Is a Minivan OK in the Snow, or Do You Need a 3-Row SUV?

Is front-wheel drive OK in snow?

For most Sioux Falls driving, yes. City streets and the interstates get plowed, and a front-wheel-drive van carries its engine over the wheels that pull it.

The bigger factor is tires. All-wheel drive helps you get moving. It doesn't help you stop or steer, because every car brakes with all four wheels and turns on whatever grip its tires have. Consumer Reports tests show winter tires grip better than most all-season tires for starting in snow and stopping on ice, on front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive cars.

When a family van gets stuck, the problem is usually worn all-season tires, not front-wheel drive. Put good winter tires on a front-wheel-drive Pacifica and it will get a family around Sioux Falls all winter.

Scott Kennedy, Service Manager

Our AWD vs. 4WD vs. FWD guide goes deeper on drive types and tires. Our service center mounts winter tires, so you can set up a van before the first storm.

Minivans that offer all-wheel drive

If you want the extra help getting moving, AWD minivans exist. Here's what's out there on the used market:

• Chrysler Pacifica (gas). AWD arrived on the 2020 Launch Edition and spread across the gas lineup for 2021. It engages automatically and disconnects the rear driveline when it isn't needed. AWD models keep the second-row Stow 'n Go seats and ride 0.78 inch higher than front-drive models. For 2025, Stellantis lists AWD on the gas Select, Limited and Pinnacle.
• Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid. Front-wheel drive only.
• Toyota Sienna (2021 and newer). Every Sienna is a hybrid. Most grades come with front-wheel drive or Toyota's electric AWD, which uses a separate electric motor to drive the rear wheels. The Woodland Edition has AWD standard and extra ground clearance.
• Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival. Front-wheel drive only.

Shopping used? Confirm the drive type on the specific van. We provide the original window sticker on our vehicles so you can see exactly how it was built.

Ground clearance: where a minivan runs out

A minivan sits low. The 2025 Pacifica has 5.1 inches of ground clearance with front-wheel drive and 5.4 inches with AWD. That's fine on plowed pavement. It gets tight when the plow leaves a hard ridge across your driveway, when a gravel road drifts in, or when a parking lot hasn't been cleared yet.

Most 3-row SUVs sit noticeably higher, and some trims add more. Chevrolet's Traverse Z71, for example, gets extra ground clearance and all-terrain tires. Clearance varies by model and trim, so check the spec for the exact vehicle you're looking at.

If you live on a gravel road that drifts shut, or you're out before the plows most mornings, I'd look at an SUV. Clearance is where a minivan runs out, not traction.

Scott Kennedy, Service Manager

Sliding doors in a snowy parking lot

This is where a minivan quietly wins in winter. A sliding door opens wide without swinging into the car next to you, which matters in a narrow, icy lot when you're buckling a child into a car seat. It also can't catch a gust of wind and fly open.

One winter habit: knock packed snow and ice out of the lower door track before you close a sliding door, so it can latch fully. If a power sliding door starts acting up in the cold, have us take a look before it gets worse.

Cargo behind the third row

With every seat full, space behind the third row is what decides whether the stroller, hockey bags and groceries fit. Minivans lead here.

Figures come from the manufacturers, except the Traverse, which comes from Motor1's review. They change between model years, so check the exact year you're shopping. Extended-length full-size SUVs like the Expedition MAX match or beat a minivan. Most midsize 3-row SUVs don't.

The Pacifica also folds its second and third rows into the floor with Stow 'n Go, standard on the 2025 gas Select and Limited. That opens up to 140.5 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Car seats and the third row

Whether three car seats fit across, and whether an adult can ride in the third row, depends on the exact vehicle. Our family fit test guide covers that in detail. Whatever you buy, have your installation checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety technician. NHTSA's car seat inspection station locator finds one near you.

Which one would we pick?

• Mostly town and highway driving, kids in car seats, lots of gear: a minivan on winter tires. Front-wheel drive is fine. An AWD Pacifica or Sienna adds help getting moving.
• Gravel or minimum-maintenance road at home, or you drive before the plows: a 3-row SUV with AWD or 4WD and more clearance.
• You tow a camper or boat: a 2025 Pacifica is rated for up to 3,600 pounds, so most families who tow look at SUVs. Check the door-jamb sticker or owner's manual, and we'll confirm the rating for a specific VIN. Our towing guide has more.
• Not sure: drive both on the same day. Load your own car seats and stroller.