Which Subaru's Are Good in the Snow?
Subaru is actually a brand that is known for their great off-road and inclement weather capabilities, due to their symmetrical All-Wheel Drive on every vehicle in their lineup, aside from the BRZ sports coupe. Recently Subaru was among the best brands for driving in snow, with the 2022 Outback ranked number one, and 2022 Forester number three in the SUV category. The 2022 Impreza and 2022 Legacy were the highest-ranked in the non-luxury category. All four of these vehicles have All-Wheel Drive, and AWD vehicles tend to handle snowy roads better than front and rear-wheel drive vehicles.
How does All-Wheel Drive help your Subaru Navigate in the Snow?
AWD vehicles distribute power to all four wheels at the same time, or automatically engage torque to all four wheels when necessary. This gives each wheel more traction to drive smoothly over ice or snow without spinning out. Given that each wheel may have a different amount of snow or ice underneath it, an All-Wheel Drive system ensures that each tire is getting the power or torque it needs to keep the vehicle moving. Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive has features that go beyond the typical AWD vehicle performance in winter weather.
What Advantage does Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Give your Subaru?
Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive gets its name from the low and balanced center of gravity around the Boxer engine. This engine has horizontally opposing cylinders laid out in a straight line, which helps all four tires find a better grip. The low center of gravity and even distribution of weight provides advantages on all terrain, but especially in winter weather. When a Subaru with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive hits a patch of ice or snow, the AWD system diverts power from tires on slicker sections, and directs it to the tires with a better grip on the road.
Subaru’s New Wilderness Models Are Made For Snow
The Wilderness options available on the 2022 Subaru Forester and Outback are tailored to take on tough off-road adventures and challenging terrain. On top of the symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with X-mode and Hill Descent Control, the Wilderness models have many extra features that make it possible to navigate ice or high snow safely. The Wilderness option comes standard with 17-inch matte black off-road wheels, and all-terrain Yokahama GEOLANDER tires, providing improved performance in rough conditions. Wilderness models also have increased ground clearance for navigating higher snow. The Outback Wilderness has a ground clearance of 9.5 inches, while the Forester Wilderness has 9.2 inches. The Standard Direct-Injection Turbocharged Subaru Boxer Engine with re-tuned gearing provides the power you need to keep moving through snow and ice, as well as gear-ratios for improved low-speed climbing, to keep you moving up to a 40% grade.
