9 trucks, sedans and luxury cars that shrug off deep snow

Winter turns a parking lot into a small proving ground, and not every vehicle survives the transition equally well. Ground clearance, all-wheel drive, and structural stiffness separate the trucks and cars that shrug off deep snow from the ones that get stuck at the curb. Here are nine trucks, sedans and luxury cars that iSeeCars ranks among the best in their classes for handling snow.

1. Ford F-150: The Full-Size Snow Champion

The Ford F-150 clears 11.9 inches of ground clearance, the highest figure among full-size trucks in iSeeCars’ snow-readiness ranking. That height keeps the frame rails, exhaust and differential housing above packed or drifted snow that drags on lower trucks and slows a plow-day commute to a crawl.

A tall stance also raises the front air dam past curb-high berms left behind by municipal plows, a common snag point for shorter pickups. Four-wheel-drive F-150 trims add extra traction once the truck is past the initial drift, pairing raw clearance with power sent to all four wheels rather than just the rear axle.

2. Jeep Gladiator: Midsize Trucks’ Snow Leader

Built on the Wrangler’s solid front and rear axles, the Jeep Gladiator reaches 11.6 inches of ground clearance, the best mark among midsize trucks in the same ranking. That figure sits only a few tenths behind the much larger F-150, an unusual result for a truck built on a smaller frame.

Solid axles resist the sideways kick that independent suspensions can suffer when a tire drops into a hidden rut under fresh snow. Removable doors and a fold-down windshield do nothing for winter capability, but the drivetrain underneath the Gladiator carries the real load once the pavement disappears.

3. GMC Sierra 1500: Runner-Up Among Full-Size Trucks

Just behind the F-150, the GMC Sierra 1500 posts 11.5 inches of ground clearance, good for second place among full-size trucks in the ranking. The narrow gap to the class leader barely changes how the truck behaves once snow starts piling against the front fascia and rocker panels.

Available four-wheel drive keeps power moving to all four wheels on the unplowed final stretch of a driveway, when traction matters more than raw height. The Sierra’s clearance also protects its front fascia and rear bumper from drift buildup that can trap a lower vehicle at a snowbound curb.

4. Subaru Legacy: The Best Midsize Car in Snow

No midsize car in the ranking beats the Subaru Legacy’s 5.9 inches of ground clearance, well above most sedans in the same class. Standard all-wheel drive across the lineup means every Legacy sold carries the same snow-ready drivetrain, not just a top trim reserved for buyers who pay extra.

That clearance keeps the front splitter and rocker panels clear of the compacted ridge a plow leaves at the end of a driveway. Because all-wheel drive is not an option box to check, buyers cannot accidentally end up with a front-wheel-drive Legacy caught out by the season’s first storm.

5. Toyota Avalon: Full-Size Sedans’ Top Finisher

The Toyota Avalon matches the Legacy’s 5.9 inches of clearance, enough to lead the large-car category in the same ranking. That figure stands out for a low, aerodynamic sedan built primarily for highway comfort and cabin quiet rather than rough-weather driving or gravel roads.

Certain Avalon model years offer all-wheel drive as an option, pairing the car’s clearance with power sent to all four wheels on the worst days. Buyers who skip that option keep the clearance advantage but lose the traction half of the equation, a tradeoff worth checking before a winter purchase.

6. Mazda3: Small Cars’ Snow Standout

The Mazda3 hatchback clears 5.5 inches, the best figure among small cars in the ranking. That is a meaningful edge over many compact competitors, whose lower ride height leaves less room before snow packs against the front bumper and undertray, dragging at the car’s momentum on an unplowed street.

Mazda offers all-wheel drive across the Mazda3 lineup, a combination that pairs class-leading clearance with power distributed to all four wheels rather than just the front pair. Shoppers cross-shopping other small cars should check ground clearance figures directly, since small differences change how a car handles a snowbound driveway or a steep parking ramp.

7. Audi S4: Luxury Compacts’ Snow Pick

Among luxury compact cars, the Audi S4 sets the pace with 6.5 inches of ground clearance, a surprising number for a performance-oriented sport sedan built around a low center of gravity. Quattro all-wheel drive comes standard on the S4, so the clearance advantage is never separated from the traction that makes it useful.

That pairing lets the S4 sit higher than many rivals in the segment while still delivering sports-sedan handling once the roads clear. Owners who buy the S4 for its turbocharged performance get the snow capability as a byproduct rather than a separate purchase decision made later.

8. BMW 5 Series: Luxury Midsize Cars’ Leader

The BMW 5 Series edges out other executive sedans with 6.1 inches of ground clearance, the top mark among luxury midsize cars in the ranking. xDrive all-wheel-drive versions route power to whichever axle has grip, a system tuned more for stability at speed than for low-speed crawling through a snowbank.

The extra clearance over a typical luxury sedan reduces the odds of the front air dam catching a curb-height snow ridge at a driveway entrance. Shoppers should confirm the xDrive badge before assuming a used 5 Series carries the all-wheel-drive hardware that makes the clearance figure meaningful in practice.

9. Volvo V60 Cross Country: The Wagon Built for Winter

Leading every luxury wagon in the ranking, the Volvo V60 Cross Country stands on 8.1 inches of ground clearance, a height closer to a midsize SUV than a standard wagon. Raised suspension and standard all-wheel drive are built into the Cross Country package rather than sold as separate options buyers might skip.

That combination lets the V60 Cross Country clear the same drifted ridges that stop its lower V60 sibling, without giving up the wagon’s cargo space or handling. The result is a car that behaves like a crossover in snow while keeping the lower center of gravity that a wagon body provides on dry pavement.