Winter is coming and it has no mercy on your daily driver. If you are one of the millions who live in such a region feels freezing temperatures then you might be looking for a winter blizzard. With that in mind, we hope that as a Carscoops community, we can find the best four-wheel drive winter bikes for $5,000 or less. What would you buy on that budget?

Despite the wild prices of some used cars, it’s easy to find a four-wheel-drive vehicle for that kind of money. Old Ford F-150 pickups, Volkswagen sedans with questionable reliability, and BMWs with thousands of dollars in deferred maintenance are everywhere.

These vehicles have some major drawbacks, such as poor fuel economy, the possibility of leaving you in a winter wonderland, or something else. Meanwhile, there are a number of typically reliable four-wheel drive vehicles that can be had for $5,000 or less, including a number of Subaru models.

Read more: Who needs a winter beater when you can have an Audi R8?

This includes not only the Forester SUV, but also the Legacy and even an Impreza here or there, depending on where you live. Not only are Subarus relatively reliable (especially when stationary), but their symmetrical all-wheel drive system is known to perform well on slippery surfaces like gravel, mud and snow.

There are several SUVs available that may not offer great fuel economy, but they provide more everyday utility than a two-door pickup truck. The shortlist includes the Nissan Xterra, the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Lexus RX 300. Each has its own quirks, but we think there could be a dark horse.

It’s a pony Volvo V70 station wagon. Sure, there are a few different Volvos for that kind of money, but the V70 stands out. Not only is it relatively reliable, but it also offers a reliable four-wheel drive system and is very practical thanks to its gigantic cargo area. In addition to all this, it is rated highly in safety scores.

It’s worth noting that every vehicle we’ve mentioned here can be purchased within our $5,000 budget with no major damage, salvage rights, or more than 150,000 miles across most of the country. What do you choose? Let us know in the comments below!

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/10/5k-challenge-find-us-the-best-used-awd-winter-beaters/

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR