10 Most Reliable Cars For Winter Weather, And Why They're Worth It

Winter weather driving conditions are a serious concern for the vast majority of Americans across the country. Of course, some warmer regions are spared this consideration entirely, yet most people in the U.S. are affected. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), more than 70% of the road networks in the nation fall within regions subject to snowy weather. These areas are defined as receiving over five inches of yearly snowfall. Furthermore, almost seven out of every 10 people live in these areas. Instead of merely creating a driving headache, these adverse weather events have real-world implications.

The FHWA further explains that snowy regions account for nearly one-quarter of all weather-associated vehicle collisions. More specifically, around 24% of crashes happen on roads that are icy, slushy, or snowy. Each year, pavement under these conditions experiences 116,800 injuries and 1,300 deaths. The government agency highlights how ice and snow on roads directly limit tire friction and hamper a vehicle's maneuverability, dramatically elevating the risk of a collision. Although you may not be able to avoid inclement winter weather overall, you can choose a vehicle more suitable for the challenging conditions.

To help consumers choose the most reliable cars for winter weather, Money Digest looked at a number of vehicle specifications and dependability rankings among popular models. First and foremost, we pinpointed nameplates with all-wheel or four-wheel drive capability to ensure increased traction and control in challenging road conditions, such as sleet, snow, and slush. Furthermore, we prioritized vehicles with above-average ground clearance — how high a vehicle sits off the ground — ensuring plenty of space to overcome obstacles. Solid fuel economy was also a must, given the diminishing effects of cold weather. Our focus centered on models from 2022 to ensure real-world reliability data instead of predictive metrics.

The Ford Maverick is one of the cheapest trucks that doesn't sacrifice size. Although size isn't everything when it comes to dominating in winter weather, as many smaller SUVs tackle the tough terrain just as convincingly, the Maverick has the right balance of raw capability and structural design. All three available trims sit 8.3 inches off the ground, providing plenty of space for clearing most snowfall. Although front-wheel drive is standard for the 2022 Maverick, owners can upgrade to all-wheel drive for an additional cost. Furthermore, this pickup boasts a curb weight of 3,674 pounds, which measures a vehicle's standard weight without cargo or passengers. Generally, the heavier the vehicle, the greater the control on slippery pavement. FuelEconomy.gov reports that this production year achieves around 26 miles per gallon combined. For context, the average 2026 model has a fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon combined.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent vehicle testing agency, has judged the 2022 Maverick's headlights to be above-average in performance. More specifically, this truck's low beams provided good visibility on both sides of a straightaway and the right side of curves. Its high-beam assist helped to account for the lack of illumination on both curves and straight roads when using high beams. In terms of dependability, the 2022 Maverick landed an 81 out of 100 on the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating. In terms of maintenance and repairs, CarEdge suggests this truck runs a five-year bill of $3,341. According to CarGurus, buyers can purchase the 2022 Maverick, the earliest model available, for around $24,260.

The Ford Bronco Sport is one of the cheapest new cars to maintain, but this SUV's real appeal stems from its off-road performance. This revamp of an iconic classic is designed to plow through difficult terrain with a breeze, resulting in an ideal winter-weather competency. The entry-level Bronco Sport's trim exhibits a 7.8-inch ground clearance. However, the upgraded Badlands version stands a solid 8.6 inches off the pavement. Fortunately, four-wheel drive comes standard with the 2022 Bronco Sport, granting drivers greater control and maneuverability without having to spend more. Despite its relatively compact appearance, this popular Ford off-roader drives around at 3,467 pounds, but can weigh up to 3,707 pounds in its largest trim. The standard 2022 Ford Bronco features a solid fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon combined, as recorded by FuelEconomy.gov.

