4 Reliable Cars To Buy for Under $30K if You Live in an Area With Harsh Winters

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If you’re in the market for an affordable new car, one thing worth considering is the upcoming winter season. Winter weather can cause an incredible amount of wear and tear on any vehicle, and it’s always a shame to see dings, dints and weather damage on a new ride. Further, some vehicles are simply built to be more adept on slick, icy and snowy environment than others. 

Luckily, the trusted automotive resource Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of the best rides on the market that can stand up to the frigid and frosty elements. From that list, GOBankingRates has compiled the vehicles under $30,000, ensuring you a safe — and affordable — drive through the holiday season.

Also see 10 used cars that will last longer than an average new vehicle.

2024 Hyundai Kona

• Price: $26,900 (with all-wheel drive)

With the all-wheel drive add-on, this subcompact model comes with an 8.1-inch clearance off the ground (meaning you don’t have to worry about getting stuck in high snow), as well as a front collision warning system, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist.

Everything in the Kona is designed to keep you on the road, no matter how hard icy conditions may try to push you off. Additionally, further add-ons include heated mirrors with integrated turn signals, heated seats and LED headlights with high-beam assist for hazy winter conditions.

2024 Nissan Altima

• Price: $28,030 (with all-wheel drive)

While the Nissan Altima doesn’t come standard with every winter-beating trick in the book, it is built specifically to accommodate cold-weather add-ons. For example, the Altima’s engine is designed to be fitted with all-wheel drive for icy and snowy conditions — an addition that will cost you some horsepower but gain you some safety on the road. Heated mirrors and heated seats are also available add-ons.

That said, if you just want to roll off the lot in a standard model, you’ll still get a ride with remote engine start (to get the car toasty before you even get inside), automatic rear braking, automatic high beams, LED headlights, forward collision warning, automatic front emergency braking, blind-spot warning and a rear cross-traffic alert system. 

2024 Mazda3 Sedan

• Price: $29,060 (with all-wheel drive)

The Mazda3 is another model that doesn’t come with all-wheel drive standard, but does feature it as an available add-on. However, it does come standard with all sorts of snow-driving technology: automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Need more? The Carbon Edition of the Mazda3 comes loaded with LED headlights and taillights, heated front seats and rain-sensing windshield wipers. 

2024 Toyota Camry

• Price: $29,110 (with all-wheel drive)

The Camry is yet another car in which all-wheel drive doesn’t come standard but is an easy add-on for an additional $1,400. On top of that, you can spring for the cold weather package, which is loaded with a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors and heated front seat. Other extras include a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.

That said, if you’d like to save a little cash, you can rely on the Camry’s standard features, such as a forward collision warning, automatic front emergency braking and automatic high beams, all of which come in handy during snowy, dangerous conditions.

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