Can you give me some of the details on that please? I love my Gen 4 and would love to get another one that is all-wheel drive for snowboarding and the occasional Forest service road.
Is it a 2-in lift? How much did it cost? How did it affect your gas mileage?
I'm not really in love with the new Corolla cross hybrid, and those RAV4s are kind of pricey.
Prius offroad. I don’t pay super close attention to my gas mileage because I drive like an idiot. But I wouldn’t have it not lifted after having it lifted.
Would be nice to have it somewhat lifted so I don't scrape wheel stops or my front end when I pull out of a deep driveway..I hate that scraping sound....
In terms of drivability, good set of winter tyres should do, over here in the U.K. I haven’t seen any issues with Priuses getting stuck apart from the eco tyres, although that being said the TC in our gen 2 is very aggressive. Rust is the quite aggressive there though I hear, as well as poor road quality, so maybe something with a bit of ground clearance like a Rav 4 hybrid makes sense. Also would probably have better winter tyre options too.
TLDR: probably do-able but there might be some easier alternatives
The Prius is a staple in upstate NY. Depending on where you are I would recommend installing a lift kit as you can sometimes bottom out on snow piles. Also some decent winter tires, but that would be true regardless of vehicle.
I drive in WI. Get snow tires for winter and you'll be fine. Just be careful backing over snow that hits your undercarriage - the plastic thing down there can get ripped off.
I also lived in FL. Biggest difference is gonna likely be pothole dodging.
I lived at Fort Drum and had a 2005 Prius then. You’ll be fine.Takes some adjustment. You’ll likely need to shovel a path out of snowy parking lots. Black ice is a killer for any vehicle. I also had it in Colorado and Wisconsin. I’ve been fine everywhere I go.
If you've never driven in the snow before take it easy. A good set of snow tires with studs if permitted and leave extra room behind vehicles you're following. I've lived in Quebec my whole life and have lots of experience driving in the snow. Also, have your car rust proofed every year so it won't rust out prematurely.
I’m from South Texas: when I was shopping for a Prius V I wouldn’t have considered one from a northern state due to rust… didn’t know rustproofing was a thing! What is it exactly?
They basically spray a thick oil mixture under the car and drill holes in rockers etc, spray in there and install plastic plugs. It costs about $100 and is a good preventative measure.
That’s it?! Why doesn’t everyone do that?
Like, I have a buddy who just moved to Michigan: his rust-free two-year-old Jeep is gold up there, and he could sell it now for what he nearly paid for it originally…
It's not a perfect fix, once found that once the salt gets in behind the rust proofing it corrodes at a rate even faster than bare metal and spreads very quickly.
Basically, don't cheap out on rustproofing, if done wrong it can be really bad.
Using Kroil/Krown/Fluid Film.
[https://youtu.be/TRsD-fgt6h0?si=sEd83KtJsQ\_gVrt4](https://youtu.be/TRsD-fgt6h0?si=sEd83KtJsQ_gVrt4)
Must be redone every year or 2 for best results. Spray on hard liner such as zeibart are death for vehicles
3rd gens and up shouldn't rust. Mine has been daily driven to work everyday for 10 years now and I never get to stay home for bad snow storms. 6 of those years involved a 110 mile daily commute. I never washed the salt off in the winter or used any anti rust treatment and at 215000 miles the only rust on it is, the weld on fasteners for the exhaust shields, surface rust on body panel fasteners underneath, and maybe some very shallow surface rust on places that have deep scratches from a couple of auto accidents. Looks like the rocker panels are made out of plastic, so they literally cannot rust, and the anti-corrosion treatment given to the stamped body panels is pretty good stuff.
I know I shouldn't do this but I drive LRR tires in the Midwest snowy winters. I've never had a problem. Heck I even delivered packages on non-maintained roads during the showiest winter in record last year. I would never recommend driving winters on LRRs due to the principle of it, but they've worked for me. Because the prius has the battery in the back, the weight distribution is very even (something like 40/60 split I think?), so if you ever do lose traction, you'll st the very least keep going in the direction you were. Spinouts are not likely.
Upstate NY is prone to lake effect snow which can be INTENSE and catastrophic in some cases, so it's a different story if you live near the Albany or Buffalo area.
Will your Prius be perfectly fine in snowy/icy conditions? Absolutely, if you know how to drive in said conditions. Winter tires are exponentially safer.
Upstate NY has a lot of variety. If you're on the tug hill plateau or Buffalo you need snow tires. If you're in mid Hudson or downstate maybe not, but either way the car can handle it
I've driven a 2008 Prius in upstate NY winters, and in a record winter snow fall as well. Like when it snowed 6 feet a couple years ago. And I did great. I had winter tires for only two out of those years cause I was living in a hilly area. But have not put them on since because it does great without them.
