There's so much to love about the winter season, especially in Canada. You can spend your time enjoying a number of seasonal activities, like snowmobiling, or use the cold weather as an excuse to curl up on the couch with a blanket and your favourite book.
With that being said, there's one negative opinion about winter that we can all agree with — driving during the winter isn't necessarily fun (or always easy). Canadian drivers need to prepare themselves for a wide array of winter-related issues, ranging from hard-to-see black ice to blustery snowstorms.
If driving during the winter months makes you feel uncomfortable, you're not alone. Several Canadians don't enjoy driving during the winter. However, you can make driving in winter easier and less stressful by using one of the following types of vehicles. Although there's no single best car for Canadian winter driving, the following types of vehicles are top contenders.
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Use winter tires
Before diving into the list, we wanted to chat about driving with winter tires briefly.
As a quick refresher, winter tires are a unique type of tire specifically designed for driving in frigid conditions. Winter tires are made out of a specialized material that becomes grippier in cool climates.
Furthermore, winter tires have several other special features, like sharp teeth. These teeth chomp through snow, ice and slush, allowing you to stay in control, regardless of how frightful the weather may be.
Best of all, most car insurance providers offer discounts for drivers that use winter tires. In most cases, you can save as much as 5% on car insurance in Canada. Contact your car insurance provider to learn more about this discount.
Now, let's get back to our list of the best cars for winter driving in Canada.
Trucks
Ok, we know that trucks are technically different from traditional passenger cars. But, it would be remiss to leave trucks off the list.
For starters, trucks are a practical choice for driving in the winter. Thanks to their generously-sized bed, you can travel with heavy loads, like firewood or snow-removal equipment. Additionally, most trucks have impressive hauling capabilities, giving you the ability to tow travel trailers, snowmobile trailers or anything else that you please.
Not to mention, many modern trucks have cozy, yet comfortable, interiors that make driving in the winter a thing to look forward to. The only downside of trucks is that they generally have minimal seating options.
Thankfully, what they lack in seating capacity, they make up for in safety. The sheer size of modern trucks allows them to traverse over sizeable snowbanks or slush-covered potholes with ease.
SUVs
The reliable SUV is next on the list (also known as a sports utility vehicle, but who has the time to say that?).
One of the main reasons Canadian drivers love to use their SUVs in the winter is that they generally come with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Both four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive allow the driver to control their vehicle with precision.
Drivers should note that there’s a slight difference between four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive equally distributes power between your tires, while all-wheel drive increases power in specific areas (when required). You can use four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive to get out of crusty snowbanks, maintain control on icy roads and deal with practically anything Mother Nature throws your way.
Additionally, many drivers opt for SUVs due to the fact that they come equipped with a variety of modern safety features that are ideal for winter driving.
For instance, many modern SUVs feature heated side mirrors and adaptive headlights. Drivers can use these features to navigate the darkest, nastiest snowstorms.
There's no individual best SUV for Canadian winter driving on the market — we recommend test-driving various models until you find the perfect fit. Click here for a list of tips for finding and buying the perfect car.
Crossovers
Whoever said you couldn't get the best of both worlds? If you can't decide between a traditional passenger car and an SUV, you should consider test driving a crossover this winter.
In layman's terms, a crossover is a car with a unibody platform; because of this, most crossovers look like an SUV but feel like a passenger car.
So, why do so many drivers feel that a modern crossover is the best car for winter driving in Canada?
First of all, crossovers are comparably lighter than the other types of vehicles on the list. Crossovers are noticeably fuel-efficient because of their lightweight build, making them an excellent option for long winter drives and adventures with your family or friends.
Modern crossovers also feature a variety of unique safety benefits, such as crumple zones.
Crumple zones (generally located in the front of the vehicle) are designed to condense in the event of an accident. The crumple zone absorbs the lion's share of the impact by condensing. In turn, this decreases the risk of the driver and/or passengers sustaining physical injuries.
Being prepared for a collision is imperative, especially during the winter. This is due to the fact that more than 30% of car accidents occur during November, December, January and February.
If you sustain an injury during a collision, be sure to contact your car insurance provider. Your car insurance provider can help you cover all (or a portion) of the expenses related to the collision. Depending on the type of insurance you have, you may also be eligible for coverage for the following:
- Hospital fees
- Missed time at work
- Caretaker expenses
What do you think are the best winter cars Canada?
Now that you've read our list of top picks for driving in winter, we'd love to hear your opinions! At Surex, we always want to stay up-to-date on the safest vehicles on the market. Staying up-to-date allows us to make informed, objective decisions while supplying car insurance quotes in Canada.
Speaking of which, if you feel like you're overpaying for car insurance, you should reach out to one of our trusted insurance brokers. Our insurance brokers are more than happy to answer your questions and guide you through the quote-comparison process.
