Turning lemons into lemonade. Sure it’s a cliché, but an appropriate one for many of us during the often cold, stark and relatively barren winter months. We have a choice – hunker down and hibernate in our caves for weeks on end, or embrace all the fun and adventure that can be had when the ground freezes and the snow flies. But this opportunity exists not only for residents housed between Washington and Maine, as the sunny southwest offers its own selection of impressive ski resorts sporting fresh powder.
The key to winter fun is being equipped with the right attitude and, more importantly, the right equipment. That’s where Vehix’s list of the “Top 10 Sedans and Wagons for Winter Recreation” comes in. We want to shine a light on the sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and wagons that offer skiers, snowboarders, sledders, and all-around cold-weather enthusiasts the capability to transport themselves, maybe a few friends, and a good bit of gear to those places along the poorly-plowed trail.
Fill up the tank and put on your polypro – it’s time to get out and play.
Selection Criteria
When compiling this list, we first rounded up all of the sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and wagons currently available on dealers’ lots, and then selected only the models available with all- or four-wheel-drive. Front-wheel-drive cars can be excellent winter rides, but when it comes to tackling several inches of freshly fallen snow, we’ll always opt for four driven wheels. Next, we referenced EPA figures for passenger and cargo volume, since weekend trips to a cabin or ski resort are always better with friends, and no one wants to be stuck with melting or wet gear on their lap during the drive home. With those points addressed, we then focused on available cold-weather and recreation accoutrements, such as heated seats and available rack systems.
If you’ve experienced Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system – on snow or dry pavement – you know that excellent handling is the name of the game. Those who have yet to pilot a quattro-equipped Audi, well, do yourselves a favor and take a test drive.
But to make this list the 2010 A6 Avant (view photos) needs to do more than laugh at poor road conditions; it also needs to deliver plenty of room for people and their belongings. To that end, Audi’s largest wagon offers 99 cubic feet of passenger volume and about 34 cubic feet of trunk space, and that’s before the rear seatbacks have been folded flat. Getting to your destination should be a cinch with the Audi A6 Avant’s 300-horsepower supercharged V-6, and an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway should keep you smiling, too. Inside, this wagon provides standard heated front seats, a stop/start button (no fumbling for the key when you’re wearing bulky gloves), and optional heat for the rear seats and steering wheel.
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