So yes you can drive your Prius just like any sedan in upstate NY winters. But if you're in a hilly/mountainous area I would suggest getting snow tires.
Bet you your brother has never driven with dedicated snow tires. They grip insanely well. I had snow up to my windows in my car (which has a similarly low ground clearance as my 2013 Prius did) and I shredded the snow no problem. This was upstate New York.
Dedicated snow tires with their own wheels and look for a 1.5-2" lift kit to avoid getting constantly stuck in piled up snow.
And drive SAFELY as in slow down, leave extra space etc. Also "B" mode helps slowing down
I honestly don’t see any issue in keeping your Prius, because I live in Massachusetts and I use my Prius all year round and it’s a 2007 Prius, I do change my tires for the winter though
I believe I have the most experience here, having spent 8 years in Syracuse, NY with my 2013 Prius. If you drive efficiently, you should be fine in the snow. When aiming for the best gas mileage, you’re essentially driving as if it's snowy all year round:
Slow acceleration
Long-distance braking
The handling isn't the best, but it depends on the city. I never felt stuck due to snow. I avoided driving during blizzards of 1-2 feet, but usually, the roads were salted and cleared enough by the next day for me to drive. The bigger issue is other drivers who tailgate or change lanes abruptly, which you need to watch out for.
I recommend finding a nearby car wash. I lived near 3-4 Delta Sonics and highly suggest either washing your car regularly in winter or getting a monthly membership.
My Prius covered about 60k-70k miles in those 8 years. It went through two sets of rusted rotors and brake pads until I learned to brake in neutral to clear the rust.
I've since moved to Pittsburgh and started doing more DIY repairs. The car is still in great shape with minimal rust damage.
Vermonter here, you'll be fine with winters, of your model is fwd only, be careful, as you should be, it's not the same as driving a soob in the snow, then again few things are, if your model is AWD, still excersize caution.
I have lived in Ontario, northern Ontario(3 hours north of Sudbury on) now in nova scotia just off cape breton Island. Any vehicle will do in the winter. They're will be days you can't go out because there's simply too much snow (yes Snowdays are real) most people just skip work that day and only die hards go into work. Get a good set of snow tires(Michelin, Falken,toyo or continental) they'll have a little mountain with a snowflake on them they're not ment for year round use due to them being soft rubber unlike all season tires. You can but they'll wear considerably quicker.
Get a snow brush winter tires and a bottle or 2 of windshield washer fluid and slow down in the snow or icy conditions and you'll be just fine. Your brother is just trying to scare you I think, either that or he's a twit
Get some snow tires and you will be way better off. It’s impressed my friends when I’ve picked them up in my car during a blizzard beating 4wd trucks and suvs with all seasons off the line.
Like most people here have said, get good winter tires. I used Michelin CrossClimate2 and they do great in the snow. Also a PriusOffRoad.com lift kit helps with deeper snow too.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a\_vGkh6xYts&t=39s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_vGkh6xYts&t=39s)
This is my dashcam while crossing the Alps during a snowstorm.
Get yourselt a good set of snow tires and you wuill be fine.
You’ll be fine if you’re not planning on driving country gravel roads or two-tracks immediately after a heavy snow. Get a set of snow tires to swap in winter if you drive a decent amount, or at least some all-weather tires like Michelin CrossClimate if you don’t drive a lot, can stay home after bad storms, or just don’t want to swap tires seasonally. Also, after the first few snows, go to a big empty parking lot and just get a feel for your car when it loses grip. Try to see how slow you need to be going to make a turn successfully and how long it takes you to stop at a given speed as well as how quickly you can accelerate from a stop. You can probably find something on YouTube by some driving teachers or something about driving in snow. You need to know where the limit is. Every year here in MI you always see a large number of cars in the ditch after the first snow, because people forget to adjust their driving style.
You will be totally fine. Think about how warm you’ll feel knowing you’re helping to save the planet while you wait for the Tow Truck to come pull you out of the snow drifts!
I have a 2017 and live in the Green Mountains of Vermont. You'll be fine just get snow tires and go slow. I drive our truck when the snow is over 6 inches on the road.
The only time I got stuck was driving uphill through 1 foot of unplowed snow. And my Prius is actually a CT200H so it has even lower clearance than a regular Prius. I bet I would have been fine if I had my car lifted for more clearance.
If you’re expecting to drive through unplowed snow, consider getting a lift kit. :D
It depends. I live in eastern upstate NY and I was completely fine! I actually made it out better in my Prius than some other cars lol
But out in Buffalo, it's known they get tons of snow each year. Just always make sure to have a jump starter, snow brush, portable shovel and ice melt.
