Yes, I have been using FWD since 1987 in places like Ohio, Indiana, and Montana during severe winters with no issues. Although not 4-wheel drive, this car performs ten times better in the snow than a rear-wheel drive one. You won’t experience any difficulties if you slow down and keep the font wheels pointed in the direction you wish to go. Yes, the Koreans and Japanese have developed their automobiles with the abundance of snow in mind.
Though FWD works, AWD/4WD is always preferred. Most of the time, stopping on ice roads is difficult, even with ABS on all four wheels. Only when you have snow tires on will this not apply. On my AWD Santa Fe, I recently installed snow tires, and the combo is fantastic!
I turned on my car, cleared the windows of snow, and then pressed the “lock the AWD” button. Since the minute I backed out of my parking space, the Santa Fe has been nothing but assured on the road. I had never previously driven a car with traction control, stability control, or all-wheel drive ( just FWD and 4WD ). I was astounded by how steady it was on the cold and mushy surface. Although I didn’t want to push my luck, I did gas it a little and maneuver a little aggressively when I had the chance. Just a tiny bit of slipping and sliding would have been enough for me to gauge its limits. It would just not. I began to wonder whether the road conditions weren’t all that horrible. That is, until I noticed other cars swerving and skidding. Yesterday there were a lot of accidents, and I’m sure the insurance companies are scowling.
In This Article...
Winter versus Santa Fe
I consider myself to be a “winter driving aficionado.” When other drivers avoid the road due to accumulations, I plot my route to avoid them and cruise through snowstorms while Corollas all over the place pull to the shoulder with their four-wheel-drives engaged.
Last week, I was operating a brand-new Hyundai Santa Fe equipped with an all-wheel-drive system, a 2.0L turbo engine, and some respectable winter tires. It was a Friday, and my hometown was experiencing the second major snowfall of the season that lasted all night. Mother Nature quickly dropped the temperature faster than a Lance Armstrong endorsement agreement after that.
When there is a snowfall that lasts all night, I did what I always do. I spent approximately four hours driving around every unplowed backroad I could locate with a group of friends and some enormous double-doubles.
During my drive, I noticed a few remarkable features of the tested Santa Fe’s crucial ESC and AWD systems.
Deep snow calls for plenty of wheel spin, which the Santa Fe’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system normally permits. When you give the Santa Fe the boots to pull onto a busy roadway, the wheels are spun a little quicker than they can grip to help you begin moving quickly. Wheel spin allows snow to be thrown from the tire treads for improved contact with the road.
At greater speeds, the system tightens its tolerances for slipping and sliding, although it still permits a brief skid before engaging.
This is much preferable to overly aggressive ESC systems that cross their arms, kill the throttle at the first hint of slippage, report your antics to the fun police, and render you helpless in the path of oncoming traffic.
You’ll feel more in control of the Santa Fe than the car is, which is a good thing.
The Magna-developed AWD system is intelligent and well-suited for driving in unfavorable winter conditions. It may make a “judgement call” to engage all four wheels from a stop using data from a network of sensors, essentially preemptively increasing traction rather than letting the front wheels slip before engaging the back ones. Even though I never needed to use it, there is a “lock” feature that will automatically put the system to a 50/50 power split.
Within two or three wheel revolutions of the front wheels, the system immediately engages the rear wheels for propulsion, giving them a large portion of the engine’s power.
The rear coupler’s quick-acting “electro-hydraulic” clutch is at blame, according to Hyundai. It is “primed” when the engine begins and is constantly prepared to call the rear wheels into play on a few milliseconds’ notice, making it faster than the magnetic clutches generally employed in systems like these.
I didn’t observe any problems with superfluous tire spinning or roughness during power transfer between the axles. This setup feels like it understands what it’s doing and is smooth and flawless in almost any circumstance.
All things considered, buyers who choose a Santa Fe with winter tires and AWD may anticipate a secure, steady, and well-supported driving experience when the roads are coated in snow and ice.
mldavis2
I don’t like chains too much. I now have a 2020 Santa Fe AWD with 25,000 miles on the factory Hankook street tires. I live in the Colorado mountains on a tight one-lane road with two brief, steep climbs, and the tread on the front is almost beyond repair. I added chains on the front tires because the Hankooks couldn’t handle the hills. In soft snow, chains performed OK when going uphill, but when going downhill with power, you have absolutely no lateral stability and the front end likes to side-slip on banked surfaces and curves unless you have the “V” bars welded to the chains. Chains are strictly an emergency measure because “V” bar chains quickly deteriorate and wreck freshly plowed roadways. Additionally, they are not recommended for use on highways and are difficult to put on or take off while lying on the ground in a blizzard. Here in Colorado, it’s a concern because they clean roads so quickly and well that as you leave mountain highways, all city streets are bare and cleared.
I thus purchased a second set of wheels and put Nokian hakkapeliitta 10 snow tires, which are much superior to chains. The main issue with dedicated snow tires is that their tread compound is too soft for effective traction on ice, and in warmer weather, they deteriorate quickly on dry pavement. As a result, I change my wheels frequently depending on the weather.
