Four-wheel-drive vehicles offer better grip on snow and wet roads than two-wheel-drive cars.
No one enjoys a slippery snowy driveway to their house or when stuck somewhere on the side of the road. Nevertheless, there are ways to prevent that from happening, which is why I have created this page dedicated to the best all-wheel drive (4WD) electric cars for driving in the snow. Modern electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly being considered as a replacement for regular combustion-powered vehicles. Most Electric cars, especially those manufactured by Tesla, have made significant progress in winter climate performance.
All-wheel drive (AWD) cars are your best bet in deep snow; 4WD also gives you more grip and traction when the road turns ugly. However, which car to buy? Not to worry. I have compiled a list of the top 9 all-wheel drive (4WD) Electric SUVs / CUVs available in North America to get you around when your area is covered in the white stuff.
Rivian Motors markets the R1T as an electric truck ready for whatever adventure you have in mind. The company has high confidence in its futuristic R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV, which features four electric motors with a combined 835hp, snappy acceleration and a lengthy 314 miles driving range. The company says this setup will take torque vectoring to new heights.
The Rivian R1T has a 6.5-inch ride height adjustment, which can lift it to a towering 14.9 inches and make for an easy time on snow. Thanks to its long battery range, you'll still have plenty left after the inevitable loss due to cold temperatures.
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Model Y can handle rain, snow and mud better than other vehicles in its class. Tesla's all-wheel-drive system has two independent motors that digitally control torque to the front and rear wheels, improving handling, traction, and stability control.
Tesla's Model Y is one of the best electric cars on the market, with rivals still seeming to be playing catch up in terms of performance, range and technology. So if you're after a mid-sized SUV and want to move to electric, this vehicle has to be your top option.
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Subaru will introduce its first all-electric vehicle on the market, the 2023 Subaru Solterra. This car will usher in a new lineup, and Subaru claims it will be the most technologically advanced Subaru yet. The Japanese automaker built the Solterra upon their all-new e-Subaru Global Platform. Although this is an electric vehicle, it keeps the same legendary AWD system from Subaru’s gasoline-powered cars that makes them so great in bad weather conditions.
The Solterra is a close cousin to the Toyota bZ4X, and both have 8.3 inches of ground clearance. However, when you add the Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud options of the X mode, you have a serious performer in the snow.
Audi has been making all-wheel drive vehicles for more than four decades, and the Quattro system is responsible for its success in rally racing. The spirit of the Quattro system lives on in the electric Audi e-Tron Quattro, which handles particularly well in the snow because of its weight and all-wheel drive.
The Audi e-Tron Quattro features different driving modes, including the Sport Select mode. This gives the e-Tron Quattro good handling of snow. More adventurous drivers can drift with the e-Tron Quattro even in snow.
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The iX is BMW's first electric vehicle since the release of the i3 in 2013. It is also the fourth vehicle in BMW's "i" sub-brand, in the form of a mid-size luxury crossover. In reviews, drivers have shown that even with its heavy stance, it handles well in snowy conditions.
Additionally, BMW conducted extensive tests in the Alps and beyond the Arctic Circle to prove its capabilities and reliability in the most brutal winter conditions. Traction was not a problem with the BMW iX equipped with a proper set of winter tires on top of its all-wheel drive system with variable torque distribution.
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Jaguar’s first electric vehicle, the I-Pace, is an impressive first showing in the electric car market. The Jaguar I-Pace has 394 horsepower with its dual-motor system and has all-wheel drive for the confident handling of winter roads. One feature makes the I-Pace stand out from other EVs in winter driving conditions—it can warm up or cool down the cabin quickly by adjusting the temperature before you get behind the wheel.
The adjustable suspension system in the Jaguar I-Pace helps make it a top-quality winter EV, as this feature bumps the car’s ground clearance to 7.8 inches. This feature, combined with the base power and handling of the I-Pace, makes this a contender for the best EV to drive in the winter.
Mustangs have been around since the early 1960s, but they’ve evolved to meet the needs of their drivers. While modern Mustangs can be driven on snow thanks to new technology like traction control and winter tires, America’s beloved pony car isn’t the best for snowy weather. However, that seems to change with the first all-electric offering, the Mach-E, which performs exceptionally well in the snow, even while wearing its all-season Michelin tires.
The Mach-E’s tires get a good grip on snow, with virtually no wheel spin in its standard “Engage mode.” But the car really gets playful when you switch to its sportiest setting, “Unbridled Mode.” Accelerate hard around a corner, and it will slide out quickly yet controllably.
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Polestar, originally a performance sub-brand for Volvo, is now a standalone electric marque. Earlier this year, the Swedish company came to the Super Bowl with banter on their minds, throwing jabs at Elon Musk and Volkswagen in their ad for the 100% electric Polestar 2. Now they have taken inspiration from rally cars to build a special version of the Polestar 2 hatchback called the Arctic Circle, and it is ready to conquer snowy and icy conditions.
The Arctic Circle is based on the Polestar 2 Long Range dual-motor trim with a Performance package, which includes larger wheels, a stiffer suspension, and wider tires. It also features 30% softer springs, tuned Öhlins dampers, and strut braces at the front and rear to increase torsional rigidity and steering responsiveness.
The Porsche Taycan is a beautiful EV that perfectly integrates the brand’s iconic style with the practical benefits of an EV. As it turns out, it's also an EV that can handle well in the snow. In the Turbo trim level, the Taycan features a 670-hp, dual-motor all-wheel drive setup. In addition to making it fun to drive on snow-covered roads, this setup makes the Porsche Taycan surprisingly capable of driving in winter conditions.
The Taycan also seems to be able to beat another perceived issue that electric cars face in winter. Usually, they have reduced range in colder weather, but a CNET test found that the Taycan was able to drive beyond its estimated range in winter.
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| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