The IIHS recognizes the 2022 Bronco Sport as a Top Safety Pick+ vehicle, the group's highest level of classification. More specifically, the agency gave this SUV's headlights a perfect rating across all trims. Both the high and low beams provided good visibility on both sides of a straight road, as well as the right side of a curved road. These headlights did well on the left side of curved roads. J.D. Power provided the 2022 Bronco Sport with a 79 in its Quality and Reliability score, even highlighting the vehicle's exceptional headlight quality. According to CarEdge, this Ford SUV usually racks up a five-year maintenance and repair cost of $2,957. CarGurus suggests that the 2022 production year usually sells for around $23,594.

The Hyundai Santa Cruz is one of the more unique-looking pickups, but this truck delivers on dependability. In fact, this nameplate is one of the trucks that is more reliable than a Tesla Cybertruck. All of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz trims come with a stellar 8.6 inches of ground clearance, helping drivers overcome even the highest snowfalls. Additionally, this pickup enjoys a hefty weight range, starting at 3,704 pounds in the base trim and reaching up to 4,123 pounds in its highest-grade package. Front-wheel drive is the entry-level powertrain, but all-wheel drive is available for owners who want optimum winter performance. The standard engine is a four-cylinder, 2.5-liter setup that produces 191 horsepower, although drivers can upgrade to 281 horsepower. FuelEconomy.gov indicates that the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz achieves a laudable 23 miles per gallon combined, helping to offset some of the standard loss of fuel efficiency in colder temperatures.

This production year is an IIHS Top Safety Pick, which is the group's second-highest safety classification. Importantly, the 2022 Santa Cruz's headlights received mixed reviews across various trims. More specifically, the SE and SEL trims received the lowest headlight rankings, while the SEL Premium and Limited variations earned the highest scores possible. This is a vital difference that positions the latter trims as more capable models for tackling challenging winter conditions. J.D. Power granted the 2022 Santa Cruz a 77 on its Quality and Reliability ranking. Over the course of five years, the Santa Cruz requires about $3,057 of investment in general upkeep, according to CarEdge. CarGurus suggests that a 2022 version of this pickup, the earliest version available, typically runs about $23,737.

There are plenty of reasons to avoid buying the new Toyota RAV4, but these warnings don't extend to older models. To be sure, this SUV is a stellar choice for owners who want a capable and reliable vehicle for tough winter conditions. The most affordable 2022 RAV4 trims display an 8.4-inch ground clearance, which is far above the market average. Some more expensive versions even reach 8.6 inches off the road. This SUV's curb weight varies moderately across trim types, jumping from 3,380 pounds to 3,680 pounds, but all provide enhanced stability on less-than-ideal road surfaces. The 2022 RAV4 comes equipped with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that yields 203 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is the norm, but buyers can upgrade to all-wheel drive for improved traction and performance. The mainstream trim enjoys a solid fuel economy of 30 miles per gallon combined, per FuelEconomy.gov.

The 2022 RAV4 is another instance of an IIHS Top Safety Pick also being a reliable vehicle for winter weather. In addition to remarkable crashworthiness scores, this SUV earned perfect ratings on its headlights, except for a single trim. The LE version of the RAV4 was deemed to have subpar headlight performance. Meanwhile, all other trims performed exceptionally well. According to J.D. Power's Quality and Reliability ranking, the 2022 RAV4 is an 87 out of 100. Furthermore, RAV4 owners experience a lower-than-normal maintenance bill, with the SUV only requiring about $1,938 in routine upkeep over five years, as calculated by CarEdge. If you're thinking of buying the 2022 RAV4, CarGurus indicates you should budget about $27,725.

Money Digest has heralded the Subaru Forester as one of the best cars for a retiree, and many of this vehicle's standout features overlap with winter weather competence. First and foremost, the 2022 Forester has a minimum ground clearance of 8.7 inches, but it can reach up to 9.2 inches on the Wilderness trim. Additionally, this SUV's robust curb weight, ranging from 3,454 pounds to 3,620 pounds, assures better traction and control. The baseline version of the 2022 Forester sports a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower. As with most Subarus, this nameplate comes standard with all-wheel drive. FuelEconomy.gov reports that this release year gets an estimated 29 miles per gallon combined.

