Most front-wheel-drive sedans can cope with at least a few inches of snow and usually more as long as they don't have ultrawide, high-performance tires designed for dry pavement. All cars now come with electronic stability control, traction control and antilock brakes, all of which can help keep you going in winter weather.
All-wheel drive will provide more traction and not only make it easier for you to keep going in snow but also in the right direction, so if you're worried about snow you should zero in on sedans that offer AWD.
Among AWD sedans that offer good gas mileage are the Subaru Impreza and Legacy. AWD is standard on both, and with a continuously variable automatic transmission they have commendable fuel economy estimates. The EPA numbers for the Impreza are 27/36 mpg city/highway, and for the Legacy they are 24/32 mpg. The Impreza starts at around $18,000 and the Legacy at a little less than $21,000, so neither is expensive by today's standards.
If you can afford to spend more, the Audi A4 Quattro starts at $34,000 and has EPA ratings of 20/30 mpg, and the BMW 328i xDrive has an MSRP around $39,000 and EPA ratings of 22/33 mpg. Both come with turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines that require premium gas, plus these cars get quite pricey once you start to add options.
Learn more
- It's Snowing: Do I Want Front-, Rear- or All-Wheel Drive? (Cars.com)
- Find the Right New Sedan (Cars.com)
