Best Ski Cars?

[AJM]

Not sure about the new Tiguans but mine was a bit of a money suck. I bought it in 2018 and it was a 2015 with low, low miles (22k) but had a lot of mechanical issues in the 5 years that I owned it. Like too many for a car with that few miles on it. I sold it to Carmax in early 2024 and waited a month and bought a 2021 BMW x-1 (small SUV 20k miles) that I really like. Yes, another German car (I seem to gravitate towards them and always have). The x-1 has gone to Tahoe several times, but not in heavy snow. I did need brakes at 23k miles which kind of surprised me. I bought the car as a lease return and really like the way it drives and it fits me! I was constantly fiddling with the seat in the Tiguan. The x-1 is way more comfortable and fun to drive.
My sister has a Honda CRV that she really likes a lot. BF just bought a new Subaru Forester that we took to the snow recently.

This is what I was afraid of with the Tiguan even though it seems to fit the bill, I'll check out the BMW xx

 

[jthree]

I had a Tiggy too but traded it in after 6 years because it started wanting $1500 in repairs every six months.

The CRV is a super capable car and seems perfect for your use case. @jthree has one and I think she really likes it.

Ha, I was going to tag @ilovepugs for her Tiguan experience!

I do love my CRV. Very reliable and so far has handled well in snow—though I don’t need chains where I live, in Vermont. It’s a super popular car in Vermont actually- sometimes it’s hard to pick out my road-salt crusted CRV from all the other ones in the parking lot!!

It doesn’t feel big to me, but we did fit 3 adults and 3 pairs of skis for Diva East.

 

[AJM]

Ha, I was going to tag @ilovepugs for her Tiguan experience!

I do love my CRV. Very reliable and so far has handled well in snow—though I don’t need chains where I live, in Vermont. It’s a super popular car in Vermont actually- sometimes it’s hard to pick out my road-salt crusted CRV from all the other ones in the parking lot!!

It doesn’t feel big to me, but we did fit 3 adults and 3 pairs of skis for Diva East.

I'm certainly looking at the CRV for sure, in fact its taken top spot on my list I'm so used to the RAV and its reliabilty that I'm getting the speed wobbles !! As soon as you add Toyota into the search engine over here the price goes up significantly and the CRVs seem to be just that little bit cheaper whilst still holding the reliability factor .... watch this space xx

 

[Aerlind]

I'm certainly looking at the CRV for sure, in fact its taken top spot on my list I'm so used to the RAV and its reliabilty that I'm getting the speed wobbles !! As soon as you add Toyota into the search engine over here the price goes up significantly and the CRVs seem to be just that little bit cheaper whilst still holding the reliability factor .... watch this space xx

Super late to the party, but I want to throw out a slightly more unusual recommendation. I have a 2025 Mazda CX-5, put Blizzak snow tires on it, and live in rural Montana where plowed roads are often a suggestion rather than something that actually happens. We don't salt, we only sand...if a plow has bothered to make it out here....

This car can and has taken me sooooo many places. 9" of snow? No problem. Icy hill on the highway? I was doing 55mph and didn't realize it was a sheet of ice until I saw the semi stuck near the top.

I've owned Mazdas for 16 years, 3 cars in that time. The first was totaled in an accident (not my fault and the nimble handling actually saved me from injury!), and the second I traded last year for the CX-5: mechanically it was perfect but it was 10 years old and a front-wheel-drive sedan, not *quite* sufficient for winter in Montana. The CX-5 is AWD, even at lower speeds (unlike some other AWD cars), and every bit as nice inside as some fancier models: I even called my mom the day I drove it home and said "My new Mazda is as nice inside as your Lexus", which she agreed with when she rode in it on a road trip several months later. In fairness it's not the base model, but one of the nicer trims.

I've owned Mazdas for 16 years BECAUSE of their reliability. I've only had one issue beyond basic maintenance (oil changes/brakes/tires/etc) in that time, and it was a leaky clutch hydraulic (not something you'd have to worry about in the CX-5 as they only come in automatic transmissions, unfortunately). -30F? No problem, they fire right up. Let them sit for a month because you were travelling? It's like no time passed at all.

The CRV is a solid choice too, my aunt drove one in Montana for 15+ years (well, two different ones, the first met its end when she hit a deer). I drove it often too, and found it bland. Reliable, but not "fun". My Mazda is fun, and that's important to me. We drive A LOT in Montana, and it's nice to enjoy it.

I have friends who are Subaru loyalists as well. They've never been my style and for a lot of years the joke was "It's great until you blow a head gasket..." I did look at them when I bought my CX-5, but didn't love the interior as much and they lacked the "fun" I've come to love, even in the turbo edition.

