot of affordable winter-busting hybrid cars with AWD, but there is at least one: the Toyota Prius. In 2019, Toyota made AWD available as an option to Prius shoppers. A new, AWD-e equipped Prius comes in from around $30,000, with some used model availability for smaller budgets.

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Hybrid cars add special technology to a standard gasoline engine to help make it more fuel-efficient. The AWD-equipped Prius makes hybrid ownership a possibility for more Canadians in northern climates. The Prius AWD-e even gets a special cold-climate battery pack.

The result is improved traction, excellent fuel economy, and a machine whose ride comfort stands up well to rough roads with good ride comfort. The Toyota Prius offers excellent LED headlights, too — perfect for nighttime driving even in inclement weather.

My fondest Prius AWD-e memory? Waiting all week for a blizzard to roll in, and then taking it for a long, quiet drive through the backroads behind Lively, Ontario, where I grew up. It’s not a powerslide monster, but Prius AWD-e hustles just fine through winding snowy roads in Sport mode. Of course, the fuel mileage is hilariously good, too.

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If you like going to the gas station as little as possible, a hybrid is worth checking out.

Used Infiniti Q50 Hybrid (Luxury Sport Hybrid)

The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid is now some years old — but it falls in our price range (or below) and is a machine responsible for some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a hybrid on snow. If you’re a hybrid-curious shopper after something upscale and sporty from the used market, Q50 Hybrid’s torque-rich punch, rear-biased AWD, and performance-oriented driveline with seven-speed automatic transmission will serve you nicely.

I appreciated the road manners of this sedan, which are nicely set between athletic and comfortable. It makes Q50 suitable to a wide range of driving styles. But my favourite memory of this car was its forward-facing radar alerting me of an impact risk two cars up the road, when it detected the sudden braking of the car ahead of the school bus I was following. Next-level tech has arrived.

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Used Audi A4 (Luxury Sport)

The Audi A4 makes this list for blending an array of in-demand attributes common with winter driving enthusiast’s into a compelling luxury sedan package. In a modern A4, drivers are backed by potent headlights, an array of driver-assist features, a punchy turbo engine, and an AWD system that leverages decades of expertise.

Power, grip, handling, nicely-honed driving feel — it’s no wonder A4 is such a popular choice among enthusiast drivers who enjoy spirited driving all year round. Specifically, that’s because of the confidence, peace of mind, and trust that drivers enjoy from their A4, even in inclement conditions. If you’re after a reasonably-priced luxury car driving experience that’s built to excel in the snow, this is a great place to look.

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Subaru Outback (Wagon)

Some call it a wagon, some call it a crossover. Many call the Subaru Outback one of the ultimate winter rides on the road, period. If you’re going brand-new, Outback lands perfectly in our pricing ballpark, starting around $31,000 Canadian dollars and offering seven trim grades, two engines, and a long list of safety equipment. Used models come with a strong brand reputation for reliability and ample resale values, though you can do pretty nicely in the lower end of our price range on a few-year-old unit with all the bells and whistles.

The Outback’s one-of-a-kind shape means it’s easy to board and exit, offers solid ground clearance, and provides families with a cargo hold that’s low and wide and flexible. All models come standard with an automatic CVT transmission and AWD with X-Mode, helping ensure maximum traction. As an AWD-equipped family utility vehicle, Outback has a lot of competition. Yet, it remains a very popular pick amongst Canadians seeking top-notch confidence in challenging conditions.

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