Winter is here in full force. Despite all the joy of holidays, snowy days and winter sports, the season isn’t always so much fun for drivers.

In tough wintry conditions, you need a car or SUV that’s up to the challenge.

First and foremost, a good vehicle for winter has to be safe in all conditions. Ice, snow, water on the roads and poor visibility are the name of the game, so your SUV has to be ready for all of them.

Something with solid off-road capabilities and all-wheel drive is your best bet. It should have real power and traction to keep you safe on the road.

Comfort is also an important consideration, in winter more than ever. Many new vehicles include adaptable climate zones, heated seats and other features that can make it more enjoyable to drive in all weather. Look out for these features.

To save you time, we’ve curated a list of the best SUVs for winter driving. These are not only the best cars for the snow, but they’re also all-around top performers.

1. 2019 BWM X5

The latest BMW X5 is a general improvement on an already capable and stylish SUV.

At first glance, it looks quite familiar: just slightly larger than the 2018 model, with tighter lines making a more athletic impression. But under the surface, there’s a lot going on.

The 2019 X5’s chassis is a high-tech setup that includes rear-wheel steering, adaptive dampers, front and back air spring suspension, active anti-roll bars, variable-ratio steering and more.

Thanks to this, the X5 handles like a dream on and off road. Its impressive capabilities make it a perfect choice for a driver who won’t compromise functionality for a high-end experience (or vice versa).

As icing on the cake, it comes with a laundry list of features: lane departure warning, remote keyless entry, leather seating, voice recognition, and a panoramic moonroof, to name just a few.

Special deal at Capital Motor Cars: $707/month for 36 with zero money down.

2. 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

If you’re looking for one of the best cars in snow (or in mud, or on ice, or pavement) this season, you’re going to love the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Grand Cherokee is a classic trail car, and for good reason. It has all the rugged power you’d expect from a Jeep, especially at the trim levels that come with a V8 engine, giving it a maximum towing capacity of 7,400lb.

It’s a heavyweight SUV, giving it extra stability in rough winter conditions.

In terms of comfort, it’s a quiet ride. Heated seats and steering wheel keep drivers and passengers warm and cozy on winter drives.

There’s generous room for heads, legs and elbows, not to mention cargo.

Special deal at Capital Motor Cars (Updated 9/5/2019): $268/month for 36 months with zero money down ($2,018 taxes & fees due at signing).

3. 2019 Nissan Pathfinder

With its spacious, comfortable interior and a full array of active safety tech, the latest Pathfinder is an ideal choice for families on the move.

It offers great value, with many of its most desirable features coming standard even on lower trim levels.

Its V6 engine delivers strong acceleration and good fuel economy (20mpg city, 27 highway). As for towing, it has real muscle with a maximum capacity of 6,000lb.

Most importantly for our considerations here, it has an excellent all-wheel-drive system that provides great traction even in unstable winter conditions. With a good set of snow tires, it’s ready for anything.

Special deal at Capital Motor Cars: $327/month for 36 months with zero money down.

4. 2019 Infiniti QX60

The 2019 QX60 from Infiniti hits the sweet spot where practicality and luxury overlap on the Venn diagram. It’s basically a luxury crossover at not such an opulent price.

Comfort is front and center. It’s an incredibly quiet ride, with a spacious, cushy and intuitively designed interior. It seats seven with ample room for everyone.

Climate control is great in this SUV and the heated seats really heat up, so it’s nice and toasty inside even on the coldest days.

The QX60 is more of a road vehicle, but its all-wheel-drive system gives it the extra traction we look for in an SUV for the winter.

Special deal at Capital Motor Cars: $413/month for 39 months with zero money down.

5. 2019 Acura MDX

The 2019 Acura MDX is the complete package. Capable, reliable and good-looking to boot, it offers something for everyone.

Its all-wheel-drive system is one of the most advanced in its class. If you need a vehicle to handle ice and snow, be sure to get the all-wheel-drive version of the MDX. SH-AWD (Acura’s sophisticated Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system) seamlessly shifts the engine’s power distribution to front, back or side-to-side, adapting to the demands of the road.

With strong acceleration and plenty of passing power, it handles well and gets good fuel mileage. The transmission has been refined in the 2019 model, giving it a smoother ride than in previous years.

The MDX is a budget-friendly SUV that still comes packed with safety features and other tech. AcuraWatch, the brand’s suite of active safety features, includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

Special deal at Capital Motor Cars: $461/month for 36 months with zero money down.

Where to find the best winter cars

If you’re interested in these top-performing SUV’s or other great cars for the snow, contact Capital Motor Cars or check out our advanced search tool. We are experts in connecting drivers with their perfect car, at rates you won’t find anywhere else.