What small car for winter conditions

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

What smallish, robust, slide proof cars are rural people driving these days?

We live not-quite on the northern edge of the Peak District. Most winters we get a few day of snow and ice, maybe 3 times. We're just coming out of a week of snowy icey conditions, where I've skidded down a ramp, and got my car stuck in a snowy car park and then just decided to stay home. Fortunately that was possible this week, but it's not always possible.

I'll admit to being a complete wuss about driving in these conditions due to a couple of bad experiences in the past and am looking into getting some training gurus.

The car I currently have is a Skoda Octavia plug in hybrid. It's a DSG gear box, so I have no control of the clutch.I am very fortunate that my car comes with my job and I have very little choice in what I get and I'm not allowed to put winter tyres on it, but I'm dreaming of what car I'll chose in future. I have no intention of moving anywhere less rural!

I prefer smaller cars - no bigger than Golf size. DM has an elderly Fiat Panda 4x4 which is a total disaster of a car, always needs something doing, and hasn't managed to move this week despite trying. FiL had a Skoda 4x4 Yeti, but they are no longer made. When we lived deep into the Peak District 25 years ago, everyone drove Suzuki Jimnys and Suziki Justys.

NE Scotland here. Automatics are great in the snow. If needs be, lift off the accelerator and let the car pull itself along.

DH has a Mini, Cooper S, auto, with winter tyres. It’s front wheel drive. Only downside is lack of height over rutted snow.

I have an X3, automatic, which has been great these past weeks, but is probably bigger than you want.

@Dearg Mini Cooper sounds right up my street! But also thanks for the snow driving tip.

It's not just the car, but the tyres. I have Cross Climate 2 ones and the traction in both snow and wet conditions is superb. I would say that I'm experienced in driving in ice and snow.

I'm not allowed to put winter tyres
What do you have then? Summer or all-round?

Dacia Sandero is serving me well.

I'm surprised the Fiat has been a disaster... I had a Panda 4x4 diesel and it was fantastic.. got through anything (and they are THE car of the mountains in Italy) I think your Dm has been unlucky with hers.
There aren't many truly compact (real) 4x4s.. Pandas, Jimnys aside. I suppose a Freelander would be too big? I also had one of those and it was such a great car to drive and got through everything.

To the poster that is saying fiats are great,
They are really really not they fall to bits my husband had a brand new abarth and he got rid of it within a year, always needed repairing.
I have a Kia GT picanto and it's serving me well but I have good tyres, it's all about the tyres,
P.s. do not get a rear wheel drive - they are a pain the arse to drive in snow and ice

Driver ability trumps everything

I totally agree and I am addressing that, but I also have very little control over the car I currently use, or choice in what it is.

Climate control tyres get great reviews. An all year round tyre (watch tests on YouTube) but driving according to conditions is everything.

I have a mini countryman which is 4 wheel
Drive - not too big and decent in the snow etc. I live fairly rurally and up a hill and it's been great x

I have a hybrid Corolla . I live 1/2 way up steep hill and very confident in icy conditions.
i wonder about a Suzuki Jimmy .. great wee car and wonderful 4 wheel drives and heaps fun.

I agree it's the tyres that make the difference. The Michelin cross climate (all season tyres) made a big difference.

@CantHoldMeDown you mean you drive on ice up and down the hill with summer tyres and don't skid?

Conti Green Concept Road Tyres.
"Summer" tyres.

Well I was coming to say the best car I've driven in snow was a panda! 2wd and summer tyres and it still got everywhere I needed it to go. I lived on a very steep unadopted road - so rural, no gritting, minimal traffic meant snow and ice stuck around for ages - and it would get me out when big 4wds were regularly abandoned.

If not a panda, what about a suzuki swift? Still a small car, and friends who still live on that road manage to get in and out OK.

Echoing though that learning to drive on snow and ice is key - you can have a super capable vehicle, but if you don't know how to use it you'll still get stuck

Put all season tyres on as already said. Surely they are allowed.

Otherwise, you'd need a 4x4 with skinny tyres. A modern Jimny.

Or better still buy yourself a 2nd car for winter.

Mini Countryman all wheel drives and change your tires to winter tires in winter

OP buy some snow socks for those situations you describe where you are stuck.

Why aren't you allowed winter tyres? I just got a spare set of steel wheels on ebay and fitted winter tyres to them and swap the wheels over every autumn/spring.

I've had winter tyres since 2010 when we lived up a track off a road that was single track for 3 miles in each direction and my front wheel drive Golf did fine with them (and was actually not too bad on summer tyres before I got the winters). I now have a 4WD Yeti but we live less rurally and have not needed the 4WD much. If I could only have either winter tyres or 4WD I would choose winter tyres every time.

We have a Jimny for snow when we only need a small car.