The Best SUVs for Snow With High Safety Scores From the IIHS
Having an SUV during the winter can be a big help with snow-covered roads. A few features on your sport utility vehicle can make life even easier, like all-wheel drive and adaptive headlights. These are the best SUVs for snow with high safety scores from the IIHS.
The Acura RDX is one of the best SUVs for snow with high safety scores
Kelley Blue Book says that to get a snow-ready 2022 Acura RDX, the SH-AWD trim is your best buy. This is Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and adds $2,200 to the price, making it $42,300. With Acura’s Super Handling, drivers get increased capability and traction. The RDX has 8.2-inches of ground clearance and plenty of safety features. LED headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and heated outboard mirrors make life easier. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 RDX the Top Safety Pick Plus award.
Acura offers a $2,650 Technology package which adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The Advance Package costs $5,650 and adds automatic wipers, a de-icer for those wipers, and LED foglights. Kelley Blue Book says that the 2022 Acura RDX SH-AWD can be hard to find due to supply issues. The 2021 version is quite similar and a solid alternative.
IIHS safety score: Top Safety Pick Plus
2022 Acura RDX SH-AWD: $42,300
Adding AWD to the Kia Telluride makes it one of the best SUVs for snow
Being one of the best SUVs for snow is just one of the many accolades given to the 2022 Kia Telluride AWD. Kelley Blue Book’s experts rated it a 4.8/5, which is a good sign. Adding all-wheel drive brings the LX trim up to $35,090. More than eight inches of ground clearance make the Telluride good for inclement weather. The IIHS gave the 2022 Telluride the Top Safety Pick award.
Kia equipped the Telluride with remote start and heated mirrors to get the SUV ready before you even get in. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert are also included. Upgrading to the EX trim will add LED headlights, heated seats, and automatic high beams for $40,090. The 2021 version will also serve you well since the 2022 Telluride can be hard to find.
IIHS safety score: Top Safety Pick
2022 Kia Telluride EX AWD: $40,090
Subaru’s Outback comes stacked with safety features standard
The 2022 Subaru Outback SUV comes with all-wheel drive standard, which is usually an expensive option from other automakers. Excellent outward visibility helps make driving in bad conditions a bit easier, as does the 8.7 inches of ground clearance. The IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award only makes sense.
Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist are standard on the Outback. X-Mode traction enhancement is great for slippery snow-covered roads and comes standard. Adaptive LED headlights and automatic high beams also help. The Premium trim will add heated seats, LED fog lights, and blind spot monitoring for $1,400.
IIHS safety score: Top Safety Pick Plus
2022 Subaru Outback Premium: $29,345
Aside from safety systems and high ground clearance, a good set of snow tires is always a good idea. Tires can help your SUV keep traction in inclement or snowy weather. Otherwise, these options are some of the best SUVs for snow.
