The skiing is the easy part. The hard part is the two hours before it: a switchbacked road, a roof box rattling overhead, someone in the back asking how much longer. That’s where a car earns its keep. Here are five that handle it well, from the sensible to the slightly ridiculous.
Subaru Outback
Starting price: $34,995 MSRP
Ground clearance: 8.7 inches (9.5 inches for the Wilderness)
Fuel economy: 25 mpg city, 31 mpg highway
The Outback is the safe answer, and it’s safe for good reasons. It costs about what a family wagon does, yet all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard and it sits high enough to shrug off a plowed but sloppy road. The raised roof rails and 34.6 cubic feet of cargo space take ski bags and a roof box without a fight. The redesigned model also earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
One buying tip: the turbo versions are quicker but thirstier, and the base engine does the job on a ski trip.
Subaru Forester Wilderness
Starting price: $38,385 MSRP
Ground clearance: 9.3 inches
Fuel economy: 24 mpg city, 28 mpg highway
Think of it as the Outback’s smaller, scruffier sibling. The Wilderness gets a raised suspension, all-terrain tires and an X-MODE system with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud settings, which does a lot of the thinking when you hit a slick climb. It tows up to 3,500 pounds. The cargo area is tighter than the Outback’s, so pack with that in mind.
Toyota 4Runner
Starting price: $43,570 MSRP (SR5 4WD)
Ground clearance: up to 10.1 inches (TRD Pro, Trailhunter)
Fuel economy: 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway (SR5 4WD)
The 4Runner is the one to pick when the plow doesn’t always show up. Every version is body-on-frame, and Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select are available on select trims.
The 2026 lineup offers up to 6,000 pounds of towing capacity. The standard turbo four makes 278 horsepower, and a third row is available. The ride is truck-like and the fuel bills show it, but that’s the price of a vehicle that barely notices unplowed roads.
Volvo XC90
Starting price: $61,050 MSRP
Ground clearance: up to 8.8 inches
Fuel economy: 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway (B5 AWD)
The XC90 is a favorite for family ski trips for plain reasons. AWD is standard, the cabin stays quiet against winter wind and the layout fits six or seven people. The standard B5 mild-hybrid engine makes 247 horsepower, enough to haul a packed roof box up the pass. It’s no rock crawler, so it fits resort towns with well-plowed roads.
Land Rover Defender 110
Starting price: $63,500 MSRP (110 P300 S)
Ground clearance: up to 11.5 inches (with air suspension)
Fuel economy: 18 mpg city, 22 mpg highway
The Defender is built for the worst weather on the list. Its AWD system has high and low range, and the optional air suspension is height-adjustable, so it clears packed snowbanks that stop other SUVs. The P300 makes 296 horsepower and tows up to 7,715 pounds. It’s also the thirstiest car here, and the priciest. Nobody needs a Defender to reach a ski lift, but it makes steep resort access roads feel like nothing.
Don’t Skip the Tires
Tires matter more than the badge on the hood. Tire Rack’s recent tests show winter tires stopping shorter on snow and ice than all-seasons. AWD can’t fix that. A Forester on good winter rubber will beat a Defender on worn all-seasons when the road gets icy. Look for the mountain and snowflake symbol, buy all four and book the swap early. Shops fill up the week the first snow lands.
