Joy Rides

Winter is underway, and with it, those fluffy, fender-bender-causing flurries of calamity. While there’s no substitute for a level head and snow tires, this list of winter-ready autos can make life behind the wheel a little less frigid. So bring it on, Mother Nature — let it snow.

Infiniti JX

Just because it’s like the Arctic tundra outside doesn’t mean luxury curls up to hibernate. The seven-seat Infiniti JX keeps the comforts roaring all winter with, among other things, three-zone climate control, leather seating and steering wheel, heated seats and a seven-inch information display. Intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) adjusts power and handling to combat erratic weather while Infiniti’s Safety Shield, Blind Spot Intervention and Backup Collision Intervention keep an eye on traffic. Traction control and anti-lock brakes also come standard, and with this midsize luxury crossover’s remote starter, you’ll never have to sit shivering in the driveway. Starting from $44,900.
www.infiniti.ca

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Be it a remote cabin or an annual ice-fishing trip, if you’re headed off the grid this winter there’s no more familiar off-roading face than the Jeep Wrangler. With 260 lb-ft of torque pumping from the 3.6-L Pentastar V-6 engine, Jeep’s Command-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive feature, best-in-class ground clearance, roll mitigation and anti-lock brakes, the Wrangler confidently handles whatever frosty tantrum Mother Nature may throw. Starting from $21,195.
www.jeep.ca

Volvo XC60

They get a bit of snow up in Scandinavia. So when the Swedes were producing the Volvo XC60, you know they put this compact crossover through the wringer. The T6 AWD version is ready to brave frosty conditions with its brawny 325 lb-ft of torque and options like heated seats, heated windshield washer nozzles, anti-lock brakes and traction control. Safety features — like City Safety, which monitors forward traffic and automatically brakes to avoid collisions, and pedestrian detection with full automatic braking — are also ideal for unpredictable roads. Starting from $46,900.
www.volvocars.com

Subaru Impreza

The daddy of all-season capability, the Subaru Impreza is an attention-grabber for car drivers wary of slick asphalt. Its low centre of gravity, rigid chassis and highly regarded symmetrical (AWD) system keep this winter warrior balanced and planted. Factor in anti-lock brakes, more airbags than a hot air balloon festival and its Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and you can breathe easy when faced with a wall of white. Starting from $19,995.
www.subaru.ca

Audi A4

If you like to keep it classy even on the chilliest of days, the Audi A4 quattro will be a warm welcome. Audi’s quattro AWD system is heralded as one of the finest in the world, and when winter’s at its worst, you’ll be glad to have its grip. Coupled with heated seats as a standard and the 258 lb-ft of torque from the A4’s 2-Litre engine, you’ll arrive in road-salt-stained style, warm bottom and all. Starting from $39,700.
www.audi.ca