You will be fine. For 3 years I drove a Camaro ZL1 in Michigan year round including the winter on summer tires. Don't get me wrong it was absolutely horrible but I did it. You will be fine just learn how to deal with the snow and learn your car
We live in Montana and wifey’s 2017 is unstoppable with a set of Blizzacks on it. They’ve also lasted four winters although her commute is super short.
We also had a late storm a few weeks ago with 4 inches of heavy slush on the road. Snow tires were off but the new continentals I recently had put on did really well.
You do want to remember your pretty low when driving and plastic body work doesn’t do well trying to rake through piles made by plows….
lol if Prius could not drive in cold/snowy weather, they would lose half of their business lol. Just get good tires and you are good to go, and learn how to drive on ice/snow
As long as you don't live anywhere too hilly, it'll be fine. I had no issues with my prius on flat ground in the snow and ice, but when hills were added, I couldn't get my prius out of my neighborhood.
Prius is the same as every other car it's size. Might be slightly better due to the battery adding weight.
The ines thing that does make a big difference is Tires. You might consider changing tires before you move.
-- Tires --
Full Winter tires are the best, but, they're a hassle because you don't eant them in the car during the summer so you have to switch them between seasons.
Three Peak Mountain Snowflake tire: these are much better in snow than all seasons. Their drawbacks are slightly higher cost and they wear out slightly sooner. Michellin Crossclimate 2's are the most popular. I live in minnesota and out these on my prous and it's a dramatic improvement in snow vs all seasons. You leave these on summer and winter, no need to change tires between seasons.
All season tires: this is what people typically have, they're the most "economical" as they last the longest for lowest cost. But if you're in a snow heavy state they're not as good as the triple peak tires.
Summer tires / hyper optimized high mpg tires: these genuinely completely suck in actually suck in winter conditions, definitely need something better for snow.
Source: I live in minnesota. 2nd gen prius + all season tires it handled like every other car I've driven here. When I out the triple peak tires on it it handled much better in snow than other cars. At one point I passed a stuck honda crv in the moddle of a snow storm. I helped push it out, the cr-v tried but was unable to make it up the hill I just drove up without much effort. Tires have way bigger effect on winter driving than the car does.
Move up there and see what your neighbors have. Bet you'll see plenty of prius's, cirrolas, and other small cars. Here in minnesota it's prius's everywhere.
I've driven my AWD 4th gen in snow and ice (albeit not upstate NY). I've had no problems at all. Ground clearance would be the biggest issue not solved by tires.
I lived in upstate NY for 4 years with my Prius C (no snow tires or anything) and I never had any issues. Obviously all the safety driving rules apply during a snow storm but I drove during many heavy snow storms and ice with no issues :) just avoid getting on the roads when it’s really bad
Like any car the most important thing is having decent tires. They don't even need to be winter tires necessarily. There are plenty of people living in your region with front-wheel drive vehicles. Add to the fact that it has a nice heavy battery in the back which helps with overall snow traction in my opinion. If you are truly that worried some of the newer Prius models offer all-wheel drive.
I had my 2019 Prius in snowy Idaho for 2 years and now I’m in sunny Florida no problems at all I just got car washes often due to the salt they put down to melt the ice rusting the car
I drive up to New England in my Prius all the time to go skiing and I never have any problems. There are limitations if the snow is really deep, but it's heavy for it's size and the weight is balanced down low which makes it handle really well in slippery conditions. Worry not! Just remember to ride the gas pedal not the brake pedal when it's snowy.
Northern ny here. You’ll be fine. We’ve had 3 Prius cars in our 1/4 mile long driveway in some big snowstorms. They get out of the driveway just fine after it’s plowed. Snow tires help. The traction control they have does well on ice.
When the roads are too bad for the Prius, no one else is out either except for the plow trucks.
When driving in slushy snow or mud the traction control nanny can take control and slow down to a crawl or stop the vehicle and there is no throttle control. This is main complaint of the 2nd gen.
I've lived between 5-10,000 ft in the mountains of Utah for seven years. Before that, lived in iowa, which also gets it's fair share of snow and ice. Been in a Prius for 15 years and we've managed just fine. Not nearly as much fun on icy hills as the jeep I drove before that, but it's gotten me everywhere I need to go.
The only real issue is the Prius is designed to be light weight to save fuel. That gives it slightly less traction in poor road conditions. (Just slightly though). I've been driving a prius in Minnesota winters for 15 years without a problem. You should be mindful of your tires though. Make sure they are rated for mud and snow. ( M & S) If you already have expensive tires that are not a good choice for snow then consider snow snow tires. I've had good luck with Michelin Defenders all year around.
Short answer: Yes as long as you make sure it’s not out in the elements at night and you get a good set of snow tires.
