The best 4x4 cars for tackling winter weather

Whether you need a small 4x4, a 4x4 estate or the most environmentally friendly 4-wheel drive around, we can help you find the car you require this season

With winter approaching, it's a good time to look at the advantages of a car with 4-wheel drive

Did you get your gloves and scraper out this morning? Yes, winter is now definitely upon us. If, like many, you are looking for a new car to tackle the seasonal weather, a 4x4 may be the perfect choice.

Why a 4x4?

Four-wheel drive vehicles can offer many advantages:

Improved performance and reliability when travelling in hazardous conditions such as snow or ice (this is the main one!)
They provide safety and stability under harsh conditions
They tend to be more spacious and are very comfortable
They often afford you a higher driving position, giving you a good view of the road
They give better performance when driving off-road
Most of the new 4x4s on offer are stylish and sophisticated in their design
They are also more affordable than you might think

With a huge selection out there, it’s also likely that you’ll be able to find a 4-wheel drive car that matches your needs, whether you want something powerful, environmentally friendly, small, cheap to run or luxurious.

So what’s the difference between 4x4 or a 4-wheel drive, and an all-wheel drive or AWD?

Both 4-wheel drive (4WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles have drivetrains that send torque from the engine to all four wheels. (As opposed to a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive car, where power is transmitted only to the two front or two back wheels.)

Four-wheel drive involves power from the engine being transmitted to all four wheels through a 2-speed transfer case and drive axles. What does this mean? The front and rear drive shafts will be locked together when engaged, leading to improved traction and handling. So 4x4s are great for off-road driving and challenging terrain.

AWD (all-wheel drive) also sends power to the four wheels – but it does so in a different way. Usually, a computer reads the speed, gearing and traction from each wheel in order to decide where to send the power (the wheels that aren’t slipping are given more power, since they have the better traction). The system includes a differential between the front and rear drive shafts, which means that AWD can make taking corners easier and provide better on-road handling – but usually comes at additional cost, weight and complexity.

Small cars with four-wheel drive

The Fiat Panda 4x4 is a great little car for getting out and about and tackling off-road driving. With great fuel economy and a clutch of awards already under its belt, this is a cheeky car that shouldn’t be mocked.

The Skoda Yeti Outdoor is another super wee 4x4 – it has recently been given a facelift and you can pick up a nearly new Skoda Yeti Outdoor from us for less than £18,000. Auto Express voted this car the Best Small 4x4 – and we can see why.

Finally, the Dacia Duster has to get a mention for being small, straightforward and eminently affordable. With a brand new Duster priced at £8995, this is the perfect 4x4 for those on a tight budget.

The greenest 4x4 cars

You might not think ‘4x4’ and ‘green’ necessarily go hand-in-hand (unless you are picturing an old-school Landrover in a delightful shade of moss) – but there are 4x4s out there that are not too bad for the environment.

The Mazda CX-5 (which has won numerous awards this year) comes with SkyActiv technology to keep consumption and emissions to a minimum – and we have some available for delivery before the end of the year. CO2 emissions in the AWD model are just 139g/km; MPG is around 54.3.

A nice mix of agility and chunky good looks, the Ford Kuga also comes with green credentials, achieving a respectable 47mpg in its 4WD form. And although the Volkswagen Tiguan only comes with BlueMotion in its 2-wheel drive form, the 4-wheel drive version is actually pretty good to the environment, managing 44.8 MPG.

Can I get a 4x4 estate car?

Of course you can! We have a wide range of estate cars with 4x4 capabilities, such as the Skoda Octavia Estate and the Skoda Yeti.

What about a 4x4 hatchback?

You can get a 4WD hatchback such as a Nissan or Toyota for less than £10,000 – and the Fiat Panda 4x4 is also a hatchback model.

If it’s a 3-door 4x4 car you’re looking for, we always have a good selection of used stock – from Suzukis to Land Rovers.

Looking for more of a people carrier?

If you need a 4x4 with 7 seats, the Kia Sorento, Audi Q7 or BMX X5 may be possibilities for you.

Listen, I just want something gorgeous.

Fair enough. Why not try the BMW X5? It’s actually very efficient, but it’s made by BMW – so you can guarantee it will be a luxurious ride.

The BMW X3 xDrive 20d is very enjoyable to drive, and adds some much-needed interior luxury to a challenging drive through the mud. This 5-door 4x4 with a diesel engine is less expensive than the BMW X5, and can be bought brand new from our Harry Fairbairn BMW dealerships. It has a surprisingly high MPG of around 50.4.

On the subject of guaranteed quality, we have used Mercedes-Benz M Class cars in stock right now at our Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Grangemouth and Inverness.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee can’t really be rivalled in terms of luxury – it’s at the expensive end of the scale, but it comes with mountains of spec and tech.

The Toyota RAV4 comes with keyless engine start, heated front seats and sports seats – and you can make massive savings on a delivery mileage model if you enquire quickly!