Your guide to the best cars for winter driving

We don’t see too much winter weather here in Florida (minus some brisk mornings and annoying fogged windshields). But if you live further north or take road trips out of town, chances are you may have to deal with snow and ice during your drive time. And to stay safe on the roads, you need a car that can handle winter conditions with ease. Our Orlando Toyota team is here and making it simple™ for you. Check out our guide to the best cars for winter driving.

What are the best car features for winter driving?

Winter weather varies depending on where you live. The southeast US may see snow and ice that make roads slippery some days. On the other hand, the northeast gets blizzards that make driving conditions hazardous for months out of the year. If you know you’re headed into winter conditions, you need the best car features for winter driving on your side. Here are some of the features our Toyota of Orlando techs recommend having if you’re making your way into snow or ice.

All-wheel drive: All-wheel drive is found on quite a few of our new Toyotas, and it’s key for driving in winter weather. This feature sends power to all four of your wheels when you need it (versus just two of them). This means you’ll get better traction and safer handling on snowy, icy roads. All-wheel drive makes it easier to accelerate, brake, and turn when conditions are slippery. Toyotas that have this feature definitely make the list of the best cars for winter driving.

Anti-lock brakes: Anti-lock brakes prevent your car’s brakes from locking up, which can prevent skidding and losing control in slippery winter conditions. Every single one of our new Orlando Toyotas has this feature.

Remote start: Remote start is also found on a lot of our Toyotas, and we think that’s one of the reasons why they’re some of the best cars for winter driving. This feature allows you to start your car either from your key fob or smartphone (depending on which Orlando Toyota you have). You can warm up the cabin and be nice and toasty when you slip into the driver’s seat.

Heated seats and steering wheels: Heated seats and steering wheels may not be a necessity for the safest cars for winter driving, but they definitely make things more pleasant. Having these features ensures you’re comfortable inside the cabin, no matter how cold it is outside.

Windshield wiper de-icers and washer jets: Ice and slush can make your wiper blades ineffective and block your car’s washer jets. That’s why if you live in an area that sees pretty decent winter weather, windshield wiper de-icers might be a good feature. Cars that have these have electric heating elements under the resting position of the blades and jets to melt ice.

The best car features for winter driving to add to your Toyota

And don’t forget about the add-ons. While cars typically aren’t sold with these features, they’re great for driving in snow and ice and can be added on seasonally.

Winter tires: Dedicated winter tires are also one of the best car features for winter driving, especially if you live in an area that regularly sees snow and ice. These tires are made of a special type of softer rubber that stays flexible in the cold. They also have deep grooves and small cuts that grip the road surface better than all-season tires.

Sn0w-friendly windshield wipers: If you live in an area that routinely sees decent amounts of snow, it might be wise to swap out your wipers during the winter. Snow-friendly beam wipers are one-piece wiper blades that have steel incorporated into the rubber. This gives them more uniform pressure on the windshield and the ability to wipe it clean more effectively.

Which new Toyotas are the best cars for winter driving?

If you want to look for a new Toyota suited for winter weather, here are the cars we recommend based on their features:

• Toyota Camry
• Toyota RAV4
• Toyota Highlander
• Toyota Sienna
• Toyota Crown
• Toyota Grand Highlander

However, those aren’t your only options when it comes to the best cars for winter driving. All you have to do is choose an Orlando Toyota that has the features listed above, and don’t forget that some of our cars offer winter weather packages that you can add on as well.

Shop the best cars for winter driving at Toyota of Orlando

Heading north? Need a reliable new Toyota that’s also winter-ready for hitting the highway? Shop Toyota of Orlando today. We’re open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Mall at Millenia.

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