Let’s start with the question.
Let’s make it two questions.
Question A What do I need to get down the road in the snow and ice?
Question B What do I need to stay on the road and not slide into the ditch.
First question, 4WD or AWD will make a big difference in getting down the road.
Second question, 4WD or AWD will not help you stay on the road or prevent you from sliding into the car in front of you. For that you need FOUR (4) winter tyres and some common sense. The common sense is there to tell you that there are times it is better to stay home.
Note 4WD and AWD are good for helping you get out of the ditch if you fail to use common sense, assuming you are not injured or the car is not damaged too much.