# FWD/RWD/AWD: Which vehicle safest in snow/ice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839 "2016-01-22T01:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839/21 "2016-01-25T16:21:04Z")
Thanks for all the advice and input, I really enjoy learning this kind of stuff. Final report: Dug out the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee yesterday (and feeling it today! ;)) \*\*Wrangler in 4WD Low, has more rugged tires than Cherokee \> \*\*Lots of fun to drive and did a little joyriding with plowing through snowdrifts. However, how light the truck is became very evident – some sliding even at low speeds. **Cherokee, no 4WD \> Four-wheel drive currently out of commission \>** No sliding, def. the feel of a heavy and grounded truck, even without 4WD bells and whistles. The Cherokee wins this round for safe winter driving; Wrangler wins for sheer fun. **BMW \>** Alas, my girl is under 2’ of snow and will be taking a little winter nap for now. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839/22 "2016-01-25T17:14:09Z")
An experienced driver can get you safely where you need to go in each of those vehicles. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839/23 "2016-01-25T18:18:35Z")
OK, slight hijack but my experience with the Wrangler is the older CJs, YJs and TJs ( I also owned a 92 Cherokee Sport that was a blast to drive in the winter and off-road). The short wheelbase made them ‘interesting’ to drive on snowy roads. Are the newer ones more stable or are they still twitchy? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839/24 "2016-01-25T18:22:15Z")
An experienced winter driver also knows there are significant differences between how vehicles perform in extreme winter conditions. I drive a RWD cargo van on all-seasons for work and my private vehicle is a FWD hatchback on winter tires, and believe me when I say that the van is far more precarious in icy conditions, to the point where I will refuse to drive it at times when the hatchback still feels perfectly safe. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839/25 "2016-01-25T19:00:07Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > OK, slight hijack but my experience with the Wrangler is the older CJs, YJs and TJs ( I also owned a 92 Cherokee Sport that was a blast to drive in the winter and off-road). The short wheelbase made them ‘interesting’ to drive on snowy roads. Are the newer ones more stable or are they still twitchy? I had a 2000 Wrangler that seemed a lot more “twitchy” than my current 2015; while the ride is still “interesting,” it does feel more stable, especially in cornering. My model has ESC, which I’m not sure was available in 2000 . . . But, as above, the 2007 Cherokee wins the Winter Driving Contest this year. And, of course, the BMW wins in all other driving situations. That sucker sticks to the road like velcro! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fwd-rwd-awd-which-vehicle-safest-in-snow-ice/743839.md?page=1)