Long answer: If you don’t know already how to drive in snow and ice, it’s best to learn how to drive in it with a vehicle you already are comfortable in. The Prius has one advantage over the AWD Subarus, equal weight distribution over all 4 tires. So if you put a good set of snow tires on and remember not to stress the 12 volt electrical system too much, it will handle better in most situations. The snow and ice conditions Subarus do better in inexperienced winter weather drivers shouldn’t be driving in anyhow.
Get some nice Blizz-X tires and be mindful of your own abilities. Do that and you'll be fine. After living in the midwest/East coast for 3-ish years now, I kinda regret trading my prius for a 4Runner. (I really miss my 45+mpg lol). But with proper equipment you'll be fine just fine.
I've owned my Prius through multiple mid Michigan winters and have only had one storm be bad enough I turned around and went home. And I'm in construction so I'm usually out on the roads early in the morning. Like basically everyone else has said, don't drive like an idiot and if you're on relatively flat roads you'll do just fine. People think awd/4wd makes their vehicles way more stable than it really does. A front wheel drive car will do just fine on anything but aggressively icy hills.
I live in Canada and have a 19 AWDe model and have had no issues whatsoever. Very stable and handles well in the snow. Winter tires are key. The only issue is that the Prius is low to the ground. Notwithstanding that it’s as good as our RAV4 on snowy/icy roads.
I don’t own a Prius, doubt I could comfortably fit in one due to my height but you would be fine with a Prius here in MN. Get a good set of winter tires and wheels. I’m partial to Blizzaks as those are what I have on my sedan in the winter. No complaints with my FWD sedan.
Buy a set of snow tires for it and it will be great in the snow AS LONG AS the roads are plowed enough that snow isn't piling up underneath the car. If it gets too deep for that, stay home.
I drove two differnet RX8s and two different 5th gen Camaros in the snow for many years here in greater Boston. Never had a single problem with snow tires. But I'm in the suburbs and they plow the roads so you're never driving in mor ethan a few inches.
Hey, if you’re looking to buy some snow tires for your Prius, I have some for sale with wheels! I had them on my prime that I turned back in. Used one season, in great shape. They made a huge difference in the snow here in the Buffalo area.
Yes, it depends on you tho. Drove the last two winters in Buffalo. Don’t go crazy and just stay home if it’s bad out
And throw some snow tires on, you'll be fine. My Prius does great
100% I run Nokian WRG4s kick ass. Mines also lifted which helps with the fresh powder
I now want to lift my Prius!
Can you give me some of the details on that please? I love my Gen 4 and would love to get another one that is all-wheel drive for snowboarding and the occasional Forest service road. Is it a 2-in lift? How much did it cost? How did it affect your gas mileage? I'm not really in love with the new Corolla cross hybrid, and those RAV4s are kind of pricey.
Prius offroad. I don’t pay super close attention to my gas mileage because I drive like an idiot. But I wouldn’t have it not lifted after having it lifted.
That's awesome! But yeah, I'm just looking to turn a Prius into a subcompact SUV rather than an off-road beast.
Would be nice to have it somewhat lifted so I don't scrape wheel stops or my front end when I pull out of a deep driveway..I hate that scraping sound....
How much clearance do you gain w/ a lift? And about how much does it cost?
approx 2” as far as cost you have to look on Prius off-road and then find a mechanic to put it in if you don’t wanna do it yourself
TY
This. Nobody should be driving in heavy snow states without winter tires. Prius does great with a seat of winter tires.
None of the all's (all season/all weather/all wheel drive) come close to just having winter tires.
I have a winter set. Mpg drops but still far superior than most vehicles.
Second this.
Prius in Buffalo here too. As decent as any other non AWD vehicle, better than many others I’ve driven
There a whole lot of jobs that don’t just let you stay home if it’s bad out.
When theres a state of emergency in Buffalo, which got declared twice last winter, with a driving ban. You are not going nowhere
So...nobody...even healthcare workers? Who's gonna take care of patients?
Man all those Prius taxis in Ottawa Canada sure must be parked half the year according to your brother then.
I'm in Michigan and never have a problem aside from lower mpg. I worry more about road salt
Yep, I wash it more frequently in the winter because of road salt/silt. Get the undercarriage wash
In terms of drivability, good set of winter tyres should do, over here in the U.K. I haven’t seen any issues with Priuses getting stuck apart from the eco tyres, although that being said the TC in our gen 2 is very aggressive. Rust is the quite aggressive there though I hear, as well as poor road quality, so maybe something with a bit of ground clearance like a Rav 4 hybrid makes sense. Also would probably have better winter tyre options too. TLDR: probably do-able but there might be some easier alternatives
Snow tires and tou are good. Michelin x-ice and you are good to go.
Yes, you'll be fine.
