How is this car performance on snow and ice?

Hello, While I have not read any negative reviews of this car in bad weather, it is not going to give you the same performance as a 4WD vehicle. Its wheelbase, length, and width are much closer to that of a Cobalt than that of a TrailBlazer. In other words, it would have bad weather performance similar to any front-wheel drive sedan. Best of luck! CarGrrl

One benefit of the HHR is that some (Most?) models come with traction control from the factory. It will help you launch in rain/snow/gravel. Of course, any vehicle on ice is scary at best so drive smart and keep your tires in good repair. The FWD should give you a leg up over RWD vehicles but I find it a minor bonus. Drive smart and you'll be just fine.

I guess it comes down to where you live, Adam. I'm in Northwestern Ontario, near the Manitoba Border. Two HHR pilots that I know have both invested in a second set of rims with snow tires on them (not 'all season' radials which are really just '3 season' tires, but actual 'snow boots.' While the outlay for the extra rims may seem expensive, it saves wear and tire on taking the tires on and off and the expense of having the tires mounted and balanced every fall and spring. Remember, every mile on the snow tires means a mile less on your summer tires, so the cost will darn near even out in the long term. I went through last winter without snow tires but am investing in a complete set this year. I've got ABS and traction control, but the HHR is pretty light and I find it's prone to slipping and sliding more than I'm used to. (Two cars back I was driving a Yukon 4 X 4 and snow tires greatly improved the handling and braking on that big tank as well).

I finally invested in a set of proper "ice and snow" winter tires for my '07 HHR this year. WOW. The difference in handling is outstanding.

I live in Canada, and believe me, it does pretty well.

Very bad

i think the car gets roughed up under cold conditions. http://chevrolethhr.net/2011-pictures/

I rear ended someone this morning because my 2007 HHR would not stop going down a hill!!!! Yes, it was bad out, but in my mind, driveable!!! i'm getting snow tires on my car this week after this incident! I've slid at least 5 more times trying to stop today and this is a little concerning to me! my little Acura Integra I had handled much better than my HHR in the snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same here -- I have a 2008 HHR, and it performs terribly in inclement weather. I still have the stock tires, and sometimes I can't get traction on a hill when it's raining! Driving home in yesterdays lovely sleet & snow mix was quite challenging. I think I need to get new tires...

My Chevrolet HHR is not what I imagined it would be in the snow. I have a steep driveway and even with studs it does not get up it. I also have an issue with it being turned sideways while creeping down the highway with high winds in the snow. I live in Upstate New York in the Rochester area and moved here from the west coast. I am familiar with snow and have owned quite a few awd vehicles and fwd vehicles. My poor hhr cannot handle day to day snow unfortunately and the cold weather is ruining all of my bushings and CV joints. I have to give it a 1 STAR rating. I'm moving up to a VOLVO XC90 this week and my other car is going bye bye.

Thanks for all this information everyone. I had put a down payment on a HHR last night and Im to pick it up today, Im thinking about taking my money elsewhere since this is the vehichle they chose to push off on me after telling them I just got into a wreck with their Cabolt SS in the rain, it couldnt handle breaking on a curve on the interstate. I told them I was now affraid of tiny cars cause they cant handle weather nor can they protect me very well. The airbag saved me, but the airbag also caused all me body harm with chemical burns, if it did this to my skin, how about the amount I breathed in? Coffin cars!!!!

I bought my 2009 HHR new. I have driven in every kind of weather with no problems. This year, drove the entire old Route 66, 1st going east then south by way of LA & AR back to MO. Then left home headed the west part of 66, all the way to CA. My trip included 3days in Mexico before returning home. Took this trip alone, getting to visit family & friends along the way. I drove in snow, ice, desert, rain & a lot of mountains. I go camping, again, by myself, every yr in my HHR. The seats fold flat making it comfy with a twin mattress in the back part. The front passenger also folds flat making it great for the coffee pot & small fan, etc. Just throw an extention cord out the window :) Hwy averaged 31mpg, here are home,in the city, 23. I'm at 69k miles, just put on new brakes & tires. Firestone affinity came on it. Searched & Goodyear Viva 3 had a 5 star & they feel nice. I can NOT say one bad thing about my little elecyric blue baby HHR! Debora. age 59 traveling the USA while I'm young :)

If you are having problems handling the HHR in bad weather, check your driving. Take your foot off the brake & slow down. Those lower gears can help you stop on ice & snow. On the snow, let it pull itself from a complete stop before gently accelerating. Debora

Just bought a 2009 . had the pleasure of driving in the first snow of the season in Va.today. I grew up in Montana so learned to drive in snow at an early age. I have driven rear wheel drive,4WD, Front wheel drive and AWD. This car (HHR) has me spooked and thats not easy . it slips and slides to easy.control is poor . I am very disappointed in the handling on snow. I will keep this car until spring then sell it. I have always been a chevy guy but can't recommend the HHR for winter driving.

