I’ve rented winter houses at Old Timberline in the past.
I've been using a 2020 Sienna with AWD and Firestone Weathergrip all season tires. I once had a Rav4, and the Sienna is better. I would not get a Prius, though I haven't driven one in the snow. AWD is enough. Theoretically, one tire should be able to pull you with AWD, which is the best that you can do, though some AWD systems don't end up doing that, but Toyota is pretty good. 4WD just means power to all wheels, and that isn't enough, because if one tire slips you're stuck. To get the best traction you have to have locking differentials or limited slip differentials or electronic traction control. Basic 4WD has a front and back differential and a center differential that allows the tires to move at different speeds when going around curves, but the consequence is that only one tire has to spin, and all the other tires won't move. To fix this, many 4WD systems allow you to lock the differentials. In some old cars you'd have to get out of the car to do it. If all differentials are locked, then it only takes one tire to pull the car. This would be the best to keep from getting stuck, but then there are problems going around curves or going fast, so you'd only use locked differentials when going slowly when there is snow to allow tires to slip when going around curves. Since it's better not to have the tires slip, since static friction is better than kinetic friction, the best is if you get all the functionality of the differentials, but decrease the slip in the differentials when there's loss of traction, and that's basically what AWD does. How much differential slip and when is what makes some AWD systems better than others. Once the tires start slipping, you'll have less traction, so with completely locked differentials it can be better, because it doesn't take slipping to trigger the lock, but on the other hand you'll have better traction going around curves with limited slip differentials which improves safety. It's better to be stuck and not be able to move than lose traction going around a curve. Also, with limited slip, you don't have to decide when the conditions require you to turn it off to avoid damaging the car. My Rav4 had a mode where you could do 4WD lock. It didn't make that much difference, a little sometimes. My Sienna doesn't have that mode, but I'd say the Sienna is better than the RAV4 with the lock.
Tires will make the most difference vs. AWD system, then car weight and clearance. With good tires, the limiting factors for the Rav4 and Sienna are clearance. I have been in situations where that's keeping me from moving. I had a great powder day at Timberline where I was just barely able to move with the Sienna, because of clearance. If you expect to drive when there will regularly be snowplows working the road, then the Sienna will be excellent, but if you need to ride on a road that the plows won't touch, and you don't want to wait it out, then I would get a vehicle with more clearance like a Tacoma. Clearance and weight are reasons why I think the Prius wouldn't be useful enough for me.
Sarabeth wrote:
We’ve been renting cars for ski trips for the past few years, but we’re going to buy one before next season. We mostly go to Timberline, and stay in our cabin in Old Timberline (on the flatter side, not up the mountain), so there can be significant snow and we’re on dirt roads for the last few miles. We also do an occasional road trip to VT. Debating what car to get. Whatever we get, we will put snow tires on for the winter. Prefer Toyotas, currently looking at:Prius Prime (with AWD)Rav4 Prime.Sienna (with AWD)Questions we’re debating:Is AWD enough or should we be looking at 4WDHow much ground clearance do we need?Will they hassle us at the gate to Old Timberline if we’re in a Prius? (I should probably call and ask about this one)Would also welcome other suggestions!
I had a Subaru Outback (4wd) from 2013 to 2024, then I got a Toyota Rav4 Hybrid (AWD). Outback with snow tires was quite excellent in the snow. Rav4 with snow tires is also quite good in snow, if not perhaps quite as un-slippable as the Outback. I cross the US at least twice a year and the Rav4 Hybrid is much nicer to drive than the Outback, but I had a base model Outback and the Rav4 has a few options. Rav4 has much more power/acceleration and comfortable ride over long distances. Old Outback was a slug, but very good in snow.
Agree with the others, if you want the best traction and safest feeling in serious snow conditions, then go to the trouble to get snow tires. In fact, my Dad had RWD cars back in the 70s - 90s that we drove frequently to ski areas. He ran them with snow tires in winter and they were better than modern 4wd cars I've had without snow tires.
I've been happy with a RAV4 Prime AWD since the winter of 2020-21. Have driven in snowy conditions in WV and Colorado.
Rented a 4WD RAV4 once for Taos. Took it up onto the very snowy road and parking lot at Pajarito. Based on that experience, I'm happier with AWD.
A friend has had a Sienna AWD for several years. She lives in Boston. Goes skiing in New England pretty often.
As a "ski car" I wouldn't want a Prius. So much easier to load gear and stuff an SUV or minivan. I drove a minivan for 15 years before changing to the RAV4. Drove it in snow a few times in New England. Not what I wanted for ski trips or long distance drives in general after there wasn't any reason to need the space of a minivan.