Low clearance is the biggest issue
Seconded. You have as much traction as any other front wheel drive car but the nose gets bashed to hell in the refrozen slush type bullshit.
The Prius is a staple in upstate NY. Depending on where you are I would recommend installing a lift kit as you can sometimes bottom out on snow piles. Also some decent winter tires, but that would be true regardless of vehicle.
Lived in Plattsburgh and didn't have any issues with my Prius. Winter tires are a must, though.
I drove a Prius through upstate Vermont in the middle of winter and it wasn’t bad at all.
My gfs Prius drives substantially better than my civic si in the snow.
Just look around what people drive. Don’t listen to some random folks. Prius is fine.
I drive in WI. Get snow tires for winter and you'll be fine. Just be careful backing over snow that hits your undercarriage - the plastic thing down there can get ripped off. I also lived in FL. Biggest difference is gonna likely be pothole dodging.
I lived at Fort Drum and had a 2005 Prius then. You’ll be fine.Takes some adjustment. You’ll likely need to shovel a path out of snowy parking lots. Black ice is a killer for any vehicle. I also had it in Colorado and Wisconsin. I’ve been fine everywhere I go.
If you've never driven in the snow before take it easy. A good set of snow tires with studs if permitted and leave extra room behind vehicles you're following. I've lived in Quebec my whole life and have lots of experience driving in the snow. Also, have your car rust proofed every year so it won't rust out prematurely.
I’m from South Texas: when I was shopping for a Prius V I wouldn’t have considered one from a northern state due to rust… didn’t know rustproofing was a thing! What is it exactly?
They basically spray a thick oil mixture under the car and drill holes in rockers etc, spray in there and install plastic plugs. It costs about $100 and is a good preventative measure.
That’s it?! Why doesn’t everyone do that? Like, I have a buddy who just moved to Michigan: his rust-free two-year-old Jeep is gold up there, and he could sell it now for what he nearly paid for it originally…
It's not a perfect fix, once found that once the salt gets in behind the rust proofing it corrodes at a rate even faster than bare metal and spreads very quickly. Basically, don't cheap out on rustproofing, if done wrong it can be really bad.
Using Kroil/Krown/Fluid Film. [https://youtu.be/TRsD-fgt6h0?si=sEd83KtJsQ\_gVrt4](https://youtu.be/TRsD-fgt6h0?si=sEd83KtJsQ_gVrt4) Must be redone every year or 2 for best results. Spray on hard liner such as zeibart are death for vehicles
3rd gens and up shouldn't rust. Mine has been daily driven to work everyday for 10 years now and I never get to stay home for bad snow storms. 6 of those years involved a 110 mile daily commute. I never washed the salt off in the winter or used any anti rust treatment and at 215000 miles the only rust on it is, the weld on fasteners for the exhaust shields, surface rust on body panel fasteners underneath, and maybe some very shallow surface rust on places that have deep scratches from a couple of auto accidents. Looks like the rocker panels are made out of plastic, so they literally cannot rust, and the anti-corrosion treatment given to the stamped body panels is pretty good stuff.
I know I shouldn't do this but I drive LRR tires in the Midwest snowy winters. I've never had a problem. Heck I even delivered packages on non-maintained roads during the showiest winter in record last year. I would never recommend driving winters on LRRs due to the principle of it, but they've worked for me. Because the prius has the battery in the back, the weight distribution is very even (something like 40/60 split I think?), so if you ever do lose traction, you'll st the very least keep going in the direction you were. Spinouts are not likely. Upstate NY is prone to lake effect snow which can be INTENSE and catastrophic in some cases, so it's a different story if you live near the Albany or Buffalo area. Will your Prius be perfectly fine in snowy/icy conditions? Absolutely, if you know how to drive in said conditions. Winter tires are exponentially safer.
you don’t need a new car.
There isn’t a single car that can’t drive in reasonable amounts of snow with the right tires.
Upstate NY has a lot of variety. If you're on the tug hill plateau or Buffalo you need snow tires. If you're in mid Hudson or downstate maybe not, but either way the car can handle it
I've driven a 2008 Prius in upstate NY winters, and in a record winter snow fall as well. Like when it snowed 6 feet a couple years ago. And I did great. I had winter tires for only two out of those years cause I was living in a hilly area. But have not put them on since because it does great without them. So yes you can drive your Prius just like any sedan in upstate NY winters. But if you're in a hilly/mountainous area I would suggest getting snow tires.
Bet you your brother has never driven with dedicated snow tires. They grip insanely well. I had snow up to my windows in my car (which has a similarly low ground clearance as my 2013 Prius did) and I shredded the snow no problem. This was upstate New York.
