6 Affordable AWD Vehicles to Get You Through the Winter

In many parts of the country, winter weather has very much arrived. And while we’re of the mind that the best snow driving tools are a decent set of winter tires and a conscientious attitude in the driver’s seat, all-wheel drive (AWD) is a hotly desired feature among carbuyers who have to contend with Canadian cold weather.

So, basically, all of us.

The ability for your car to send power to any or all four of its wheels can be very helpful, particularly when accelerating from a stop when traction is low. And thankfully, it’s no longer a luxury feature; many if not most compact crossovers these days come with it, and all of the vehicles on this list start at under $33,000.

Here are six affordable AWD vehicles to get you through the winter this year.

Subaru Crosstrek

No rundown of affordable all-wheel-drive vehicles is complete without at least one Subaru, and the Crosstrek is arguably the brand’s best bet if you’d like a winter warrior that won’t break the bank. Starting at $32,990 (includes destination fees) for a 2026 Convenience trim, the Crosstrek is essentially a lifted, more rugged Impreza.

Ground clearance stands at 8.7 inches (the Impreza’s is only 5.1). Roof rails are standard, as are LED headlights that move in sync with the steering wheel, and black plastic cladding pairs with brown, mid-winter slush that much better than glossy paint. Heated front seats are standard, by the way, while all Crosstreks but the base trim get a heated steering wheel. 

Like all Subarus except the BRZ sports car, symmetrical all-wheel drive is standard, as is a horizontally opposed “boxer” engine. This means the 180-horsepower 2.5-litre engine’s four cylinders move from side to side rather than up and down, which gives the whole car a lower centre of gravity and a more stable feel in adverse conditions. “X-Mode” drive modes as well as Hill Descent Control can be engaged, the former optimizing the powertrain for loose surfaces, while the latter essentially acts as cruise control down a steep incline.

Subaru’s infotainment system can feel basic compared to those of its competitors, and, as capable as the Crosstrek’s AWD mechanicals are, the cage and cabin surrounding it all can feel a bit flimsy. If you’re of the one-with-nature persuasion, though, those are probably features, not bugs — the brand’s rally-bred reputation and the Crosstrek’s core mechanicals are hard to argue with as a winter workhorse.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Coming standard with all-wheel-drive technology that spawned from Subaru’s old rally nemesis, the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross starts at just $31,623 for a 2026 ES. The compact crossover is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine making 152 horsepower, but the real mechanical draw is Mitsubishi’s “super all-wheel control” (S-AWC) AWD system.

This system draws its roots from the 2007 Lancer Evolution X sport sedan and features dedicated drive modes for snow and gravel, an electronically controlled centre differential, as well as active yaw control, a system that constantly monitors stability and applies brakes asymmetrically to make sure the car is going where it’s supposed to, even in extreme conditions.

Ground clearance stands at 8.5 inches, heated front seats are standard, and the heated steering wheel is added in the second-from-the-bottom SE trim, but as we found when we drove it in 2024, the most notable feature here may be Mitsubishi’s warranty. The powertrain is covered for 10 years or 160,000 km (whichever comes first) while the basic warranty lasts five years or 100,000 km.

We also found the transmission to be buzzy, the ride chattery, and it lacks true lane-keeping technology. The Eclipse Cross also happens to be the oldest crossover on this list, and this feels especially apparent in its interior design. Mitsubishi as a brand may not be the first, second, or even the third name most people think of when buying a car, but if affordable AWD is what you’re after, an Eclipse Cross with S-AWC — especially if you can get it for a discount — is still worth a look.

Toyota Corolla Cross

If legendary reliability and resale value are what you’re after, the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross L AWD can be had starting at $32,010. This small crossover got a mild refresh for 2026, including new front fascias, colours, wheels, and a 10.5-inch touchscreen on higher trims.

Toyota’s optional “dynamic torque control” AWD system can send up to 50 per cent of the power to the rear wheels when the conditions call for it. Most of the time, it's disengaged and effectively front-wheel drive for better fuel economy — Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has rated this car for 7.8 L/100 km combined. Speaking of fuel economy, the Corolla Cross also comes as a hybrid, where electric AWD is standard; the rear axle is powered by an electric motor independent from the gas engine. That one’s good for 5.6 L/100 km combined.

