Ask any Canadian, and we’ll tell you winter truly is a season we need to think about all year long. That’s part of why more than 85% of new car buyers in Canada today choose trucks and SUVs over cars. We live with snow and sleet and icy conditions for up to half of the year in some parts of this country. It’s understandable that we’d choose SUV for Canadian winters, which means we end up driving them all year long.
The truth is winter tires are just as important for driving on slippery roads as anything else, even on front-wheel drive vehicles. There are plenty of vehicles out there that will do the job in winter weather conditions on a good set of winter tires in urban and suburban environments. But if you’re shopping for a used car and it’s an SUV you want, whether for space or height or even fashion concerns, we’ve got you covered.
Take a look below to find our list of the best used SUVs for Canadian winters in 2025. Here, we’ve arranged the SUVs our list in order from smallest to largest. Each has either standard or available all-wheel drive system (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) and plenty of ground clearance for getting through tough road conditions. Rather than focus on dedicated off-road vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender, these vehicles offer plenty of capability in snowy driving conditions along with comfort and features you’ll enjoy all year long.
Most of these cars are new enough to include the latest technology features like heated seats, a heated steering wheel, advanced traction control systems, touchscreen infotainment systems, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Most also offer safety features such as blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control, though you’ll need to check each individual vehicle you’re considering to make sure the options you want are included. Before you start shopping for a used vehicle, check out our resource on how to buy a used car for tips that can help your search go smoothly.
Best Used SUVs for Canadian Winters
- Cadillac XT4
- Kia Sportage
- Buick Envision
- Mazda CX-5
- Ford Edge
- Subaru Outback
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Kia Sorento
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota 4Runner
- Chevrolet Tahoe
Cadillac XT4
Subcompact crossovers are hot at the moment, which means the hatchback-like Cadillac XT4 deserves some attention. This is an affordable urban crossover with a premium touch. The XT4 spent several years as one of the top-rated small premium SUVs for dependability by J.D. Power. Following its launch as a new nameplate in 2019, it scored Good ratings in all of the listed crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That generation is the same one still on the market today, so any vehicles you find on the used market won’t have significant differences between them. This includes the powertrain, which since launched has been powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The XT4 has met its demise and is now discontinued as a new vehicle, but used examples will be around on the used market for a while yet. Any used model in good condition with a moderate odometer reading will make for a sharp premium subcompact SUV that can handily manage winter conditions. Expect to spend $20,000 to $40,000, depending on age and mileage.
Kia Sportage
There are plenty of fifth-generation Kia Sportage compact SUVs on Canadian roads, which launched with attractive new styling and technology updates for the 2023 model year. If you don’t mind driving a smaller SUV and looking back a couple of years, though, a fourth-generation Kia Sportage from model years 2017 to 2022 could be a great bet. Kia ranked well as a brand in J.D. Power’s U.S. Vehicle Dependability Studies relating to those years. Plus, nearly all model years (except 2019) were named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with upgraded headlights. Expect to pay $15,000 to $22,000 on average for a used Sportage in this model year range and roughly $25,000 for the SX Turbo with its more powerful engine. If you have a higher budget for a newer vehicle, consider looking for a 2023 or newer hybrid or plug-in hybrid for better fuel efficiency.
Buick Envision
For many Canadians, the Buick brand flies below the radar. But there are several vehicles from this General Motors mid-premium brand that are great buys, especially on the used market. Take the Buick Envision, for example: J.D. Power names this mid-luxury SUV near or at the top among compact SUVs for dependability in every year from 2021 to 2024, which covers models from both the first and second generations. (Note the second-generation Envision, which began with the 2021 model year, has not been tested by the IIHS.) There are plenty of lightly used Envisions on the CarGurus.ca Canadian used car listings priced at less than $30,000. This could represent a savings of $15,000 to $20,000 or more for a used vehicle versus buying a new car.
Mazda CX-5
The fuss may be all about the new CX-50 these days, but don’t forget its slightly smaller sibling, the Mazda CX-5. This long-time mainstay of the Mazda line-up has long been appreciated by enthusiasts for its driving experience and affordable premium feel. While the CX-5 doesn’t place on the J.D. Power dependability rankings, Mazda as a brand scores better than average. Plus, every model year since the second generation began in 2017, with the exception of 2025, receives a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. These have held their value well, but $20,000 to $25,000 will get you a mid-trim CX-5 with low kilometres in many parts of Canada, potentially saving you $10,000 to $15,000 over buying brand new.
Ford Edge
Ford’s assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario, once built the Ford Edge and its luxury version, the Lincoln Nautilus. Oakville is currently being retooled to build EVs and Nautilus production has moved to China, but the Edge is not longer available new in North America. Don’t count it out because of this, though. J.D. Power has looked favourably on it in dependability studies, and the IIHS has named it a Top Safety Pick in every model year from 2019 to 2024. It’s not a stretch to find an Edge with reasonable mileage for less than $30,000 on today’s used car market.
Subaru Outback
We’re big fans of the Subaru Outback around these parts. The brand’s symmetrical all-wheel drive is legendary for its capability in northern climates, and its 22 centimetres of ground clearance and available X-Mode driving modes make it a natural pick for places that get deep snow and icy roads. Its body style is part wagon and part crossover, which gives it an upright stance while offering plenty of cargo space. While J.D. Power ranks the Subaru brand below-average in its dependability studies, it’s a point of pride for Subaru that its vehicles are consistently given the Top Safety Pick+ designation by the IIHS. On the Canadian used car market, there are some good deals to be had. Plenty of examples from the Outback’s fifth generation from model years 2015 to 2019 are available for less than $20,000, and early sixth-generation models can be found for $30,000 or less.