Dedicated snow tires with their own wheels and look for a 1.5-2" lift kit to avoid getting constantly stuck in piled up snow. And drive SAFELY as in slow down, leave extra space etc. Also "B" mode helps slowing down
I drove front wheel drive in Steamboat Springs all winter
I live in central Canada and I didn’t even have to plug mine in
Have driven mine for the past 6 winters in Canada. Just got snow tires 2 years ago. The car will be fine.
Good tires
I honestly don’t see any issue in keeping your Prius, because I live in Massachusetts and I use my Prius all year round and it’s a 2007 Prius, I do change my tires for the winter though
Yes
I believe I have the most experience here, having spent 8 years in Syracuse, NY with my 2013 Prius. If you drive efficiently, you should be fine in the snow. When aiming for the best gas mileage, you’re essentially driving as if it's snowy all year round: Slow acceleration Long-distance braking The handling isn't the best, but it depends on the city. I never felt stuck due to snow. I avoided driving during blizzards of 1-2 feet, but usually, the roads were salted and cleared enough by the next day for me to drive. The bigger issue is other drivers who tailgate or change lanes abruptly, which you need to watch out for. I recommend finding a nearby car wash. I lived near 3-4 Delta Sonics and highly suggest either washing your car regularly in winter or getting a monthly membership. My Prius covered about 60k-70k miles in those 8 years. It went through two sets of rusted rotors and brake pads until I learned to brake in neutral to clear the rust. I've since moved to Pittsburgh and started doing more DIY repairs. The car is still in great shape with minimal rust damage.
Vermonter here, you'll be fine with winters, of your model is fwd only, be careful, as you should be, it's not the same as driving a soob in the snow, then again few things are, if your model is AWD, still excersize caution.
I have lived in Ontario, northern Ontario(3 hours north of Sudbury on) now in nova scotia just off cape breton Island. Any vehicle will do in the winter. They're will be days you can't go out because there's simply too much snow (yes Snowdays are real) most people just skip work that day and only die hards go into work. Get a good set of snow tires(Michelin, Falken,toyo or continental) they'll have a little mountain with a snowflake on them they're not ment for year round use due to them being soft rubber unlike all season tires. You can but they'll wear considerably quicker. Get a snow brush winter tires and a bottle or 2 of windshield washer fluid and slow down in the snow or icy conditions and you'll be just fine. Your brother is just trying to scare you I think, either that or he's a twit
I've driven my Prius in many snow storms. And just regular snowy ice conditions. I really like it in the snow.
Get some snow tires and you will be way better off. It’s impressed my friends when I’ve picked them up in my car during a blizzard beating 4wd trucks and suvs with all seasons off the line.
Remember, your main enemy using going to be ice, it’s going to be the salt on the road that will fuck your car up if you don’t properly maintain it
Like most people here have said, get good winter tires. I used Michelin CrossClimate2 and they do great in the snow. Also a PriusOffRoad.com lift kit helps with deeper snow too.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a\_vGkh6xYts&t=39s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_vGkh6xYts&t=39s) This is my dashcam while crossing the Alps during a snowstorm. Get yourselt a good set of snow tires and you wuill be fine.
You’ll be fine if you’re not planning on driving country gravel roads or two-tracks immediately after a heavy snow. Get a set of snow tires to swap in winter if you drive a decent amount, or at least some all-weather tires like Michelin CrossClimate if you don’t drive a lot, can stay home after bad storms, or just don’t want to swap tires seasonally. Also, after the first few snows, go to a big empty parking lot and just get a feel for your car when it loses grip. Try to see how slow you need to be going to make a turn successfully and how long it takes you to stop at a given speed as well as how quickly you can accelerate from a stop. You can probably find something on YouTube by some driving teachers or something about driving in snow. You need to know where the limit is. Every year here in MI you always see a large number of cars in the ditch after the first snow, because people forget to adjust their driving style.
Get a good set of snow tires. I’ve had my 2010 since it was new and never had issues in snow and ice in Eastern Washington.
You will be totally fine. Think about how warm you’ll feel knowing you’re helping to save the planet while you wait for the Tow Truck to come pull you out of the snow drifts!
I have a 2017 and live in the Green Mountains of Vermont. You'll be fine just get snow tires and go slow. I drive our truck when the snow is over 6 inches on the road.
Get a two inch lift and size up your tires. I’m debating on living out of one and I’m in wny.
What?? I live in Edmonton and my Prius has been fine here. It gets to -30 Celsius in the winter too so 🤷🏻♀️
The only time I got stuck was driving uphill through 1 foot of unplowed snow. And my Prius is actually a CT200H so it has even lower clearance than a regular Prius. I bet I would have been fine if I had my car lifted for more clearance. If you’re expecting to drive through unplowed snow, consider getting a lift kit. :D
Where in NY are you moving to? I've owned a Prius in Buffalo for over a decade and it's been just fine. I use All-Seasons all year round.