 

[GladeDuchess]

I'm certainly looking at the CRV for sure, in fact its taken top spot on my list I'm so used to the RAV and its reliabilty that I'm getting the speed wobbles !! As soon as you add Toyota into the search engine over here the price goes up significantly and the CRVs seem to be just that little bit cheaper whilst still holding the reliability factor .... watch this space xx

I have adored Hondas for their reliability, currently having both a CRV and a Passport, and had an Accord for 22 years! The Accord air con died after 21 years and the CD player went kaput after 12, but aside from a starter, alternator, and wear and tear brakes and such, it required very little, and it actually still ran wonderful, but would not pass inspection due to it rusting underneath.

The CRV has been great though (2009), is my daily driver now, and handles our beat up Maine and Northern New England roads fine. I've had it on many back dirt roads too on camping excursions, and while it is not a truck, and won't take that kind of abuse, the CRV does fine if you don't abuse it. With a back seat folded down it will fit several pairs of skis in the back with other kit, and I think the newer CRVs are a bit longer than mine.

I know a lot up my way who are partial to the RAV too, and claim it to be more trail/back road worthy than the CRV, but I think it may just depend what you want to spend. Toyotas seem to be a bit more here too vs. Honda, but they both seem to last a long time.

 

[Iwannaski]

I have been driving a Honda for about 24 years nonstop ... 2 door, 4 door, minivan, Pilot. I will likely never drive anything else. I would probably therefore choose the CRV. ;)

 

[HuntersEmma57]

I’ve been wondering about the Crosstrek - glad I stuck with the Outback.

Must defend my beloved Crosstrek Wilderness edition. It's got 9" of clearance with great uphill and downhill assist, more horsepower, too. Comes with Yokohama A/T Geolanders that are solid performers, but I will replace them with Goodyear K03 when the time comes. Our drive up to Powder Mountains is 5 - 8 miles of a lot of 16% grade and a few 90 degree bends that are 18%. It's a DOOZY. Coming down is the worst. One tip most people don't know is when your vehicle starts sliding out, do not hit the brakes, gently press the accelerator. This will let your tires pull you back in control. The Wilderness edition is a hoot on steep gravel forest service roads, too.

 

[Abbi]

I can speak to both of the Honda and Subaru sides of this question. I had a 2005 Honda CRV that I bought in 2012 and drove until last year. Yes I put some money in here and there but overall it was a very dependable car. And the things I put in were like a clutch at 150,000 miles! It was the combination of the car being 20 years old plus starting to show rust in the wheel wells and the bottom of the doors (it spent the first seven years of its life living in a beach/saltwater area) that had me considering a new car. That and concerns about price increases and tariffs at the start of 2025. I bought a 2024 Subaru Forrester sport model. I put on mudflaps , a roof rack rear, full down seat and trunk covers to make it less susceptible to winter issues. I have been really happy with it. And love the heated seats and more importantly the Blindspot detector that came on this model. It was not available on the base model which had been my first thought. If the Honda had the options included debt the Subaru did I probably would have stayed with the Honda brand. But more things were included in the Subaru without additional cost. And I would’ve considered a Toyota RAV4 as well.

 

[Tvan]

My love for Subaru is well documented in multiple threads especially since DH walked away from a serious collision in his Subaru Legacy a decade ago. I currently drive a 2023 Subaru Outback (our 5th Subaru) and with her snow tires, she’s a dependable mountain goat on our snowy Vermont roads. Like @Abbi , mine has all the bells and whistles which I appreciate more and more as I get older.

 

[Aerlind]

I can speak to both of the Honda and Subaru sides of this question. I had a 2005 Honda CRV that I bought in 2012 and drove until last year. Yes I put some money in here and there but overall it was a very dependable car. And the things I put in were like a clutch at 150,000 miles! It was the combination of the car being 20 years old plus starting to show rust in the wheel wells and the bottom of the doors (it spent the first seven years of its life living in a beach/saltwater area) that had me considering a new car. That and concerns about price increases and tariffs at the start of 2025. I bought a 2024 Subaru Forrester sport model. I put on mudflaps , a roof rack rear, full down seat and trunk covers to make it less susceptible to winter issues. I have been really happy with it. And love the heated seats and more importantly the Blindspot detector that came on this model. It was not available on the base model which had been my first thought. If the Honda had the options included debt the Subaru did I probably would have stayed with the Honda brand. But more things were included in the Subaru without additional cost. And I would’ve considered a Toyota RAV4 as well.

I’m surprised the blind spot detector was on the upgrade…I thought that was mandatory standard equipment nowadays. Even my 2015 Mazda had it and that one was only one trim level above base model.

I was driving my truck last night and realized how spoiled I’ve gotten with the heated steering wheel in my Mazda….my hands were cold and I didn’t have a magic button to fix that! Ha.