The IIHS included the 2022 Subaru Forester as a Top Safety Pick+, giving this SUV's headlights a perfect rating across trim types. Both low and high beams provided sufficient visibility across various road conditions. On J.D. Power's Quality and Reliability score, the 2022 Subaru Forester earned an 84 out of 100, signaling dependability above the market benchmark. This SUV's maintenance costs are also fairly reasonable, reaching only $2,718 within the first five years of ownership, according to CarEdge. You can usually pick up a used 2022 Forester for about $25,754, per CarGurus.

The uber-popular Honda CR-V is one of the absolute best SUVs you can buy, and it also happens to deliver a capable punch in winter driving conditions. Despite its smaller footprint when compared to other models on this list, the 2022 CR-V still offers a solid 7.8 inches of ground clearance in most of its trims. For even more room, drivers can upgrade to the Touring model for 8.2 inches of space. The hefty CR-V weighs from about 3,337 pounds to 3,569 pounds, providing enough mass to improve maneuverability in otherwise slippery conditions. It's important to note that all-wheel drive is an optional upgrade in all trims, minus the Touring variety. The entry-level engine is a four-cylinder with 190 horsepower. FuelEconomy.gov indicates that the 2022 CR-V usually gets a remarkable 30 miles per gallon combined.

The IIHS awarded the 2022 CR-V with a Top Safety Pick classification, although its headlight performance varied dramatically across trim variations. The Touring and Hybrid Touring versions received a perfect score, while the Hybrid EX and Hybrid EX-L trims landed the second-highest scores. The remaining options displayed subpar performance. On the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating, the 2022 CR-V yielded an 82 out of 100, showing first-rate dependability. Maintenance costs remain relatively accessible for the CR-V, only running owners about $2,425 across half a decade, according to CarEdge. You can usually pick up this model for around $26,860, per CarGurus.

Some of the most reliable cars for winter weather stem from well-known brands, but consumers shouldn't overlook less-popular options. For instance, Mazda is one of the car brands more reliable than Jeep, despite not carrying the same domestic reputation. More specifically, this marque's CX-5 makes a solid argument for winter usage. This model's baseline trim comes standard with 7.9 inches of ground clearance, yielding more than enough room for drivers to handle most snow accumulations. This vehicle's curb weight starts at 3,717 pounds and reaches up to 3,856 pounds. The entry-level S trim comes with a 2.5-liter engine with 187 horsepower of production, although drivers looking for more winter capability can upgrade to a turbocharged, 256 horsepower engine. All versions come with all-wheel drive. FuelEconomy.gov indicates that the 2022 Mazda CX-5 gets around 24 miles per gallon combined. That may not steal the spotlight for new models, but it's decent for the production year.

Once again, the CX-5 demonstrates an overlap between winter-weather competency and safety standards. This popular Mazda nameplate earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ classification, helped along by its high-performing headlights. All trim versions performed above the fray, but a select few received the highest score possible: the S Premium, S Premium Plus, Turbo, and Turbo Signature trims. These trims showed consistent visibility across low and high-beam usage on both straight and curved roads. On the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability index, the 2022 CX-5 earned a stellar 86. Over the initial five years of ownership, CarEdge suggests that CX-5 drivers dedicate around $2,502 toward general maintenance and repair. CarGurus reports that a 2022 version usually sells for about $24,031.

