Subaru is your best bet if you are looking for a new SUV before the winter season starts. There are more Subaru SUV options suitable for winter weather than you might think, including the Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback. Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system provides optimal traction on slippery surfaces like snow and ice, ensuring stability and control. Subaru’s commitment to safety features, including advanced driver-assistance systems and sturdy build quality, instills confidence when navigating winter’s challenges.

What’s the best Subaru SUV for the winter season?

One of the best Subaru SUVs for winter is the 2023 Forester. The 2023 Subaru Forester starts at only $26,395, but this popular crossover SUV comes pretty well equipped from the factory. All-wheel drive comes standard on all trim levels, which makes the compact SUV better prepared for winter driving.

The Subaru Forester also has 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making life in the snow a little easier. Subaru includes many standard safety features on all its SUVs, and the Forester has a long list. Lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking are helpful in the snow. It also gets adaptive cruise control with lane centering and adaptive headlights with automatic high beams, a great advantage for snowy driving.

Those systems helped the 2023 Forester earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It earned high marks in most crashworthiness and crash avoidance tests. The Subaru SUV also earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. Together, those systems and features make the Forester a good option for winter driving.

Is the Subaru Outback good for winter?

The Outback is one of the best Subaru SUVs to traverse the snow. The 2024 Subaru Outback starts at $28,895 and comes with standard all-wheel drive, like always. This wagon is about as good as it gets for a capable family vehicle that is great for the winter season.

For the newest version of the Outback, the interior is comfortable and easy to clean. That means muddy shoes and soggy jackets won’t ruin your seats or floors after the first snow. Thanks to the 32.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row and 75.6 cubic feet behind both rows, you’ll also have a place for all your supplies.

This Subaru SUV has a long list of standard driver-assistance features, too. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning, to name a few. Those adaptive automatic high-beam headlights are also included. While the IIHS hasn’t completed testing yet, the NHTSA gave the 2024 Outback a five-star overall safety rating.

Is the Subaru Crosstrek the best SUV for snow?

The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is another great SUV for snow, inclement weather, and regular weekend adventures. This sport utility vehicle received a complete redesign for the new year and improved many parts of the 2023 SUV while starting at $24,995. Subaru’s subcompact model has a spacious cabin and room for five passengers. Even though the plastic exterior pieces are not universally loved, they make it more durable in the long run.

Subaru included the same helpful standard driver-assistance features as the other SUVs. Since the 2024 Crosstrek is so new, neither the IIHS nor NHTSA have crash-tested it. Both safety groups gave the 2023 model high marks for safety, and the 2024 Crosstrek will likely see similar scores.

As the year progresses, keep an eye out for more safety scores for these Subaru SUVs. The 2024 models only received more systems and features to make the winter season more bearable, which translates to safer vehicles all around.