Consumer Reports selected the best 4WD SUVs for winter handling based on feedback from 36,000 customers whose vehicles have been driven in snow at least six times in the past two years. Most of the vehicles they drive are 2013-2016 models, and most of them are four-wheel drive SUVs currently on sale in China.
Rankings are based on the percentage of vehicles rated as good on snow. If you put on winter snow tires, their performance will be improved.
1. Subaru Outback
Seeing Subaru again, it is said that it can be seen in the top three of various evaluations in the United States, which makes people doubt whether Subaru is a local American brand, and Subaru is also one of the fastest growing brands in the United States.
Control has always been Subaru’s housekeeping skill. The horizontally opposed engine and full-time four-wheel drive system make it far stronger than other urban SUVs in its ability to get out of trouble. With X-MODE and sufficient ground clearance, it also has sufficient power reserves on snowy ground. Driving in snow is also easier.
Of course, it does not mean that it will not skid, but when it skids, it still feels within the controllable range when driving, and the direction is still in your hands.
Even though the Outback has always been driven as a crossover in the United States, its four-wheel drive technology is definitely not covered.
In China, the biggest disadvantage is that it is relatively niche, and some parts of the niche will have to wait for a long time. Try to buy the version with EyeSight active braking in China.
2. Subaru Forester
The second place is still Subaru, and Consumer Reports loves Subaru too much.
The Forester has high active and passive safety, good driving vision, and excellent seating space. It is an SUV that sells best in the United States, especially in the domestic market. It is the best-selling model of the Subaru brand.
This car still adopts Subaru’s housekeeping skills. Symmetrical full-time four-wheel drive is also standard for all series, and the car also has an X-MODE mode. It doesn’t feel very easy to drive this car on the snow alone, but after switching to Tiguan, the difference is really obvious.
3. GMC Yukon XL/Chevrolet Suburban
These two models will be seen on all important occasions in the United States. The FBI and S.H.I.E.L.D. special models also often appear in various American dramas and Hollywood movies.
A typical American muscle car, but there are too few opportunities to see it in China.
This big guy uses a non-load-bearing body, adopts a full-time four-wheel drive system, and has a longer body, with an extra-long and large trunk.
As far as the size and weight of the car are concerned, the performance is quite good. If you don’t believe me, let’s see what cars are hidden in Trump’s visit to China? It can always be seen in convoys on similar occasions.
4. Subaru XV/Crosstrek
Based on the development of the Subaru Impreza, the XV has a raised chassis and a minimum ground clearance of 220mm, which can handle potholes or bad roads.
Moreover, Subaru did not treat the XV differently. It is also equipped with a full-time four-wheel drive system and X-MODE. The XV on the SGP platform has better snow passability.
In fact, this car does not look big, but the snow passability is basically the same as that of the Forester, because the car itself is relatively light, and the unsprung weight is also small, plus the same ground clearance as the Forester, it is an unexpected snow tool. Of course When driving on the snow, you can still clearly feel that this is a four-wheel drive vehicle that is biased toward front drive.
5. Toyota 4Runner
Toyota 4Runner is a hard-core SUV based on the Hilux platform. Hilux has a very powerful off-road performance. I think it was the favorite model of KB members in the Middle East back then, so it is conceivable that 4Runner has a strong ability to escape difficulties.
It has the passability that an off-road vehicle should have, a non-load-bearing body, and the four-wheel drive system is also the best set of Toyota. 4Runner can handle mountain climbing roads, crossing snow fields, or various difficult road conditions.
At present, the latest generation of 4Runner comes from the same chassis as the LC150 series Toyota Land Cruiser, Prado and even the GX series models of the Lexus brand.
6. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Many people like the appearance of the Grand Cherokee, which is masculine and majestic. The most poisoned is the generation introduced by BAIC.
The entry-level Grand Cherokee has a low-speed four-wheel drive, and the transfer case uses a full-time four-wheel drive system with a multi-plate clutch structure. There are as many as 7 road conditions to choose from.
On the basis of this, the top model has added a rear axle limited-slip differential, which greatly improves the ability to get out of trouble.
You can choose the 3.0L version for the entry-level version, and the 3.6L V6 version is the best experience.
7. Buick Enclave
The interior of Enclave has a strong sense of luxury, and it still has an advantage compared with some cars of the same class. Other aspects are mediocre, and some people regard it as an MPV because of its small ground clearance (188mm).
Currently on sale are 2014 two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions. Many people are struggling with which one to choose. How to put it, if you really drive normally, two wheels are enough, but when it comes to snow or climbing a slope, sometimes two wheels are not enough.
Full-time four-wheel drive, plus traction control system, body stability system, plus 2.3 tons of dead weight and wide tires, so there is nothing to say about its performance on snow.
8. Volvo XC60
Volvo XC60 comes from the icy and snowy Nordic Sweden, and the ability to pass through snow is a must-assessment item.
The old Volvo XC60 uses the fifth-generation full-time four-wheel drive of Hande. This full-time four-wheel drive will automatically distribute the power ratio of the front and rear wheels according to different road conditions, so that the vehicle can obtain the best grip and prevent skidding.
The new generation of Volvo XC60 has changed its four-wheel drive supplier, and the specific snow performance has yet to be evaluated.
9. Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a smaller Suburban, and both have the same four-wheel drive system.
The Chevrolet Tahoe adopts a stiffer fully enclosed load-bearing body, and the front suspension adopts a coil-over-shock design and increases the front and rear track. So the ability to fight against the snow is not bad, and the old beauties like it very much.
This series of combinations makes the performance of the vehicle more stable on both general and off-road surfaces.
It is a pity that whether it is Saabban or Tahoe, they can only be imported in parallel, and the official channel is useless, and the displacement is there.
10. Jeep Wrangler
As a daily car, few people place so much importance on the off-road performance of an SUV, but the Wrangler is different. After all, it was born for off-road use, and has the most important passability, and its ability to get out of trouble is beyond doubt.
Although the comfort and road handling performance of the Wrangler is poor, the wind noise is very loud at high speeds, it is inconvenient to get in and out of the car, and the interior is so simple that it makes people want to cry, but these shortcomings cannot cover up its awesome off-road performance.
The Wrangler is divided into two-door and four-door versions. The most powerful one is the time-sharing four-wheel drive, not to mention the snow is open, and climbing rocks is no problem.
In addition, the front and rear axles of the Wrangler Rubicon version also have a mechanical differential lock, which can fully ensure that all four tires can obtain sufficient power when facing a very harsh environment.
Attached table for reference:
The content is original from AutoMan, and the picture information is from @Consumer Reports.
