# Car to seat 7 good in snow and bad weather **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 30, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690 "2010-07-30T14:39:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carquestions7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@carquestions7](https://community.cartalk.com/u/carquestions7)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/1 "2010-07-30T14:39:17Z")
I need a car that is terrific in snow and safe for driving a family 7 all year round and in long snowy winters. We are on the road often for kid related sports activities. I need a car that can handle snow and ice etc. Please advise! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/2 "2010-07-30T14:47:17Z")
In your situation I’d look at the awd Toyota Sienna and I’d add a set of winter tires on rims. If a minivan’s out, then the larger 3-row CUVs with awd: the Honda Pilot, the Ford Flex and the GM Acadia/Chevy Traverse/Buick Enclave. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/3 "2010-07-30T15:19:18Z")
The OP has essentially described the Subaru Tribeca. It is a luxury 7-seat AWD vehicle with good reliability. Subaru has the best AWD system in the business. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/4 "2010-07-30T15:42:38Z")
Sounds like the OP needs to get all 7 together and go to a few dealers this weekend! Of course, it’d be preferable to go to a car show - any coming up in the area, OP? We have one in a couple of months at the Texas state fair, see several brands in one place. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/5 "2010-07-30T16:39:43Z")
A minivan equipped with winter wheels(rims/tires) is best suited to the purpose. If you want AWD in a minivan it limits you to the Toyota Sienna however it is excellent in FWD or AWD forms. There are numerous choices in SUV’s/Cross overs/Minivans, happy hunting. However the key factor for snow/winter & safe is winter tires. You price them on [tirerack.com](http://tirerack.com). ---
**Author:** ![steveng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@steveng](https://community.cartalk.com/u/steveng)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/6 "2010-07-30T17:58:44Z")
I have an 09 Honda Pilot EXL and it has been perfect. Its great in the snow and it can carry a lot of people and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/7 "2010-07-30T18:41:40Z")
Just my personal opinion, but if I was told we were loading a mini-van with 7 people and snow or other bad weather was expected I would probably stay home if at all possible, or drive myself otherwise. My personal opinion is that poor weather conditions are enough of a saftey hazard, but then loading to capacity is adding too potential degraded control issues. I do realise that the manufacture designs and also states you can load this high but at times I look at just what the manufactures motivation is. ---
**Author:** ![americar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/americar/32/42_2.png) [@americar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/americar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/8 "2010-07-31T02:07:29Z")
If you have to go big you might as well go all the way. A slightly used Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition/Excursion. Either of these trucks with seven passengers is more environmentally fuel efficient per passenger then a Prius with only one person inside. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/9 "2010-07-31T02:20:30Z")
While my 4wd Suburban was good in the snow, and had a huge amount of storage room, the 3rd row wasn’t near as comfortable or as accessible as those in a minivan or a Traverse/etc. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-to-seat-7-good-in-snow-and-bad-weather/52690/10 "2010-07-31T03:20:37Z")
The comparison of a Prius vs large SUV is invalid since she will have lots of passengers. You will get at least a 7MPG penalty owning one of these vehicles. And if they do not have a full time 4wd mode they are pretty cruddy in winter weather.