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe was a dedicated two-row midsize SUV era throughout its fourth generation from model years 2019 to 2023. (It has since picked up a third row again, but these newer models are still too new to consider buying on the used market.) The fourth-gen Santa Fe was a great-looking vehicle with plenty of standard features. It was recognized by J.D. Power in 2022 and 2023 (for model years 2019 and 2020) as one of the most reliable midsize SUVs on the market. Every model year in this era was named either a Top Safety Pick or a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. This provides a wealth of options to look for on the used market, all of which can be depended on to be a solid buy. You may even be able to score a Santa Fe Hybrid and benefit from that powertrain’s improved fuel economy. Expect prices in the $20,000 to $30,000 range for Santa Fe models of this age with reasonable mileage, while the hybrid will cost you in the neighbourhood of $5,000 more on average and will still do a great job in snowy conditions.
Kia Sorento
A new generation of Kia Sorento arrived for the 2021 model year, but used car buyers may score a deal if they look back over the few years that preceded it. The third generation ran from model years 2015 to 2020 and performs reliability according to its top rankings in the 2021 through 2023 J.D. Power dependability studies (for model years 2018 to 2020). Each of these model years except 2015 also earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick rating with the 2019 model year receiving the best Top Safety Pick+ ranking. Three engine options were offered over this period: a 2.4-litre four-cylinder consuming 10.4 L/100 km of fuel combined, a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder rated at 10.9 L/100 km, and a 3.3-litre V6 engine with a combined average of 11.6 L/100 km. On average, a 2018 to 2020 Kia Sorento can be bought used within the $20,000 to $25,000 range.
Toyota Highlander
As an automaker, Toyota has a rock-solid reputation for winter-ready reliability and capability in adverse conditions like Canadian winters. The three-row Toyota Highlander has steady residual values, high IIHS ratings, and an available hybrid version for the eco-conscious. Gas-powered models with AWD systems from the end of the third generation, which lasted until the 2019 model year, average 11.6 L/100 km combined from the 3.5-litre V6, while hybrids achieve a notably low 8.4 to 8.5 L/100 km. For used examples from the 2018 to 2019 model years, buyers can expect to pay between $28,000 and $28,000. For the 2020 model year that started the fourth generation, the accolades continue. Each model year has been either an IIHS Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+. On top of that, the Highlander remained on the J.D. Power 2023 and 2024 dependability studies, indicating the midsize SUV’s reliability has carried over into its fourth generation. You’ll find the odd bargain, but most of these currently carry an asking price of $40,000 or more. If you want to skip the minivan but still need three rows of seating from commutes to cold-weather driving, the Highlander is the best option on this list.
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota is finally giving us a new 4Runner in 2025. Meanwhile, the previous generation — which ran from 2010 all the way to 2024 — could be a great buy on the used car market. It’s a favourite in regions of Canada that frequently see snow-covered roads. This rugged go-anywhere SUV has a stellar reputation for reliability, versatility, and off-road capability from its pickup truck-based body-on-frame build. J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Studies ranked the 4Runner as the top mid-size SUV for reliability, though it’s worth pointing out the IIHS didn’t think especially highly of the fifth generation’s construction. Fuel consumption is also on the high side with NRCan rating the 4.0-litre V6 at 12.8 L/100 km. Pricing can vary from $40,000 or less for basic machines to $60,000 or more for specialized trims such as TRD units. A 4Runner is a peace of mind investment that will retain its value and functionality throught the winter months for a long time to come.
Chevrolet Tahoe
There’s always a place for large SUVs among that subset of families who need extra rear seats while also towing a hefty boat or trailer with plenty of cargo space. A new generation of Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon was released for the 2021 model year. The latter years of the previous generation scored well with the Tahoe ranking first in the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Reliability Study, a recognition that continued into the new generation with the 2024 study. The smaller 5.3-litre V8 averages 13.2 L/100 km combined according to NRCan, while the available larger 6.2-litre V8 averages 13.8 L/100 km combined. Finding four-wheel drive is common, and it makes the Tahoe a beast in winter driving, though there are some rear-wheel drive (RWD) units around that would be more fuel-efficient. For its size, this SUV has a surprisingly comfortable ride. Plenty of these come off lease and hit the used market. Pricing is really all over the map for these, so shop smart and use the CarGurus.ca deal tracker feature on each listing to assess whether you’re looking at a good price for the trim and odometer reading.
Honourable mentions
If you don’t mind paying a little more than average to end up with a luxury vehicle or a nameplate with high residual values, there are a few more models worth considering. On the compact SUV side, the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are both more expensive than average but hold their value well and have a strong reputation for reliability. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a long-time favourite of Canadians and has multiple 4WD systems to choose from depending on your needs. The BMW X3 consistently ranks well in J.D. Power’s dependability studies and is worth considering if you can afford its higher maintenance costs. And don’t forget the Canadian-built Lexus RX: this luxury mid-size SUV tied for best overall in J.D. Power’s 2023 dependability rankings relating to the 2020 model year, and Lexus as a brand consistently ranks in first place overall.
Note: Images may show US models.
