It’s time to chain up the tires, America.
In the early days of November, more than two feet of snow have already been measured in parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. For most of the country, the white stuff is on its way.
If you’re in the market for a vehicle that can better handle the arctic tundra that is likely to become part of your winter commute, you don’t necessarily have to break the bank. The automotive experts at iSeeCars.com recently published a report listing their choices for the best used vehicles for driving in snow.
Put together using sources including Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, the list features a mix of foreign and domestic models from model year 2010 through 2014. Each of the vehicles was recommended “because they have all-wheel drive, as well as a good ground clearance and other desirable features for driving in snow,” said Jim Lee of iSeeCars.
The cheapest vehicles on the list include the Ford Fusion, Subaru Outback, Subaru Legacy, Subaru XV Crosstrek and Toyota Sienna. Each of those rides can be found used for under $20,000, according to iSeeCars. The seven-passenger Sienna is the only minivan included on the website’s list, while the Legacy is cheapest, costing as little as $12,499.
The 2011 Subaru Legacy is the cheapest vehicle on the list, at $12,499 used.
The next price bracket includes the Acura TL SH-AWD (super handling all-wheel drive), Jeep Grand Cherokee and Volvo XC70 T6 AWD. Those snow-ready vehicles can all be found used for less than $30,000.
Another addition to that price bracket could be the Nissan Juke Nismo AWD (List price: $25,290, which Vanity Fair included in a March article titled, “Six cars that were surprisingly capable of dominating the crappiest winter ever.” The magazine’s other five selections were from luxury brands including Cadillac and Jaguar.
Buyers looking to spend more on their used wintertime vehicle were advised by iSeeCars to look at the Audi Allroad and BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo xDrive. Each can be found for less than $40,000, according to the site.
When shopping for a proper snow-faring vehicle, Lee suggested making features like heated seats, heated side mirrors, headlamp washers and windshield wiper de-icer a priority.
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