 

[AJM]

So it seems I may have pivoted and now the number one spot is ... wait for it .... Subaru !
Either the XV or the Forester, I can't decide. Anyhow I'm hoping to take them both out for a test drive next week.
Then its a matter of colour ... there's a heck of a of of orange out there and as fabulous as it is its just not me so as of this morning the beige or white ones are top of the heap .. at this stage anyway

 

[Briski]

We replaced a Highlander with a RAV4 Hybrid last fall. You can’t argue with the value of a car that lasts the way yours did. We are totally Toyota people (currently own a Tacoma as well). I ended up being glad we bought last fall because even more controls are in the glass panel in 2026 models. I like buttons and knobs! The tactile nature of buttons and knobs is so much better on rough/bumpy roads where you don’t want to look away from the road. This would be a major consideration in buying a car for me.

 

[santacruz skier]

So it seems I may have pivoted and now the number one spot is ... wait for it .... Subaru !
Either the XV or the Forester, I can't decide. Anyhow I'm hoping to take them both out for a test drive next week.
Then its a matter of colour ... there's a heck of a of of orange out there and as fabulous as it is its just not me so as of this morning the beige or white ones are top of the heap .. at this stage anyway

BF has a 2025 Forester.......

 

[BlizzardBabe]

Must defend my beloved Crosstrek Wilderness edition. It's got 9" of clearance with great uphill and downhill assist, more horsepower, too. Comes with Yokohama A/T Geolanders that are solid performers, but I will replace them with Goodyear K03 when the time comes. Our drive up to Powder Mountains is 5 - 8 miles of a lot of 16% grade and a few 90 degree bends that are 18%. It's a DOOZY. Coming down is the worst. One tip most people don't know is when your vehicle starts sliding out, do not hit the brakes, gently press the accelerator. This will let your tires pull you back in control. The Wilderness edition is a hoot on steep gravel forest service roads, too.

My next car! I'll be trading in my Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon for a Crosstrek Wilderness this spring (hopefully). I need a car w/better mileage and one that my 95 year old mom can get into without a ladder.

 

[ChilliHeeler]

Just came to add that my bro lives in Omaha and his teens both drive CRVs. He thinks they do great in those bad icy conditions they get there. Also, he said they were the least expensive of capable snow vehicles. Dunno if that's helpful. I haven't shopped for a car in quite some time. (I am not a SUV person. I drive a manual Audi sedan and as long as I keep quality tires on it, it is a GREAT ski car in mountains and as a daily driver.)

 

[Aerlind]

Just came to add that my bro lives in Omaha and his teens both drive CRVs. He thinks they do great in those bad icy conditions they get there. Also, he said they were the least expensive of capable snow vehicles. Dunno if that's helpful. I haven't shopped for a car in quite some time. (I am not a SUV person. I drive a manual Audi sedan and as long as I keep quality tires on it, it is a GREAT ski car in mountains and as a daily driver.)

I do miss my stick shift. They just aren't that available anymore....my current SUV is an automatic and while it's the best, smoothest automatic I've driven, I still miss my sticks. Lucky for me I have two more, they're just not in vehicles that are good for skiing.....sports cars tend to do poorly in snow and my diesel truck is too fuel inefficient AND really terrible on ice. But if we have 2' of snow, and Montana hasn't plowed the roads, everyone else let me make the tracks on the road because I had the ground clearance to do so....(yes, this happened once!)

 

[AJM]

So I'm now the new owner of a Subaru Forester .... not what was on my shortlist at all
Its much bigger than my old Rav4 but I did manage to negotiate it around the supermarket carpark yesterday so thats a win !
I only picked it up yesterday so I'm flat out You Tubing learning how to drive the thing !!
Thanks heaps team for all your suggestions xx

 

[VickiK]

Congrats, @AJM ! What color? @santacruz skier how does the BF likes his Forester?

I have a 2024 Outback XT, which is 4 cyl turbo.. It's nice--I do like the power on accelerating--but a gas guzzler compared to my 2011 Outback. Am considering trading it for a Forester hybrid or a Hyundai Tucson Limited Hybrid.

 

[santacruz skier]

Jimmy really likes his Forester a lot and appreciates that it's a bit higher than the Outback's he has owned in the past. Plus, he has a very large moonroof that he likes !

 

[AJM]

Congrats, @AJM ! What color? @santacruz skier how does the BF likes his Forester?

I have a 2024 Outback XT, which is 4 cyl turbo.. It's nice--I do like the power on accelerating--but a gas guzzler compared to my 2011 Outback. Am considering trading it for a Forester hybrid or a Hyundai Tucson Limited Hybrid.

Its classic Kiwi black Not my first choice but beggars cant be choosers .... its already filthy !!