The most recent Subaru Crosstrek has been highlighted by Money Digest as one of the most reliable vehicles in 2026, even outpacing the Toyota Highlander. Yet, you don't have to fork over brand-new pricing to get the winter-weather capability of this model. All of the available trims in the 2022 release come standard with a stellar 8.7-inch ground clearance, leaving sufficient space to comfortably drive through most snow accumulation. Additionally, the Crosstrek's weight hovers between 3,117 pounds and 3,717 pounds, ensuring the SUV stays more connected to the ground than lighter vehicles. The standard trim features a four-cylinder engine with a 152 horsepower output. For a little more oomph, buyers can scale up to a more potent 182-horsepower engine. The Crosstrek comes standard with all-wheel drive, a feature for which Subarus have become synonymous. FuelEconomy.gov reports that the 2022 Crosstrek tends to get about 30 miles per gallon combined, which is excellent for its time period.

The 2022 Subaru Crosstrek has been heralded as an IIHS Top Safety Pick for superb crashworthiness scores and exceptional safety standards. It's crucial to note that this SUV's headlights received a broad range of ratings, depending on the trim type. In fact, the Limited trim option was the only option to receive a perfect score. This version performed adequately on low-beam and high-beam tests, including on straight and curved roads. In terms of dependability, the 2022 Crosstrek received an 87 rating from J.D. Power on the group's Quality and Reliability index. CarEdge suggests that the average Crosstrek owner spends about $2,643 in routine upkeep over the initial five years of driving. According to CarGurus, a 2022 Crosstrek can be yours for around $22,890.

The Toyota Highlander has earned a reputation as a best-selling model that also offers excellent reliability. In the 2022 lineup, all trim variations sport a winter-weather-compliant ground clearance of 8 inches. This sizable SUV carries a minimum weight of 4,145 pounds but can reach up to 4,260 pounds in its larger trims. In addition to traction-boosting mass, the 2022 Highlander packs a powerful punch with a stock 3.5-liter V6 engine that has 295 horsepower behind it. This potent engine makes it easier to tackle tough terrain. All-wheel drive, which is ideal in snowy or icy conditions, is an optional upgrade for the 2022 Highlander. This SUV's sheer size takes a slight toll on its fuel efficiency, but it still gets about 24 miles per gallon combined, as calculated by FuelEconomy.gov.

The IIHS awarded the 2022 Toyota Highlander with a spot in its highly competitive Top Safety Pick+ category for displaying world-class crashworthiness and safety features. The model's headlights, among the more crucial features for winter driving, earned top scores, although specifics vary by trim. According to J.D. Power, the 2022 Highlander offers reliability far beyond the market norm, landing an 82 out of 100 on the group's Quality and Reliability index. Owners also benefit from fairly reasonable upkeep expenses, with CarEdge estimating maintenance and repair costs running $2,048 at the five-year mark. Meanwhile, CarGurus suggests that this model tends to sell for about $33,708.

The Toyota Corolla Cross is one of the world's top-selling cars that is also extremely reliable. This SUV-style spin on the iconic Corolla sedan also happens to be a beast in snowy weather. Every trim option stands a whopping 8.1 inches off the ground, which is plenty of room for clearing most snow and ice build-up on the road. The 2022 Corolla Cross's hefty curb weight of 3,115 pounds to 3,170 pounds also helps to increase traction, compared to lighter, more mainstream models. Front-wheel drive configuration is the mainstay for the nameplate, but all-wheel drive is an upgradable option for owners demanding greater control on the pavement. The standard built-in engine is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder model with an output of around 169 horsepower. FuelEconomy.gov reports that the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross achieves a remarkable 32 miles per gallon combined, which is even impressive for 2026 standards.

The IIHS awarded the 2022 Corolla Cross with a Top Safety Pick+ classification, judging its headlights to be superior across all trim types, although specific performance varies. The XLE trim that comes with an Adaptive Front Lighting System was deemed to be the best option, offering strong visibility across conditions and road types. The L, LE, and XLE trims still landed above-normal results. In terms of dependability, the Corolla Cross is another outstanding option, yielding an 86 from J.D. Power's Quality and Reliability rating. Within the initial half decade of driving the Corolla Cross, owners usually invest around $1,852 in general repairs and maintenance, per CarEdge. CarGurus suggests a 2022 model tends to sell for about $23,741.