Like it or not, Canada is in many ways synonymous with winter. Many parts of this country remain under snow cover for five to six months of the year or more. This has a lot to do with why SUVs and pick-up trucks continue to dominate automotive sales in this country, now at a rate pushing past 86%. When you live under an extended threat of winter conditions, it’s natural to wonder which are the best SUVs for snow in Canada.
To that end, we’ve compiled this list of what we think are the top SUVs you can buy in Canada for winter driving in 2025. With one of these vehicles in your driveway, you can be confident you’ll have one of the best vehicles out there for getting through nasty Canadian winter conditions when they arise.
Prices shown include manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) plus destination charges and any declared dealership fees but exclude sales taxes. While pricing was current as of publication time, it is subject to change. If you’re looking for a car instead of an SUV, see our separate guide to the Best Cars for Snow.
Best SUVs for Snow in Canada
- What Makes an SUV Good in Snow?
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Ford Bronco
- Ford Bronco Sport
- Honda Passport
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Jeep Wrangler
- Mitsubishi Outlander
- Subaru Outback
- Toyota 4Runner
- Honourable Mentions
What Makes an SUV Good in Snow?
Our measure for whether an SUV is good in snow is based on a few components. A robust four-wheel-drive system (4WD) is a good start. Alternately, an advanced all-wheel-drive system (AWD) with torque vectoring to deliver power to individual wheels can also be very effective in difficult driving conditions. Full-time AWD systems are always engaged for improved traction, but it’s important to balance that benefit against their reduced fuel economy.
Those who need strong snow performance should also look for a healthy amount of power and high ground clearance. But none of this helps on slippery roads if you don’t have winter tires, so it’s important to use rubber designed for icy conditions during the winter months. (We call these winter tires and not snow tires for a reason: their benefits come with cold weather, not just when driving in snowy weather conditions.) And, of course, comfort features like heated seats and a heated steering wheel don’t hurt, either.
Chevrolet Tahoe
Let’s start with a qualifier: you don’t need a large SUV to get through icy roads and snow effectively. But if you you’re looking for an eight-seat SUV for other reasons such as transporting a large family, needing lots of cargo space, or towing heavy equipment, rest assured the Chevrolet Tahoe will get the job done in winter conditions, too. With 4WD standard on most trims (rear-wheel drive is standard on the base LS) and a choice of three engines—a 5.3-litre V8 (355 horsepower, 383 lb-ft of torque), a 6.2-litre V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft), and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbodiesel (277 hp, 460 lb-ft)—the Chevy Tahoe has plenty of grunt for getting around. There’s also an optional electronic limited-slip differential and a variety of damper setups to customize your ride to your preference. For 2025, the Tahoe receives a mid-cycle refresh that updates its styling and technology features. The 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe has a Canadian starting price of $83,233 when equipped with 4WD. If you have the budget for something more upscale, you could also consider the mechanically similar GMC Yukon or Cadillac Escalade.
Ford Bronco
Any SUV that’s designed to be great in low-traction off-road conditions will also perform well in snow. That brings us to the body-on-frame Ford Bronco, a vehicle whose triumphant return has put the Blue Oval in plenty of Canadian driveways. With six trim levels to choose from offering a range of powertrain, 4WD, and off-road capability features, you can build a Bronco to meet your needs. The Bronco can also work with a range of budgets. In Canada, the 2025 Ford Bronco starts at $51,010 for the entry-level two-door base model and ramps up to $117,570 for the Ford Bronco Raptor.
Ford Bronco Sport
If you like the idea of a Ford Bronco but you know you don’t need an SUV that’s quite so large or off-road ready, consider a Ford Bronco Sport instead. Despite the names, the two aren’t closely related. Instead, the Ford Bronco Sport is a crossover closer to a Ford Escape with its front-wheel drive (FWD) platform underpinnings, albeit with some more capable mechanical components attached. On Bronco Sport, 4WD is standard, and most trims come with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine making 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. If you’re looking for a little more, opt for the Badlands trim with its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 250 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque sent through a more advanced 4WD system with a twin-clutch rear drive unit. The Ford Bronco Sport gets a refresh for 2025 that adds a standard 13.2-inch infotainment screen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a new Sasquatch package, and other features. The 2025 Ford Bronco Sport starts at $40,790 for the base Big Bend trim in Canada, while a Badlands starts from $51,290.
