In this article…
From Scandavian mini-crosses to German luxury sedans, we look at the very best cars for the cold, arduous winter months.
What makes a car good for wintery or snowy weather? To start, your car must boast an effective drivetrain — this is essentially the group of components from the transmission to the tires. Then, they should feature modern safety and driver-assist technologies. When picking your winter-friendly vehicle, you should consider the areas you will be driving around. Are you going to be driving in the city, handling winter spray from the barrage of other vehicles? Or will you be roaming snowy country roads, battling the icy surfaces?
Bearing in mind that it is the British weather we’re talking about here, your car must be able to handle changing weather conditions in a flash. A car that has great handling, like the BMW 3 Series, great traction control such as the Volvo XC40 or an advanced all-wheel-drive system like you find in the new Mazda 3, are all important factors of a winter car.
But, with British winters ranging from damp and mild, to icy and covered in snow, you need a car that will get you through the winter months. So what are the best cars for winter driving in the UK? And what sort of lease deals can you find? Let’s take a closer look.
1. Volvo XC40
The award-winning Volvo XC40 may be the brand’s smallest SUV but it is far from impractical. If you drive off in a Volvo XC40 lease, you will benefit from a plethora of family-friendly safety features. A three-point seatbelt, an emergency call button and tracking service, as well as clever storage ideas in the cabin and ample boot space to name just a few benefits.
The XC40 has everything needed in a family car that can tackle the British weather. By combining smooth comfort with practicality, Volvo offers a vehicle packed with safety technology and is deemed one of the safest cars in its class. To top it off, the electric version of the XC40 offers ‘preconditioning’ which is a functionality that allows drivers to warm up the car beforehand (perfect for a comfortable drive in the cold weather)
A Volvo XC40 lease deal will grant you instant peace of mind when it comes to the financing of your new car because you will benefit from fixed monthly payments on a contract lasting as long as you want it to, within limits. Typically the contract will last 24, 36 or 48 months, at the end of which you just hand the car back – no worries about depreciation, no hassles with selling. A Volvo XC40 lease deal will allow you to drive away in a brand new car, armed with a full manufacturer’s warranty – and possibly very soon.
Compare Volvo XC40 Lease Deals
2. Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq is a large, stylish and practical SUV that sits surprisingly low at the bottom of the SUV price bracket. Combined with a fresh set of winter tires, the Skoda Kodiaq is a practical family car for this winter. Due to its high ground clearance, the Skoda Kodiaq SUV offers a dedicated snow-driving mode, which helps to manage power when it’s slippery.
Available with an impressive seven seats and a truly impressive amount of boot space and a wide variety of Kodiaq lease deals, this family SUV is more versatile and affordable than class competitors such as Hyundai, Kia and Land Rover. There is a wide range of Skoda Kodiaqs to choose from and a brand new Skoda Kodiaq lease is a great way to travel safely this winter.
Compare Skoda Kodiaq Lease Deals
3. BMW 3 Series
While in the summer months, the BMW 3 Series is fun to drive, the premium saloon has a lot to offer in the winter months too. The model has evolved over several generations and is a practical saloon with a wide selection of engines and impressive safety technology. Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rain-sensing wipers come standard with every 3 Series model and drivers get a quiet, more comfortable drive than ever, no matter the weather.
As well as a range of eco-focused engines and first-rate infotainment and safety equipment, the BMW 3 Series makes for a great family car all year round. The BMW delivers great traction, modern tech and a powerful diesel engine making for easy driving, parking and pulling away in winter and has a vast range of great BMW 3 Series lease deals to suit almost every budget.
Compare BMW 3 Series Lease Deals
4. Mazda 3
The Mazda 3 is an all-round great little car that will give you a trusty motor from the lazy summer drives through to the harshest of British winters. Every Mazda3 model comes with driver-assist features such as blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams as standard. In terms of snow and winter features, a new Mazda has pretty much everything you could ask for, except heated seats.
If you opt for the new AWD (All-Wheel Drive) model, you will find it significantly easier to drive in snowy weather as it gives you more traction and, combined with other advanced i-Activsense suite features, makes for a very reliable car. Compared to similar sedan and hatchback models, the Mazda boasts an impressive ground clearance and the top-of-the-line turbo engine also has more torque than it seems to know what to do with which can help you power out of deeper snow and slippery inclines.
As a reliable yet impressively powerful motor, the Mazda is growing in popularity within the UK and offers for Mazda 3 lease deals are more competitive than most. To drive off in a winter-friendly motor today, a Mazda 3 lease deal is a great place to start.
Compare Mazda 3 Saloon Lease Deals