The issue with changing wheels and tires is then how to handle the TPMS sensors. (See my entry under Tires & Wheels)
chiraldude
every wheel. I debated whether to only purchase snow tires for the front-drive wheels when I was considering obtaining them. I came to the conclusion that having them solely on the front wheels would, in some circumstances, be worse. The back end starts to swing around if the front wheels start to gain traction but the rear wheels start to lose it. At that point, no amount of input to the FWD steering will stop you from spinning.
So, until you can do all 4, I do not recommend purchasing snow tires. I may be wrong, but that’s how it appears to me. I believe it is different for rear wheel drive. The front is compelled to remain directed in the forward direction by more rear traction.
deadrx7conv
Get a pair of winter tires, find some OE rims on eBay or in a salvage yard, and you should be okay in most circumstances, particularly if the city or state is only marginally proficient at plow-ing.
The only problem I ever had with FWD and snows was the occasional snowfall that left everyone stranded, even with 4WD. Midway through the 2000s, I upgraded to AWD for greater security. Prior to the arrival of the plows, it enabled movement.
Best Winter Mid-Sized SUV in Class Awarded to Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe is chosen by the New England Motor Press Association’s testers as the best winter car in its category.
The New England Motor Press Association’s (NEMPA) testers are a fickle group. If your crossover isn’t prepared for some serious driving in slush and ice, don’t expect much love in evaluations. We all have our favorite fair-weather performance vehicles and sports vehicles. The votes for the 2020 Winter Driving Awards have been tallied, and Hyundai’s Santa Fe won this year’s best-in-class two-row crossover title, besting some rather strong competitors.
John Paul, the head of NEMPA, also known as AAA “This year, “Car Doctor,” took the opportunity to specifically mention the Hyundai Santa Fe, noting that “The Hyundai Santa Fe was once renowned as the model to buy due to its low price and unusual warranty. The most recent Santa Fe is the best option today in a highly competitive segment thanks to its features, fit, and finish. The Santa Fe is still regarded by NEMPA testers as a fantastic deal with an excellent warranty, but this crossover now competes and triumphs on features and design.”
Scott Margason, director of product planning for Hyundai Motor North America, said, “At Hyundai, we are tremendously proud of the Santa Fe and humbled it was awarded the best-in-class mid-sized SUV by the New England Motor Press Association.” “To better fulfill the needs of our customers, particularly in winter situations, Santa Fe contains more safety measures and repackaging equipment for the 2020 model year.”
The Santa Fe is a good value for family buyers, with prices starting at slightly over $29K with all-wheel drive. In the sub-$40,000 price bracket, the Limited trim includes a heated steering wheel. Buyers of crossovers in this size range who require winter capability are aware that the Santa Fe offers exceptional value.
What does the Hyundai Santa Fe’s snow mode do?
Landscape modes: Snow: To improve relevant control while driving on slick, snow-covered roads, minimize wheel slip.
What does Hyundai’s snow mode do?
Snow mode smooths out all driver inputs to avoid any jarring acceleration or deceleration. works in both AWD and RWD, but if you have AWD, that’s always engaged.
Does Santa Fe see snowfall in December?
We evaluate the snowfall collected over a sliding 31-day period centered around each day, similar to how we analyze rainfall.
The average sliding 31-day snowfall in Santa Fe is steadily rising from 2.7 inches at the beginning of the month to 3.0 inches at the conclusion, with only very infrequently exceeding 7.4 inches or falling below 0.2 inches in between.
Does Santa Fe have a pleasant winter?
Santa Fe is a wonderful place to visit during the winter. The main attractions, shopping, and dining are still available even if it is the off-season for travelers. The ski hills near Santa Fe are some of the most thrilling around, despite the fact that most people don’t think of New Mexico when they think of winter sports! Particularly Ski Santa Fe features excellent skiing terrain and is completely kid-friendly. Consider Ski Santa Fe if you’re seeking for family-friendly activities in Santa Fe. We have what you desire right here in Santa Fe, whether you’re ready to spend the day outside or want to visit a luxurious, romantic spa.
Hyundais handle snow well, right?
Snow is no problem for the Hyundai Elantra to drive through. The Elantra is a secure alternative for winter driving because it comes equipped with ABS, Stability Control, and Traction Control. Although the Elantra’s front-wheel drivetrain offers plenty of traction, snow tires will significantly improve its winter performance.
How does Santa Fe look like in December?
Winters can be frigid, with daytime highs in the upper 40s and evening lows in the teens. Remember to wear sunscreen because the sun’s rays are always strong, even in the winter.
What does Santa Fe excel at?
Santa Fe is a city of energy, culture, and life in the parched New Mexico terrain, like a mirage in the desert.
Santa Fe, the nation’s first capital, translates to “Holy Faith” in Spanish. The Spanish gave it the original name “La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis.”
Santa Fe, also referred to as The City Different, is well-known for its historic buildings, vibrant Native American culture, and its artwork. In fact, visitors are drawn to Santa Fe by its renowned arts scene because they want to learn more about the influences on famous artists like Georgia O’Keefe.
What else is Santa Fe famous for, then? What specifically makes The City Different so unique?
Join us as we go to the West and discover Santa Fe’s wonders—a city that moves to a different beat!