Ben’s Guide to the Best Cars for Winter Driving
The colder weather is back, and lots of people are beginning to look for cars that feel safe and reliable through winter. Many smaller cars and hatchbacks handle snow, ice and rain surprisingly well, especially with the right tyres. Here are some of Ben’s top picks for the best winter cars in the UK.
Volkswagen Golf or Polo
The Golf and Polo are two of the most reliable all rounder hatchbacks you can buy. Both offer great build quality, strong safety ratings and a comfortable drive all year round. Winter performance is excellent, especially on the models that come with four wheel drive. Even the regular front wheel drive versions feel stable on cold wet roads. They are easy to drive, well made and ideal if you want something safe for winter.
Why Ben recommends it: Safe, solid and predictable in bad weather. A real benchmark for small winter cars in the UK.
Toyota Yaris
The Toyota Yaris is one of the best small cars for snow and ice thanks to its light weight and narrow tyres. That combination helps the car cut through fresh snow rather than sliding on top of it. Toyota also has one of the strongest reputations for reliability in the UK, which matters even more in winter when you want something you can trust every morning. It feels stable, simple to drive and very dependable.
Why Ben recommends it: Extremely reliable, great in slippery conditions and ideal for everyday winter driving.
Skoda Octavia
The Skoda Octavia is a brilliant winter car if you want space without choosing an SUV. It offers VW level build quality and some people say Skoda does certain models even better. The Octavia is available as a saloon, hatchback or estate plus you can get front wheel drive or four wheel drive versions. The car feels safe in bad weather and offers great value for money, making it one of the best used winter cars in the UK.
Why Ben recommends it: Excellent value, solid on icy roads and ideal if you need space without choosing something big.
Ford Focus or Fiesta
The Focus and Fiesta are two of the best cheap winter cars you can buy. They are practical, good to drive and many models come with one of the most useful winter features of all which is a heated front windscreen. No need to scrape ice in the morning which makes winter driving much easier. Both cars handle wet and slippery roads well and are affordable to run and insure.
Why Ben recommends it: Brilliant in cold weather, great value and ideal for everyday winter commuting.
Ben’s Winter Tip
The biggest factor in winter driving safety is the quality of the tyres on the car. A front wheel drive car with good winter tyres will often outperform a four wheel drive on summer tyres on snow and ice. If you want the best grip and braking performance in cold conditions, winter tyres or quality all season tyres make a huge difference.
Why choose Ben to find your next car
Finding a winter ready car can feel overwhelming with so many options to compare, but Ben makes the process simple. Ben handles everything from searching, checking and securing the right car for your needs. Every car Ben sources is accident free, finance clear and mileage verified with a full history check. You also get a 12 month MOT and a nationwide warranty for peace of mind.
Ben can often find the perfect winter car in as little as 24 hours. Whether you want something small and reliable like a Yaris or Polo or a practical all rounder like a Golf or Octavia, Ben does all the work so you can just choose the car that feels right.
If you are thinking about an SUV instead, Ben has also picked out his best winter ready SUVs here.
If you are ready to get winter ready, get in touch and fill in the form with your details and Ben will get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best vehicle for winter driving?
A well maintained hatchback with winter tyres can be just as safe as a 4×4. Cars like the Golf, Yaris and Octavia are among the best winter cars in the UK.
Which car is best in snow?
Smaller cars with narrow tyres often perform better in snow. The Yaris and Polo are great examples and the Octavia 4×4 is also a popular winter choice.
What is the best vehicle to travel on ice and snow?
Any car with winter tyres will give the best stopping power and control. Light hatchbacks such as the Yaris and Fiesta handle icy roads well.
Best cheap winter cars?
The Ford Fiesta, Ford Focus and Skoda Octavia are all reliable and affordable options for winter driving.
Best used car for snow?
Look at models with good traction and stability. The VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and Toyota Yaris are among the most popular used winter cars.
Best small cars for snow and ice?
The Toyota Yaris and VW Polo are top choices thanks to their light weight and stable handling.
