I Asked a Mechanic Which Cars To Buy for Cold-Weather Performance — Here’s What He Said
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Laura Beck
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Molly Sullivan
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Winter driving isn’t just about having all-wheel drive. When I asked auto expert Chris Pyle from JustAnswer which vehicles actually handle cold weather best, his answer covered way more than just traction.
Turns out the type of engine, the undercarriage protection and even your wheelbase all matter when temperatures drop. If you live where there is cold weather, you’ll want to consider these factors when buying your next car.
Gas Engines Win for Cold Starts
If your main concern is getting your car started on freezing mornings, Pyle said gas engines beat diesel every time.
Gas-powered vehicles fire up easier in winter and need less battery power to turn over. They start making good power almost immediately and heat up the cabin fast, which also means your windows defrost quicker.
Newer diesel engines can handle cold weather starts and driving, but Pyle explained they struggle until they warm up. Older diesels hate the cold completely.
Traction Depends on How Power Gets to the Ground
When it comes to actually driving in snow and ice, you need weight and traction working together. Pyle broke it down by drivetrain type.
Two-wheel drive trucks are the worst option. The weight sits over the rear axle when it’s empty, which means the drive wheels have almost no grip. Front-wheel drive vehicles perform better because the engine weight sits right over the wheels that are doing the work.
All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive systems handle snow and ice best since they can send power to whichever wheels have traction. They’ll get you through conditions that would stop other vehicles cold.
Four-Wheel Drive Doesn’t Fix Everything
Here’s where people get it wrong. Pyle made it clear that having four-wheel drive doesn’t help you stop any faster or turn any sharper. You still need actual driving skills to operate safely in bad weather.
Good tires help with turns. ABS helps with stopping. But four-wheel drive only helps you go, and that can actually get you into trouble if you’re driving too confidently for the conditions.
Salt Eats Cars From the Bottom Up
Cold weather means salt-covered roads in most places, and Pyle said this gets overlooked way too often. You want a vehicle where the undercarriage parts are painted or covered with protective rubber coating to fight off rust.
Salt damage happens slowly over years, but once it starts eating through metal, the repair bills add up fast. Some manufacturers do a better job protecting the underside of their vehicles than others.
Longer Wheelbases Make Control Easier
Pyle mentioned that vehicles with longer wheelbases are easier to control in bad weather. The extra distance between the front and rear wheels helps the car track straighter and feel more stable when roads get slippery.
Shorter vehicles can feel twitchy and harder to keep pointed in the right direction when you hit ice or packed snow.
There’s No Single Best Winter Car
Pyle said he couldn’t pick one best car for winter driving because there are hundreds of options and too much depends on who’s behind the wheel. It also comes down to where you live and what kind of roads you’re dealing with.
Snow-covered roads in Kansas drive nothing like mountain roads in Colorado. What works great in one place might not cut it somewhere else.
What You Actually Need in Your Car
When it’s freezing outside, that’s the worst time to break down. Pyle recommended traveling with a “what if” bag packed with tools, a flashlight, wire, duct tape, jumper cables, fluids, food, water, a knife, extra socks, a trash bag, a foldable shovel, salt and a blanket.
That list sounds excessive until you’re stuck on the side of the road in 10-degree weather waiting for a tow truck that might take an hour to arrive.
And no matter what you drive or what’s in your car, Pyle’s advice was clear: Good tires and actual driving skills matter more than any feature the dealership tries to sell you.
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