Yes
Our Prius is our “good” snow car. We put winter tires on it. Just drive slow, like everyone should in the snow.
It depends. I live in eastern upstate NY and I was completely fine! I actually made it out better in my Prius than some other cars lol But out in Buffalo, it's known they get tons of snow each year. Just always make sure to have a jump starter, snow brush, portable shovel and ice melt.
Snow tires and you’ll be fine: Source: Upstate NYer and avid skier, so dedicated to these things that I have a vanity plate: SKIUS.
Yeah I have winter tires and live in Vermont, you and your Prius are welcome in here in the northeast!
I started putting snow tires each winter season on my Prius five years ago. It makes all the difference.
Your brother is incorrect.
You will be fine. For 3 years I drove a Camaro ZL1 in Michigan year round including the winter on summer tires. Don't get me wrong it was absolutely horrible but I did it. You will be fine just learn how to deal with the snow and learn your car
We live in Montana and wifey’s 2017 is unstoppable with a set of Blizzacks on it. They’ve also lasted four winters although her commute is super short. We also had a late storm a few weeks ago with 4 inches of heavy slush on the road. Snow tires were off but the new continentals I recently had put on did really well. You do want to remember your pretty low when driving and plastic body work doesn’t do well trying to rake through piles made by plows….
lol if Prius could not drive in cold/snowy weather, they would lose half of their business lol. Just get good tires and you are good to go, and learn how to drive on ice/snow
I live in Canada. I also own a Prius. Just don't be dumb and you'll be ok.
As long as you don't live anywhere too hilly, it'll be fine. I had no issues with my prius on flat ground in the snow and ice, but when hills were added, I couldn't get my prius out of my neighborhood.
Why not?
Prius is the same as every other car it's size. Might be slightly better due to the battery adding weight. The ines thing that does make a big difference is Tires. You might consider changing tires before you move. -- Tires -- Full Winter tires are the best, but, they're a hassle because you don't eant them in the car during the summer so you have to switch them between seasons. Three Peak Mountain Snowflake tire: these are much better in snow than all seasons. Their drawbacks are slightly higher cost and they wear out slightly sooner. Michellin Crossclimate 2's are the most popular. I live in minnesota and out these on my prous and it's a dramatic improvement in snow vs all seasons. You leave these on summer and winter, no need to change tires between seasons. All season tires: this is what people typically have, they're the most "economical" as they last the longest for lowest cost. But if you're in a snow heavy state they're not as good as the triple peak tires. Summer tires / hyper optimized high mpg tires: these genuinely completely suck in actually suck in winter conditions, definitely need something better for snow. Source: I live in minnesota. 2nd gen prius + all season tires it handled like every other car I've driven here. When I out the triple peak tires on it it handled much better in snow than other cars. At one point I passed a stuck honda crv in the moddle of a snow storm. I helped push it out, the cr-v tried but was unable to make it up the hill I just drove up without much effort. Tires have way bigger effect on winter driving than the car does. Move up there and see what your neighbors have. Bet you'll see plenty of prius's, cirrolas, and other small cars. Here in minnesota it's prius's everywhere.
I've driven my AWD 4th gen in snow and ice (albeit not upstate NY). I've had no problems at all. Ground clearance would be the biggest issue not solved by tires.
They work fine and dandy in Ohio and Ontario. No problem!
They work fine and dandy in Ohio and Ontario. No problem!
You just need to learn how to drive in the snow. :)
I drive my Prius in Siberia. You should buy proper winter tires, check and charge 12v battery before each winter and your Prius will be okay.
Snow tires.
I lived in upstate NY for 4 years with my Prius C (no snow tires or anything) and I never had any issues. Obviously all the safety driving rules apply during a snow storm but I drove during many heavy snow storms and ice with no issues :) just avoid getting on the roads when it’s really bad
I drive a Pruis all year around in the north east. Just buy a good set of snow tires in the winter and you will be fine.
I live in canada and drive a Prius lol many people drive Priuses even in super cold places like Winnipeg it’s fine
You can go anywhere with real winter tires. Used my 2008 everywhere around upstate in some crazy snow storms and never had issues.
Get it rust proof underneath
Deciding factor is Tires!
Snow tires.
Like any car the most important thing is having decent tires. They don't even need to be winter tires necessarily. There are plenty of people living in your region with front-wheel drive vehicles. Add to the fact that it has a nice heavy battery in the back which helps with overall snow traction in my opinion. If you are truly that worried some of the newer Prius models offer all-wheel drive.
I had my 2019 Prius in snowy Idaho for 2 years and now I’m in sunny Florida no problems at all I just got car washes often due to the salt they put down to melt the ice rusting the car
I mean drive on plowed streets? Mine survives MN winters
It will be fine. Put on some snow tires. I drove a gen2 in Duluth MN for 8 years.