Again, heated front seats are standard, and you need to go at least one trim up from base (LE) to get the heated steering wheel. The 169-horsepower gas Corolla Cross features 8.1 inches of ground clearance, while the hybrid sits 0.1 inches lower and makes 196 total system hp.

Toyota’s small AWD crossover may not have the Portland hipster aura or motorsport pedigree of Subaru or even Mitsubishi. But it’ll use less fuel than both when the road is dry and, if this brand’s track record is any indication, last longer than most marriages.

Chevrolet Trailblazer

As an adolescent of the 2000s, I’ll never not feel like an extra in a Transformers movie when driving a Chevrolet, and the Trailblazer with AWD is the company’s most affordable way to capably scurry away in the background while the Decepticons wreak havoc, no matter the terrain.

This small crossover starts at $32,899 for the AWD LS and is powered by a 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder making 137 horsepower. Both heated seats and the heated steering wheel are locked to the $34,099 LT trim and above; the base LS gets neither. Spring for the more rugged-leaning Activ trim closer to $40K and you get a skid plate to protect the underbody, suspension tuning calibrated for off-road work, and “sport terrain” tires.

When we drove it last year, the Trailblazer proved to be a confident, smooth handler, but its tiny engine means it’s slow getting up to highway speeds. The Trailblazer is also one of those cars whose AWD system is activated with a button, so make sure you have it turned on before venturing out into any snowstorms.

Mazda CX-30

Starting at $30,855 for a base GX, the 2025 Mazda CX-30 is hands down the most luxurious-feeling vehicle on this list. Even five years into its life, it’s comparatively svelte on the outside and has a cabin that feels like it could’ve come from a budget luxury brand from not that long ago.

The “i-Activ” AWD system is standard in Canada, as is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder that puts out 191 horsepower, but a 250-hp turbocharged engine powers the top trims. Ground clearance stands at eight inches, and Mazda’s AWD system is said to keep an eye on weight distribution, redistributing power between the wheels accordingly to deliver quick, sporty reflexes.

Unsurprisingly for this brand, the CX-30’s “G-vectoring control” tech focuses more on on-road athleticism rather than off-road capability, but there is an off-road traction assist button that helps the CUV escape if it gets stuck in snow or mud by preventing excess wheelspin. Like most others in its segment, heated front seats are standard, but you’ll need to grab the one-from-the-bottom GS trim to heat the steering wheel too.

On vibes and reputation alone, the CX-30 may not be class-leading when it comes to trekking through heavy snowfall, but as a piece of design and a dry-road driving machine, it’s arguably the nicest vehicle here. Pick your priorities.

Toyota Corolla Hybrid

If low outright ownership cost is your chief criterion, though, the 2026 Toyota Corolla Hybrid can be had with electric AWD starting at $31,100. This is, to be clear, the vanilla, low-riding sedan Corolla — not the Cross, not the CH-R, not a RAV4 in disguise, just the regular-schregular Corolla.

Like the Corolla Cross, though, AWD is delivered by way of an independent electric motor powering the rear axle while a 1.8-litre gas engine and a second e-motor power the front. That rear motor kicks in seamlessly only when needed, and the whole system produces 138 total horsepower.

This being a regular small sedan, ground clearance stands at just 5.3 inches, so don’t go charging into any unplowed residential roads full speed. On the flip side, its lighter sedan nature and status as an electrified Toyota give it mighty fuel economy: 4.9 L/100 km combined, per NRCan. And as long as you go for AWD, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are both standard.

A Toyota Corolla may not be what comes to mind as a tough AWD winter vehicle, but the Hybrid can indeed power all four of its wheels at the same time, providing admirable traction in the snow when paired with the appropriate tires. Add resale value, running costs, and expected longevity that few cars can match, and you’re basically driving somebody’s winter beater before it becomes a beater.