Hot take: AWD is overrated for daily driving in snow — am I wrong?
Hey everyone,
I have been going down a rabbit hole trying to choose a car for my daily commute (about 30 to 45 minutes each way), and one thing I keep seeing is that people say AWD is a must for winter.
But the more I read, the more I think that good winter tires might be more important than AWD.
This isn't just a theory for me because I live in a place with real winters (snow and ice). I'm mostly looking at smaller, more fuel-efficient cars like the Corolla, Civic, and Mazda3. Part of me thinks that going AWD just adds cost and complexity that I might not need.
So I'm interested in what people here really think, especially those who have been there:
Does AWD really make a difference when driving in the winter?
Or is FWD and the right winter tires enough for most situations?
Does anyone wish they hadn't gotten AWD? Or wish you hadn't gotten it?
Not trying to start a fight, haha, just trying to make a smart choice before I buy something.
I'd love to hear about real-life experiences.