Volvo cars are designed to endure any snowy conditions because they were designed in the snowy conditions of Sweden.
As a Scandinavian car brand, Volvo runs brilliantly in snowy and slippery conditions. Volvo also offers all-wheel drive options for all of its vehicles. All AWD Volvo vehicles run smoothly in snowy conditions, but the best choices are the XC90, the XC60, and the V60.
Volvo AWD cars
All-wheel-drive, or AWD, cars are generally designed to run smoothly in snowy conditions and avoid any slippery incidents. Volvo’s AWD technology also runs on the same principle. The AWD options in all of its vehicles provide excellent road grip and more acceleration.
Volvo’s AWD technology enables the car to send torque to all of its wheels. In AWD cars, if one wheel needs more torque than the other, then the software designed for this purpose sends more power to that particular wheel and the slippery incident is avoided.
The best cars for the snowy conditions are usually big SUVs, which is why Volvo recommends its big vehicles for this purpose.
Volvo cars in snow
Volvo cars are designed in Sweden. Scandinavian countries like Sweden are used to snowy conditions, so they design cars that can handle this type of weather. In addition to Volvo’s advanced AWD option that enhances the road grip, Volvos also have the best safety features to help prevent accidents and keep passengers safe, no matter the road conditions.
Volvo XC90
The XC90 has all the features that a good snow vehicle should have. The high ground clearance and the air suspensions of the car provide the necessary smooth driving experience in snowy conditions. The XC90 has a high ground clearance of 238 mm which provides even better rides in the snow and the car is less likely to plow the snow.
The AWD option in the XC90 provides even better road traction. The car is less likely to slip on snowy roads. The AWD cars can also enable you to drive faster on snowy roads, but it is always not recommended. The standard 2.0L engine with 8-speed automatic transmission is powerful enough to drive in snow.
Volvo XC60
The XC60 is also a well-equipped SUV for snowy conditions. The XC60 has the AWD option which gives power to all of its wheels. The safety features in the XC60 are exceptional. A small thing like adaptive LED headlights can even help in heavy blizzards.
The car also has other safety features like driver-assist technology, forward collision mitigation with rear automatic braking monitors which could indicate if anyone’s going to hit you from behind. The XC60’s engine can also generate 400 hp, which would prove very useful in snowy conditions.
Volvo V60
The V60 is a big family station wagon and it is also extremely practical on snowy roads. The V60 offers very good handling and road balance. The AWD option improves the driving even more because of better power distribution to all the wheels.
Tips for driving in the snow
Driving in snow is not an easy task for everyone. Even if you have a good Volvo car with AWD and other safety features, you still need to drive carefully in snowy conditions. However, a good car in snowy conditions can provide you with certain helpful features in snow.
Follow these tips to drive your Volvo safely in snow:
- Check your car before the trip – always check certain things like battery, cooling system, tires, wiper blades before going somewhere in snowy conditions.
- Emergency kits – always have an emergency kit for your car and yourself with you.
- Use winter tires – the snow tires are usually different from conventional tires. These tires have tread designs with much larger gaps.
- Always clean snow from windows and windshield.
- Always clean your tailpipe before the trip.
- Drive carefully and brakes should not be used unnecessarily.
- Drive slowly – the AWD system helps in road grip, but it cannot help you if you are driving too fast.
Drive your Volvo safely in the snow
All Volvo vehicles are made with safety being the number one priority. Volvo cars have very good rollover protections due to their better balancing of the car. Volvo offers AWD options in all of its vehicles, which are specifically made for rainy and snowy roads. So, Volvo does make good cars for snowy conditions.
What about Mercedes? Are Mercedes good in snow?
FAQ
What is the difference between 4WD and AWD?
Both of these drivetrains use all four wheels to run the car. However, they aren’t quite the same. In 4WD or 4×4 cars, the system is not always engaged, and it is turned on by pulling a lever or pushing an electronic button in some cars.
On the other hand, AWD cars use the system all the time and distribute torque among all the wheels equally according to the need. The AWD system is useful in snowy or rainy weather because the car powers all the wheels. The 4WD system is less complex than AWD, and it is mostly used in rugged areas or off-roading experiences.
Are AWD cars best for snowy conditions?
In AWD cars, the system powers all the wheels and distributes the torque to the wheels based on their need. If a wheel experiences some extra slipping, then the system will send more torque towards this wheel. This way, each wheel receives more torque on icy roads, and the car grips better on roads than two-wheel-drive cars do.
However, the AWD system alone does not ensure the best drive on snowy roads. You must have better winter tires, which have much bigger gaps between treads. Bigger tread gaps are better because the water or snow does not get stuck between the gaps and these gaps direct them out.
What are the best AWD cars for snowy conditions?
There are many good vehicles that perform well on icy roads. These cars usually have high ground clearance and high-quality winter tires.
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- Subaru Outback
- Kia Telluride
- Honda CR-V
- Volvo XC90
