Now…in the UK we don’t have an abundance of snow, but it has certainly been rather icy and foggy over the recent weeks and it appears winter has most definitely struck! Most drivers may presume that big 4×4 vehicles are the most practical option for driving on ice and snow – or in generally bad weather; however this may not actually be the case!

Small Diesel cars, with front wheel drive and decent tires i.e. plenty of tread are actually surprisingly competent in bad weather. In snow ridden places such as the Alps, it is common to see smallish cars with snow tyres, using low revs to counteract the snowy ground.  But of course, there is no doubt that 4×4’s will probably take you just about anywhere and some will swear by them, but for the lower budget here are a few small cars which can get you through the winter months.

The Skoda Yeti is a worthy choice. As a crossover vehicle it has the strength of a 4×4 but it’s not quite the size. There is a good choice of engine specs too, but the best for bad weather would probably be the largest Diesel.

Skoda Yeti

The Grande Fiat Punto 1.4 is great on snow. It has the capabilities of a much larger car, and the thin tyres and the good tread will get you through a multitude of weather conditions. Just make sure to use low revs on snow or ice.

Grande Fiat Punto

The Peugeot 207 Diesel is another small car that will offer an impressive performance. Even in 6-8 inches of snow, the Peugeot is a practical vehicle, and it is rather economical too!

Peugeot 207 Diesel

The Daihatsu Terios has permanent four wheel drive, and it is a compact little roadster with a 1.5 litre engine. It has a great 5 star safety rating for adult passengers, so it would be a good pick for poor road conditions.

Daihatsu Terios

The Suzuki Sx4 has four wheel drive like the Daihatsu. There is an extensive choice of engines, with two petrol’s and four diesels. The handling in normal conditions may not be great, so it would probably be recommended to keep this one for snow covered ground only.

Suzuki Sx4

What will you be driving this winter?