I agree with Deborah. I believe that if most of you had a bad experience is because you don't know how to drive. I live in Connecticut and take the Merritt Parkway everyday to work. I haven't changed my tires and there pretty balled. Going up and down my hhr did great in the snow. You just have know how drive and not think you have a tank ease off the accelerate

To the people saying "It's not the HHR, it's your driving." Uh, no, it's not. When I first got my 2009 HHR, it had a brand new set of all season Goodyear tires on it. I live in Syracuse, and we have a long, cold winter here, with average over 124" of snow. I've been driving in snow and ice for over 40 years, and the HHR with those Goodyear tires was a road hazard in the winter, and useless on ice. If I was on an icy or slushy incline, even slight, like 10 degrees, I'd have to get a running start from level ground to climb it. Traction control does nothing if the tires can't get a grip.

Traction control in a lot of cars is a joke because all it does is apply the brakes to the spinning wheel. It adds no traction at all but it can bring your car to a dead stop which is why some cars have an off switch for the "traction" control. For snow and ice get a good AWD like Subaru or a 4wd. Finnish tires are the best for really bad snow and ice.

I live in Massachusetts, and have had no problems with driving my 2010 HHR in the snow. It drives better than other cars I've had, including a Subaru. I think it boils down to good driving skills and driving "slow in the snow". I am considering keeping my HHR for several more years since I really like this car.

I love my HHR, been driving on Minnesota snowy roads for awhile with mine.

I have had two HHRs. One 2007 with NO ABS or traction control. It was garbage. I have a 2010 that I searched high and low for, this one with Stabilitrak and Anti Lock breaks. It handles like a dream and is very comfortable in the snow. You just have to be mindful when driving in bad weather in any vehicle. Do some cars handle and respond differently in snow? Yes. Especially German cars. You just have to be mindful.

2009 HHR LT with ESC (Stability Control), Traction Control, and ABS. Absolute honest truth this is one of the best vehicles I've had in winter weather. If you overdrive for the conditions it will understeer. There is only so much friction on a snow packed or icy road. My wife who drove the vehicle before me, loved it in snow also. (BTW she grew up in Michigan) We now live in northern Illinois. I love the ESC if the back end slides even a little it automatically tries to right itself. The vehicle is light but if you slam on the brakes send the dynamic weight of the vehicle to the front it will understeer. If you anticipate turns and test braking ability ahead of time and adjust speed proportionately it handles like a dream. Anybody who states they were on a icy decline or incline and it didn't do what they wanted is misleading you because any vehicle will do that in those conditions. If you are smart winter driver this vehicle will reward you and you will love it. (BTW when I say smart I don't mean you have to be the slowest because I rarely am.) Just be aware of the conditions you and anticipate adjustments and this car will handle great. Finally I drive with All- Season tires year around and don't use winter tires. In the 9 years of ownership my wife nor I have ever been in a ditch or rear ended anyone. I have slid into 1 snowbank on a left hand turn that I entered going too fast. (There was no damage to the HHR) I drive 40 miles one way 15min interstate, 30 min two-lane country roads to where I work. As TroyNH iterated "You just have to be mindful."

Being mindful is important, but consider this...I had days before placed new snow tires on the vehicle, I was aware of the mixed precipitation conditions, and the falling temps. Going down the mountain through about 10 turns all was fine. I entered the next curve at less than 30 mph, probably closer to 25, when the front end took a dive to the left contacting another vehicle (my right fender hit the other vehicles left front fender. Needless to say I was in disbelief, as I had done all that a safe driver without previous incident in 50 years of driving could do to stay safe...there are times when factors all come together and produce a negative result. I honestly believe that if I had been driving my Suziki (AWD) the result would have been a safe trip. Personally, I would not get another HHR, and don't consider it safe for conditions in Northern Vermont

I know i can drive i never got a ticket in my life never been stopped by the police i have a 2010 hhr and it sucks slides in rain traction control is always off course if anyone is gonna get this car please stop and think about what your getting i only had it 3 months its been in the shop 6 times for traction control sliding in rain its so not worth the money or the time they suck period never again can't wait to get my new car

I bought my 2008 HHR Shadow Edition new. It now has almost 250,000 miles. It drives great in the snow and on wet roads. The key is to have a manual shift and know how to drive it. My wife loves driving this car in the snow. She has had to drive around vehicles up hill in the snow and stopping on the hill and taking off again from a dead stop. Drop it down to a lower gear and off you go. I would buy another HHR as long as it is a manual shift. Oh, we bought the HHR in Ohio and have driven in states from Ohio to South Dakota back to Virginia, all in the winter month’s. We now live in North Georgia. We love our HHR Shadow!