https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:58:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903890 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 00:10:28 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2903890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, all. I really want a Subaru, so maybe I will tough it out this winter and plan to get one once I start working full time again. I should've been more clear, I know nothing will go through 18", but the guy who plows driveways on our road said he's never been able to really get our hill passable for anything other than 4wd when it really snows. I did make it out to the doctor today because my van was parked down by the road, and I was able to dig it out enough to get onto the semi plowed road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903889 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 22:22:44 +0000 MsMini 2903889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a Mazda CX-5 and 3 kids! I get 3 in a row nicely, and it totally manages the snow and slippery roads. The price for the features I got was incredible too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903884 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 20:01:59 +0000 Silva 2903884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we live in vermont. we live in a rural town, but directly off the main road. We put quality snow tires on our cars (regular Sienna and corolla) every fall and in everything except for bad ice storms we can make it around fine.<br /> that said, nothing short of a truck/giant SUV is going to drive in 18" of snow. we live on a main road, so the plows go by fairly regularly, and for 18" we'd have to snow blow the driveway.<br /> AWD is a big hit on your gas mileage for the handful of days out of the year you will need it.</p> <p>We are moving to the end of a dead end private road, with a pretty steep hill, and will be going for AWD at that time because we are likely to want it almost all of the wintertime (which is long where we live!). We've decided to get a Honda Pilot for our "family car" (we want the hire clearance for mud season!) and will either go with a Subaru or the new Prius which has AWD you can use only when needed. We will still do snow tires. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903881 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 18:58:23 +0000 karenbme 2903881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto on snow tires. I’ve always lived places that get a lot of snow, and even my 10 year old Saturn that I drove in high school did alright with a set of studded snows. I’ve had an AWD Mazda CX-5 for 5 years now and it’s been great (with snow tires). Never had an issue or felt like I couldn’t go out because of snow. Not sure it would fit three across, but it’s pretty wide. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903880 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 18:06:32 +0000 Ms. RV 2903880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I fit a bucket seat, a harnessed booster, and a RF convertible in my Outback. They are all belt installs but they are also all Gracos and not something supper skinny like a Diono. It handles great in the snow. We live by tons of farm fields so the wind is always blowing snow back onto the roads (never clear until it melts) and I feel totally confident driving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903874 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:35:05 +0000 josina 2903874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another -cheaper - option would be to just get snow tires. A friend of mine drives a small SUV (not AWD) and lives on a gravel country road and swears by them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903872 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:31:36 +0000 SweetCaroline 2903872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure what is normal for you for snow fall but a Subaru isn't going to get you anywhere in massive amounts of snow due to clearance from the ground. DH and I drive a mid size pickup truck and a Yukon and can get out most days. DH has also gotten stuck in the middle of the road before because the snow is simply above the hood of the truck. So frustrating! Hope this is an anomaly for you and that you find a vehicle that is a good fit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903871 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:26:16 +0000 brownepiano 2903871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think Subaru Forester has higher ground clearance than the outback or legacy, but we could not get 3 across in our 2004 Subaru. Not sure about the newer Foresters/narrowest car seats as our car seats are pretty wide. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903870 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:26:11 +0000 kiddosc 2903870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, at this point I'd wait the year to trade in and do a car payment. There isn't much that's going to drive well in 18 inches, whether it has AWD or not. I wouldn't rush into something you can't really afford because of weather events that aren't going to be typical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903868 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:23:36 +0000 charm55 2903868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love both our Subaru Ascent and Subaru Legacy. They are amazing in the snow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903863 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 13:37:27 +0000 gotkimchi 2903863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve had similar problems but I just want to mention I’m not sure awd will fix your problem? I’m not even sure a truck could get through 18 inches. It’s a ground clearance issue too. But we just traded in our Kia niro for a f150 because we’ve had similar issues </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903860 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:39:59 +0000 graceandjoy 2903860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Subaru is your best bet; the cheapest AWD around and very good safety ratings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903859 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:37:06 +0000 josina 2903859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a Chevy Traverse AWD before we got our van, LOVED it. We had the captains seats in the middle and 3rd row, so the only difference is the sliding doors.<br /> Full disclosure - we had transmission issues so had to get rid of it, I believe ours was a 2014. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/awd-options#post-2903857 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 12:27:41 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2903857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok. We got 18+ inches of snow and my 18 month old has either strep or an ear infection, and I can't get out my road, much less my driveway. I'm ready to trade in the van I bought a year ago for something with AWD. We only have 2, but sometimes need to fit 3 car seats, so it would be nice if that were an option. Budget is important, needs to be something I can get used and relatively affordable. I was not planning on trading in yet and can't add a car payment while I'm still in grad school (another year). </p>