10 Best Winter Sedans

2017 Jaguar XE AWD 3 4 front profile ・ Photo by Jaguar

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle and live in an area that sees the full extent of winter’s worst, don’t automatically think that you need an SUV to tackle the weather. Unless you regularly drive on unplowed roads right after large snowfalls, any of the cars on our list of the 10 best winter sedans should be able to get you where you need to go, especially when equipped with a good set of winter tires. Read on to discover which ten sedans (sorted in alphabetical order) are the Autobytel editors’ favorites for driving in the worst conditions that winter has to offer.

Acura TLX V6 SH-AWD

When equipped with the V6 engine, the midsize TLX sedan is available with Acura’s torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system. This system is able to direct power to the wheels that need it, helping make the TLX one of the best winter sedans available, especially when paired with a good set of winter tires. The lowest model available with all-wheel drive is the Technology Package, which includes such winter niceties as heated side mirrors, heated front seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Stepping up to the Advance Package adds LED puddle lights and remote engine start, two features that can help keep you drier and warmer in the worst winter weather.

Photo by Acura

Audi A4 Quattro

While the compact A4 sedan is available as a front-wheel drive car, Audi’s trademark quattro all-wheel drive system was a game changer when it was first introduced in rallying, and the traction advantages that it provides are still evident today. Standard features on the base Premium trim version of the all-wheel drive A4 include a tri-zone automatic climate control system, heated side mirrors, heated windshield washer nozzles, and LED rear fog lights. Stepping up to the Premium Plus trim level gets you heated front seats, a welcome feature on the coldest winter days. It all adds up to equal one of the 10 best winter sedans on the market.

Photo by Audi

BMW 328d xDrive

The BMW 3 Series sedan has long been the benchmark in the compact luxury class, and when equipped with the xDrive all-wheel drive system, it holds it own on even the worst roads (in fact, if you don’t need the extra ground clearance BMW’s cars work nearly as well in the rough stuff as its SUVs). The economical option is the 328d xDrive with its diesel engine, which, thanks to its modern design, should start on even the coldest of winter days. You get a dual-zone automatic climate control system and heated side mirrors standard, while the Cold Weather Package adds heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

Photo by BMW

Cadillac ATS 2.0 Turbo AWD

Thanks to the availability of all-wheel drive, the compact Cadillac ATS sedan (also available as a coupe) is one of the best winter sedans you can buy. The base model comes standard with some features that are nice to have when the snow starts to fall, including heated side mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control, while stepping up to the Luxury trim gets you the Cold Weather Package that includes a heated steering wheel and heated front seats. Add a spare set of wheels with some good winter tires on them and you have a sedan ready to tackle all that winter has to throw at you.

Photo by General Motors

Chevrolet Malibu

The midsize Chevrolet Malibu doesn’t have the benefit of all-wheel drive, but that shouldn’t be a problem unless you live in an area that receives particularly heavy snowfalls. The mid-range 1LT trim level is your best choice for winter comfort, as it comes standard with heated side mirrors and is available with heated front seats and a remote vehicle starter system. Stepping up to the top-of-the-line Premier model gets you those features as standard, plus a dual-zone automatic climate control system and a heated steering wheel. Unless you live in the arctic, the Malibu is one of the best winter sedans you can buy.

Photo by General Motors

Ford Fusion Sport

Equipped with a turbocharged V6 engine and all-wheel drive, the midsize Ford Fusion Sport sedan doesn’t quite live up to its name, but it has the look, its engine is powerful and its handling remains secure, even when the roads seem to offer the same amount of traction as a skating rink. Standard features include heated side mirrors and heated front seats, while a dual-zone automatic climate control system is optional, as is as a heated steering wheel. If you’re looking for a quick midsize car that can survive the trials and tribulations that can be found in the snow belt, the Fusion is one of the best winter sedans available today.

Photo by Ford

Jaguar XE 2.0 Diesel AWD

The compact Jaguar XE sedan is available in several all-wheel drive powertrain configurations, including an economical diesel model that should offer more than enough power for winter driving. The XE includes a Rain/Snow/Ice driving mode, an outside temperature gauge, heated side mirrors, and dual-zone climate control. Available options that help make a winter drive more comfortable include a heated front windshield (which quickly defrosts the front windshield even before the car warms up, but whose heating grid can be annoying for some drivers) and heated windshield washer jets, heated 3-stage front seats and a heated steering wheel. The result is one of the best winter sedans you can buy.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover

Mazda Mazda3

While the compact Mazda Mazda3 4-door sedan (also available as a 5-door hatchback) has to make do with front-wheel drive, its excellent handling means that it’s more than up to the demands of winter driving (as long as you aren’t trying to forge a path through deep virgin snow). The base Sport trim is fairly sparsely equipped, but stepping up to the mid-range Touring trim nets you heated side mirrors, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and variable heated front seats, while a heated steering wheel is optional on the top-of-the-line Grand Touring. No matter which trim you go for, you get one of the best winter sedans for the money.

Photo by Mazda

Porsche Panamera 4

The Porsche Panamera is one of the best handling fullsize luxury sedans, and when equipped with all-wheel drive, it’s also a great car to be in when the weather turns ugly. The Panamera 4 comes standard with automatic climate control, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors, while quad-zone climate control, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel are optional. While the V6 in the standard Panamera 4 should be adequate for most drivers there are multiple engine options available, including the top-of-the-line Turbo S, making the Panamera one of the best winter sedans available no matter what your driving style.

Photo by Porsche

Subaru Impreza

The compact Subaru Impreza sedan (also available as a hatchback) comes standard with an all-wheel drive system that has been tested in the World Rally Championship, so it should be able to handle just about any of the winter conditions you come across, short of a snow-covered field. Stepping up to the Premium model gets you heated side mirrors, a windshield wiper de-icer and heated front seats, while the Limited model adds an automatic climate control system. Remote start is optional on most models. If you’re looking for something a little more sporty, the WRX and STI offer more power and even better handling.

Photo by Subaru