2013 top 10 SUV’s for winter weather

1. Jeep Grand Cherokee 2013

The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the undeniable top choice of a vehicle to tough out the most treacherous of winter weather. Built strong with a Uni-Frame and ultra-high-strength steel this Jeep is designed to provide a stable and quietly luxurious ride. The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes standard with 45 safety and security features. Unique to this vehicle are the three 4WD systems that you can choose from. Also included is Hill Descent Control which is great for not just snow but, sand, mud, and rock.

2. Subaru Outback 2013

The Subaru Outback is true to its stereotyping: a rugged, all-weather vehicle with oodles of traction thanks to its symmetrical all-wheel drive. Think of it as a comfortable pair of duck shoes, grippy rubber soles on the bottom, sturdy leather on top and warm flannel on the inside. Just slip them on and go outside no matter if it’s raining, snowing or mud season. You know that they will get you out to the woodpile and back with no drama, nice and dry. The 2013 Subaru Outback is exactly the same but it rides on four rubber soles (or, rather, rubber tires in this case).

3. BMW X5 2013

For 2013 the BMW X5 is fully prepared for all weather conditions. Every 2013 BMW X5 comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock brakes, automatic brake drying, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and adaptive brake lights. The adaptive brake lights flash the taillights during extreme braking as a warning to trailing motorists. An available Cold Weather package adds a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, and headlight washers. The X5’s all-wheel drive, traction control, and inherent stability make this a great vehicle for those looking for a vehicle with enhanced safety features.

4. Volvo XC60 2013

On the uneven roads surrounding ski country, the XC60 proved its mettle even more. Generally speaking, compact crossovers don’t often have the best ride quality, mainly because they’re so compact. But the Volvo took all the punishment the winter-whipped roads had to offer and with so little drama, it was scarcely believable.

5. Chevrolet Tahoe 2013

Chevrolet Tahoe 2013 comes fully ready for all weather with a rugged 4-wheel drive system and has a comfortable cabin that can seat up to nine passengers. Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Also standard is OnStar, which includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking, stolen vehicle assistance and turn-by-turn navigation. In government crash safety tests, the Tahoe earned an overall rating of four stars (out of five), with five stars for overall frontal-impact crash protection and five stars for overall side-impact crash protection.

6. Ford Explorer 2013

Explorer seems to long for more natural extremes, like snow, ice, and treacherous mountain passes. The Explorer Sport attempts to solidify its position in the crossover SUV category—compared to the pickup truck-based platforms of previous generations—and almost seemed to challenge me to exploit the multiple personalities it embraces, from fun and sporty, to practical and comfortable, to capable and confident.

7. Lexus RX 350 2013

The 2013 Lexus RX350 comes with useful features like Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) which uses brake pressure to help prevent the vehicle from moving backward when starting out on an incline. Smart Stop Technology will automatically reduce engine power when the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are simultaneously applied under certain driving conditions. The SNOW mode slows the accelerator-pedal response to help reduce the possibility of wheel spin. Also available is an optional Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control which is essentially an adaptive cruise control which can pre-set a following distance from a vehicle traveling directly ahead. 

8. Honda CR-V 2013

Roomy, fuel-efficient and loaded with family-friendly amenities, the 2013 Honda CR-V is one of compact crossover SUVs. Available all-wheel drive is intended for light off-road duty and weather-fouled roads. For that it works well, and the unpainted lower body surfaces hide scuffs and scratches.

9. Volkswagen Touareg 2013

2013 Volkswagen Touareg comes standard with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, hill-hold assist, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Touareg earned a top score of "Good” in frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength tests. All Touareg models use an 8-speed automatic transmission and VW’s 4Motion full-time AWD.

10. Acura MDX 2013

The MDX remains related to the Honda Pilot, but as the more rakish sheetmetal suggests, the MDX is much more focused toward the on-the-road driving experience. Power comes on strong from a 300-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6, which delivers impressive passing power even with a full load, with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a very smart, dynamically sharp all-wheel-drive system puts the power to the pavement (or gravel, sand, or snow) confidently. The power steering remains a bit too light (with a quick ratio that takes some getting used to), but overall we think the MDX's optional magnetic-electronic suspension system improves both ride and handling. Overall, the AWD system, the suspension, and the steering together neatly excise the portliness (or at least, the sense of it) that taints the driving experience of so many crossovers—especially those with three rows.