I am a family doctor who has to go to work in the snow, but my 2015 Nissan Pathfinder (222,000 kilometres) is likely on its last winter.
I live just within the outskirts of Ottawa. My commute is short (15 kilometres) on a winding, two-lane road. I also have a 500-metre driveway to navigate in deep snow at times. We will road-trip once or twice a year to see family in Nova Scotia and often trek into Toronto and Montreal for various reasons. The four kids are all adults and only one lives at home.
I need a medium-sized vehicle that I can pack up with a few things as needed but do not need six seats anymore. Hopefully there will be grandkids at some point in the future, so room for them is a consideration. Hubby drives a Mini and we have a Ford F-250 diesel that hauls the horse trailer and we use it quite a bit. My summer car is a 2024 Nissan Z.
Personally, I like to buy vehicles new and drive them until they die. Hubby likes to buy used. I usually buy last year’s model still on the lot when the new ones are arriving. Now I’m looking for ideas. Nothing wildly expensive. I don’t need a bunch of electronics but bum-warmers are nice. I do want a full four-wheel-drive capacity as I find the all-wheel-drive systems don’t handle snow over 20 -30 centimetres well. My budget is flexible – I would like to keep below $50,000 but can go more for the right vehicle.
– Jeanette
Mark Richardson: This seems like a reasonable request from Jeanette. She should know, though, that once you look at new vehicles larger than a regular compact SUV – larger than a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, for example – they almost always come with a third row of seating, whether you want it or not.
Miranda Lightstone: Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because Jeanette is hoping for those grandkids and a third-row is best suited for smaller bodies and shorter legs. And until they are needed, that row can stay folded for its extra cargo space.
Richardson: Well, here’s a suggestion: the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. It can be ordered with or without that third row, which costs an extra $2,500. This will enrage some of our commenters, who decry Jeeps as unreliable and made-in-America, but it’s worth consideration.
For 2026, the Grand Cherokee moves to a smaller, turbocharged engine that makes more power, for some of the trims.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: It absolutely is worth at least looking at. You just drove it, didn’t you?
Richardson: I did, in California. There’s a new, more efficient engine available for most of the trim levels, but I think Jeanette would be happy with the proven and capable V6 of the last few years. A new one starts at $56,000 plus taxes, but a two- or three-year-old Grand Cherokee would be well in her budget, and any obvious problems would likely have already shown themselves.
Lightstone: And truthfully, maintenance on a Jeep is definitely more affordable than a European model, if needed. But what about the Hyundai Santa Fe? It is the same sort of price.
Richardson: It’s actually less expensive – the hybrid will start at around $53,000, including taxes. The Santa Fe is not officially four-wheel drive, however. It’s a capable all-wheel drive that I think will suit Jeanette fine, despite her objection.
The Hybrid version makes 231 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: The ride height of the Santa Fe helps the all-wheel-drive performance. But why would someone choose four-wheel drive over all-wheel drive? Especially when it comes to urban driving?
Richardson: People forget there’s a difference. Simply put, four-wheel drive has a lockable differential in the driveshaft between the axles, so all four wheels can be forced to turn at the same time, though by varying amounts. All-wheel drive sends power primarily to one axle, to save fuel, but can send power to the other axle as needed. There’s usually a way to lock the differential, but drivers often do this too late, once they’re already stuck in deep snow.
Lightstone: In normal, urban conditions, all-wheel drive is more than enough to handle our winters. But if Jeanette wants to do some heavy winter off-roading then four-wheel drive will always win out. I think the obvious has been staring us in the face this whole time: Jeep Wrangler. She wants simple, not too many electronics, bum warmer, four-wheel drive and a used 2024 or older are generally all less than that $50,000 budget mark.
Richardson: I’m reluctant to recommend a Wrangler to anyone who doesn’t specifically want to go off-road, or at least feel like they can. Here’s why: it’s noisy and wallows around on those huge wheels. Jeanette says she’ll make a couple of road trips to Nova Scotia and the other cars in her family aren’t great for that, either. Frankly, the better-mannered Ford Bronco would be a better bet.
2025 Ford BroncoCourtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: That’s intriguing – it is more comfortable and civilized than the Wrangler, but just as capable in all weather and road conditions.
Richardson: It’s quieter and far more pleasant to drive on the highway. The base model costs $47,260 plus taxes, which will add around $6,000 in Ontario, but the Big Bend trim includes heated seats and some other nice features for about $4,000 more. Or a used model will be significantly less expensive, but it’s best to make sure it’s properly guaranteed and warranted by a dealer.
Lightstone: Maybe a happy medium between rugged off-roading and comfy all-weather capabilities is the Subaru Outback? It toes the line between wagon and SUV in body style and has a slightly higher ride height. It comes in around $44,000 in base trim and around $54,000 for the top-tier Premier XT, before taxes.
All trims except the base model come with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: That’s an excellent choice. Subarus are capable and not too flashy, which I think is what Jeanette is looking for. If she puts some good-quality winter tires on its wheels, she’ll drive through almost anything.
Lightstone: Subarus often get overlooked, but they are hugely capable and have improved their interior comfort and quality over the years, which was a downside to their model lineup until recently. Jeanette should push the Outback to one of her top three choices, for sure.
Richardson: The Outback will probably be the right size for her. It’s currently the largest Subaru sold in Canada, since the three-row Ascent is made in the U.S. and no longer imported here because of tariffs. So which would be your top choice for Jeanette?
Lightstone: Definitely the Outback. Then I think just to be sure it’s not a fit, she should check out the Jeep Wrangler, because you never know, and it would be cheaper than the Jeep Grand Cherokee you suggested. What would your top choices be?
Richardson: I’ll recommend the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which I think is the size she’s looking for, but with the tried-and-true – and less expensive – V6 engine. Like you with the Wrangler, though, I’d recommend Jeanette also take a seat in a Ford Bronco. It might have that something special that clicks for her.
What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Miranda at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as part of your subject line. E-mails with different subject lines may not be answered.
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