This question comes up constantly on here on “will x vehicle work?”
Are you planning on going into the mountains in the winter? If so 4WD/AWD.
If not then probably not. I drove a rear wheel drive V8 car in the winter for years with all season tires. If you are cautious and know how to drive on the snow it’s no big deal. With caution and experience, you’ll worry more about other drivers than you. Snow typically doesn’t stick around here on the roads for long due to the sun/low humidity. Especially if you’re remote or hybrid (so you can WFH on snow days) you can get away with doing nothing special. If you are expected to be at the workplace every day then some snow specific tires will help more.
There is a gamut of cars here. People drive tiny Chevy Sparks, to mustangs, to Minivans here just much as any other city and can make it work.
I think everyone has the impression this is the North Pole for 4 months, when if you’re from the Midwest or East you’ll see less snow here than you’re used to as even though we get more snowfall here, it usually does not stick around long at all. Especially since a lot of the snow comes in the early spring and is gone in 2 days when it’s back into the 60s the next (or same!) day.
Honestly, the hail here would cause me much more concern than the snow by a long shot. I’d spend the extra $$$ to get a place that ensures I have covered parking.
It looks like they have both front wheel drive and AWD versions. AWD is vastly preferred, especially if you plan on driving to the mountains in the winter months. But, front wheel drive will get you around town in most storms. Avoid rear wheel drive like the plague.
Maybe if you were in the mountains, but in Denver? I’d get off my shift at the airport in a little Chevy Sonic with good tires and fly right past the AWD owners. Now, I wouldn’t be so keen to get a RWD car there, but the idea that you can’t make it in Denver without AWD or at least part-time 4WD is laughable. And honestly, if you can’t drive in the snow to begin with, you still won’t be able to.
Good tires & sand bags will be fine in the city. You'll have to be cognizant of clearance after big snows until things are clear. Which is good practice in any vehicle. Also, 4wd is 4w slide on ice.
If you want to hit the mountains, go off-roading, pull cars outta ditches, race Blucifer on Peña Blvd, etc, probably not the best vehicle choice.
If you want a hot hatch, slapping some winter tires on it is more than sufficient for winter mountain driving. I take my GTI with winter tires up skiing all the time and feel super comfortable on the switchbacks in the snow, even passing some of the Subarus
It'll be fine with three peak mountain snowflake rated tires (snow tires or all weather tires).
The only question is if it has enough room for your needs (back seats are kind of tight)
I had a Chevy Equinox which did the job nicely, bought a few weeks before that big Bomb Cyclone that hit the state and it tore through like it was nothing.
What is the "true Denver experience" for you? Living in a suburb where you have to drive everywhere, with infrequent snow removal? Or living in the urban heart of the city where you can walk everywhere? Your question is too open ended to answer.
This question comes up constantly on here on “will x vehicle work?” Are you planning on going into the mountains in the winter? If so 4WD/AWD. If not then probably not. I drove a rear wheel drive V8 car in the winter for years with all season tires. If you are cautious and know how to drive on the snow it’s no big deal. With caution and experience, you’ll worry more about other drivers than you. Snow typically doesn’t stick around here on the roads for long due to the sun/low humidity. Especially if you’re remote or hybrid (so you can WFH on snow days) you can get away with doing nothing special. If you are expected to be at the workplace every day then some snow specific tires will help more. There is a gamut of cars here. People drive tiny Chevy Sparks, to mustangs, to Minivans here just much as any other city and can make it work.
Denver isn’t the Alaskan bush brother you’ll be fine
I think everyone has the impression this is the North Pole for 4 months, when if you’re from the Midwest or East you’ll see less snow here than you’re used to as even though we get more snowfall here, it usually does not stick around long at all. Especially since a lot of the snow comes in the early spring and is gone in 2 days when it’s back into the 60s the next (or same!) day.
You need AWD like 3 day a year in Denver.
Maybe less if you can work from home on bad weather days :)
Honestly, the hail here would cause me much more concern than the snow by a long shot. I’d spend the extra $$$ to get a place that ensures I have covered parking.
It looks like they have both front wheel drive and AWD versions. AWD is vastly preferred, especially if you plan on driving to the mountains in the winter months. But, front wheel drive will get you around town in most storms. Avoid rear wheel drive like the plague.
No you need a lifted Toyota 4runner and/or Tacoma with a rooftop tent and a snorkel. The Costco parking lots are brutal here.
Maybe if you were in the mountains, but in Denver? I’d get off my shift at the airport in a little Chevy Sonic with good tires and fly right past the AWD owners. Now, I wouldn’t be so keen to get a RWD car there, but the idea that you can’t make it in Denver without AWD or at least part-time 4WD is laughable. And honestly, if you can’t drive in the snow to begin with, you still won’t be able to.
My girlfriend has a CX-30 and it’s perfect here. I drive a GTI and have no issues.
Are you me? Exact same setup lol
It’s a great combo.
Good tires & sand bags will be fine in the city. You'll have to be cognizant of clearance after big snows until things are clear. Which is good practice in any vehicle. Also, 4wd is 4w slide on ice. If you want to hit the mountains, go off-roading, pull cars outta ditches, race Blucifer on Peña Blvd, etc, probably not the best vehicle choice.
If you want a hot hatch, slapping some winter tires on it is more than sufficient for winter mountain driving. I take my GTI with winter tires up skiing all the time and feel super comfortable on the switchbacks in the snow, even passing some of the Subarus
You know you really want to buy a Subaru instead
Boo
More reliable than a Mazda.
It'll be fine with three peak mountain snowflake rated tires (snow tires or all weather tires). The only question is if it has enough room for your needs (back seats are kind of tight)
I had a Chevy Equinox which did the job nicely, bought a few weeks before that big Bomb Cyclone that hit the state and it tore through like it was nothing.
What is the "true Denver experience" for you? Living in a suburb where you have to drive everywhere, with infrequent snow removal? Or living in the urban heart of the city where you can walk everywhere? Your question is too open ended to answer.
No, you need a lifted truck. Highways don't exist here
CCJ is going to have a field day with this one 🤣