Best family vehicle for deep snow and rural roads?

Seeking Advice
1

I currently drive a Toyota Sienna and love it, but it’s 2WD and struggling in our new rural area with heavy snow.

I’d love to just upgrade to an AWD Sienna, but my husband doesn’t think that will be enough since our backroads don’t always get plowed right away.

We have two kids in car seats, another on the way, and hopefully at least one more in the future, so space and seating are a must. I’m also 6 feet tall, so legroom is important.

What’s the best vehicle for a large family that can handle deep snow? Would really appreciate any recommendations!

2

Ground clearance is key so you don’t get stuck in deep snow.

Also, proper winter tires make a huge difference—even more than AWD in many cases. Consider getting a second set of wheels with winter tires and TPMS sensors.

The Sienna Woodland Edition has about 7 inches of ground clearance, which is similar to my old Tiguan.

3

Toyota Sequoia.

4

Grand Highlander.

5

The Highlander and Grand Highlander both have around 8 inches of ground clearance, an inch or more over the Sienna.

Toyota’s hybrid models use an electric motor to power the rear wheels for AWD, but you can also get the gas versions with traditional mechanical AWD.

Winter tires will be the biggest game changer, so you might want to try that first on your Sienna.

6

@Dolph
Thanks! I might give winter tires a try. Our driveway is on an incline and partially gravel, and the other day I couldn’t even get out despite using a snowblower.

7

Cypress said:
@Dolph
Thanks! I might give winter tires a try. Our driveway is on an incline and partially gravel, and the other day I couldn’t even get out despite using a snowblower.

Winter tires can work wonders on snow and ice, but if your husband is right about deep snow being an issue, you’ll still be limited by ground clearance.

8

If you’re sticking with Toyota, the 4Runner is a great option. If you’re open to other brands, a Subaru Outback Wilderness could be a solid choice too.

9

Caiden said:
If you’re sticking with Toyota, the 4Runner is a great option. If you’re open to other brands, a Subaru Outback Wilderness could be a solid choice too.

They have three car seats, though. The 4Runner’s back seat is tight, even if the first two kids move up to boosters before the third arrives.

10

Try winter tires first unless you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade.

Lifted Siennas look awesome, and most SUVs won’t match its space and practicality.

11

StarlightSpecter said:
Try winter tires first unless you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade.

Lifted Siennas look awesome, and most SUVs won’t match its space and practicality.

Agreed! I live in Sweden and even rear-wheel-drive sedans handle well with good winter tires. They’re often better than an AWD SUV with all-seasons.

12

StarlightSpecter said:
Try winter tires first unless you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade.

Lifted Siennas look awesome, and most SUVs won’t match its space and practicality.

We were actually thinking about a lift kit! I really don’t want to part with my van, so I’d love to make it work. If we upgrade, I’d prefer a hybrid Sienna for better mileage, but otherwise, it’s almost paid off, so no incentive to switch.

13

@Cypress
That sounds like a great plan!

14

@Cypress
Definitely try winter tires first! I drive a FWD car in Canada with winter tires and it’s been great. If you end up switching vehicles, you can always resell the tires.

15

Any generation Lexus GX.

16

Either a used Lexus GX or LX, or a Toyota Sequoia. All have three rows and plenty of space.

17

A snowmobile? :laughing:

18

Grand Highlander or Sequoia.

19

A Highlander could work well with two kids. It won’t be as roomy as your Sienna, but it’s much better in deep snow.

I do a lot of outdoor activities like skiing and mountain biking, and my 2013 Highlander has been great. I keep a separate set of wheels for my Michelin X-Ice winter tires, and it makes a huge difference.

20

Try winter tires first, but if you need an upgrade, the Sequoia TRD might be your best bet.

I used to live in a city that got over 67 inches of snow annually, and I survived just fine in a FWD Camry with snow tires. I only got stuck once when we had 8+ inches overnight, but that was because my car only had 5.5 inches of clearance. Otherwise, winter tires made a night-and-day difference.