Honda Passport
There are a few AWD systems out there that aren’t as well-known as they ought to be, and Honda’s i-VTM4 system is one of them. The name stands for Intelligent Variable Torque Management followed by a 4 for the number of wheels it powers. It supplies full-time AWD with 10-70% of available torque pushed to the rear axle on demand. Plus, there’s a clutch on each rear wheel, meaning the full 100% of the torque going to the rear axle can be sent directly to either wheel to provide torque vectoring. This system lets a vehicle turn in reduced traction without losing speed as brake-based torque vectoring systems would. The smallest Honda SUV that comes with i-VTM4 is the Honda Passport midsize SUV, so that’s the one we’d suggest for Canadians looking to get through heavier snowfall. The 2025 Honda Passport carries a starting price in Canada of $52,616. This is the final model year for the current generation of Honda Passport as a new one is slated to launch for 2026. If you need extra rear seats in the form of a three-row SUV, you could consider the Honda Pilot, which also comes with i-VTM4 AWD.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
There’s a vast array of 4WD systems and features within the Jeep line-up that can make life on snow-covered roads much easier. It can be somewhat overwhelming, but with a bit of time and research you’ll be impressed at how much selection and customization you have access to. A prime example is the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which lives up to Jeep’s push to be seen as a premium brand. The current generation of Grand Cherokee is available in two-row or three-row options, the latter being dubbed the Grand Cherokee L. Each has three different 4WD systems on offer to accommodate a variety of needs and budgets. On the two-row, you can choose between the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine with 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, or the plug-in hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe with 42 kilometres of electric range. In the Grand Cherokee L, the V6 is the default. Pricing in Canada for the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $60,565, while the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L starts at $62,565.
Jeep Wrangler
Among Canadians, the Jeep Wrangler needs no introduction. This rough-and-tumbling rock-crawling machine also excels in winter weather. With no fewer than 12 gas-powered configurations to choose from as well as the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, we’ve got plenty of choice when it comes to Wranglers north of the border. 4WD is standard equipment, and there are three versions to choose from. Command-Trac is a part time shift-on-the-fly 4x4 system, Rock-Trac is equipped on Rubicon models and adds a two-speed transfer case with 4:1 low range, and the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system is exclusive to the Wrangler Rubicon 392. The 2025 Jeep Wrangler has a starting price in Canada of $39,995.
Mitsubishi Outlander
Here’s another manufacturer with an AWD system that flies under the radar. Mitsubishi’s is called Super All-wheel Control (S-AWC) system, and it’s offered on the Eclipse Cross, Outlander, and the Outlander PHEV compact SUVs. S-AWC offers full-time AWD with excellent traction control and torque distribution that works not only from front to back but also from side to side on each axle. Built on Mitsubishi’s rally racing credentials, including plenty of experience in winter racing, this is one of the more capable AWD systems on the market today and can guide you through snowy conditions with confidence. The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander had a Canadian starting price of $37,394. (2025 pricing is not yet available as of this writing.)
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a fantastic choice as a winter-ready vehicle. Most models come with 22 centimetres of ground clearance, while the Outback Wilderness has a whopping 24.1 cm as well as an upgraded X-Mode with a deep snow driving mode to roll over snow drifts and other obstacles. Plus, as with most Subaru vehicles, the Outback comes with standard AWD. Two engine options are offered. The base 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder creates 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the upgrade 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder produces 260 hp and 277 lb-ft. Pricing for the 2025 Subaru Outback in Canada starts from $37,174. If you’d prefer a smaller SUV with a more traditional body style, consider the Subaru Forester instead.
Toyota 4Runner
The name 4Runner is synonymous with go-anywhere attitude. For 2025, a long-awaited new generation of the 4Runner arrives. It brings with it a standard i-Force 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine generating 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, and an optional i-Force Max hybrid powertrain that creates up to 326 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque while offering improved fuel efficiency. While it keeps beloved features such as the standard power rear window, new premium features are added such as an available 14-inch infotainment system and new Platinum and Trailhunter grades, the latter offering a factory-built overlanding driving experience. The Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies is standard across the board along with blind spot monitoring. Two 4WD setups are available on the new 4Runner, both matched to an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along and an automatic limited-slip differential. Part-time 4WD is standard, and an electronic locking rear differential is standard on the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades. A full-time 4WD system with a centre locking differential is available on Limited i-Force Max models and standard on Platinum. The 2025 Toyota 4Runner has a Canadian new car starting price of $57,265.
Honourable Mentions
Most luxury SUVs come with standard AWD in Canada, and each system has a strong reputation for performance in poor conditions. Audi’s quattro AWD system has the strongest reputation, but the xDrive system from BMW and the 4Matic AWD from Mercedes-Benz are each stout performers in our test drives as well.
The Land Rover Defender or Range Rover are two more legendary 4WD vehicles, but bear in mind the brand doesn't come with the best reputation for reliability. Volvo’s Scandinavian credentials often put it on the shopping list for buyers in colder climates.
The Lexus GX is a particularly robust choice among luxury SUVs. We mentioned Honda’s i-VTM4 system, but Acura’s Super Handling All-wheel Drive (SH-AWD) operates very similarly with minor tuning differences to prioritize performance driving. And while their AWD systems may not be as capable as some of the ones we’ve highlighted above, there are plenty of vehicles offering AWD that more than does the job in Canada’s typical urban winter conditions such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, and numerous options from Kia, Mazda, and Nissan.