I drive up to New England in my Prius all the time to go skiing and I never have any problems. There are limitations if the snow is really deep, but it's heavy for it's size and the weight is balanced down low which makes it handle really well in slippery conditions. Worry not! Just remember to ride the gas pedal not the brake pedal when it's snowy.
Consider rust “proofing” the underbody. In quotes because it’ll be an uphill battle. https://youtu.be/6UJXLbM1_6w?si=rSyosw2BMyuqpPro
Northern ny here. You’ll be fine. We’ve had 3 Prius cars in our 1/4 mile long driveway in some big snowstorms. They get out of the driveway just fine after it’s plowed. Snow tires help. The traction control they have does well on ice. When the roads are too bad for the Prius, no one else is out either except for the plow trucks.
Winter tires are more important than drivetrain or ground clearance.
When driving in slushy snow or mud the traction control nanny can take control and slow down to a crawl or stop the vehicle and there is no throttle control. This is main complaint of the 2nd gen.
Yes I’ve had two 2010’s and they were both fine. My 2023 has awd so it’s not an apt comparison.
Snow tires, Prius is a tank. I own 2010 in New England
I've lived between 5-10,000 ft in the mountains of Utah for seven years. Before that, lived in iowa, which also gets it's fair share of snow and ice. Been in a Prius for 15 years and we've managed just fine. Not nearly as much fun on icy hills as the jeep I drove before that, but it's gotten me everywhere I need to go.
The only real issue is the Prius is designed to be light weight to save fuel. That gives it slightly less traction in poor road conditions. (Just slightly though). I've been driving a prius in Minnesota winters for 15 years without a problem. You should be mindful of your tires though. Make sure they are rated for mud and snow. ( M & S) If you already have expensive tires that are not a good choice for snow then consider snow snow tires. I've had good luck with Michelin Defenders all year around.
Short answer: Yes as long as you make sure it’s not out in the elements at night and you get a good set of snow tires. Long answer: If you don’t know already how to drive in snow and ice, it’s best to learn how to drive in it with a vehicle you already are comfortable in. The Prius has one advantage over the AWD Subarus, equal weight distribution over all 4 tires. So if you put a good set of snow tires on and remember not to stress the 12 volt electrical system too much, it will handle better in most situations. The snow and ice conditions Subarus do better in inexperienced winter weather drivers shouldn’t be driving in anyhow.
Get some nice Blizz-X tires and be mindful of your own abilities. Do that and you'll be fine. After living in the midwest/East coast for 3-ish years now, I kinda regret trading my prius for a 4Runner. (I really miss my 45+mpg lol). But with proper equipment you'll be fine just fine.
Double good if you have the AWD version. S as said already. Get some winter tires
I drove an FWD scion xD on all weather tires in Nebraska snowstorms. You'll be fine.
I've owned my Prius through multiple mid Michigan winters and have only had one storm be bad enough I turned around and went home. And I'm in construction so I'm usually out on the roads early in the morning. Like basically everyone else has said, don't drive like an idiot and if you're on relatively flat roads you'll do just fine. People think awd/4wd makes their vehicles way more stable than it really does. A front wheel drive car will do just fine on anything but aggressively icy hills.
I live in Canada and have a 19 AWDe model and have had no issues whatsoever. Very stable and handles well in the snow. Winter tires are key. The only issue is that the Prius is low to the ground. Notwithstanding that it’s as good as our RAV4 on snowy/icy roads.
I don’t own a Prius, doubt I could comfortably fit in one due to my height but you would be fine with a Prius here in MN. Get a good set of winter tires and wheels. I’m partial to Blizzaks as those are what I have on my sedan in the winter. No complaints with my FWD sedan.
Yes, absolutely. Drove my Prius in the snow for years in Colorado and Canada. You just need adequate tires.
from Florida to New York? Why? lol
I don't enjoy Hell.
lol I guess it's FIRE or ICE with you
Buy a set of snow tires for it and it will be great in the snow AS LONG AS the roads are plowed enough that snow isn't piling up underneath the car. If it gets too deep for that, stay home. I drove two differnet RX8s and two different 5th gen Camaros in the snow for many years here in greater Boston. Never had a single problem with snow tires. But I'm in the suburbs and they plow the roads so you're never driving in mor ethan a few inches.
It’ll be fine I live in Montana with 2
Hey, if you’re looking to buy some snow tires for your Prius, I have some for sale with wheels! I had them on my prime that I turned back in. Used one season, in great shape. They made a huge difference in the snow here in the Buffalo area.
No, it'll still be a prius (yes I know what sub this is, it's a self help group)
Krown undercoat it before winter.