Best cars in the winter

Kia

Snow is on the way, and the Kia Sorento could be just the car to get you through a tough winter.

With that in mind, and armed with the fact that the average new car transaction price in the U.S. is just over $34, 000, we’ve compiled a list of our 7 favorite cars and SUVs (with available all-wheel-drive, naturally) to keep you safe, warm, and in control this winter.

Small Car: 2016 Subaru Impreza

Subaru's stalwart economy car is the prototype for cheap all-wheel-drive fun and capability.

, is by far the best in its class at handling the fluffy stuff, and it won’t hurt your wallet either with a base MSRP of just $21, 595.

Compact Crossover: 2016 Mazda CX-3

Mazda

The Mazda CX-3 is a no-brainer if you are looking for a small winter sled.

is a slightly more capable version of the already excellent Mazda3 hatch, and one that will get you through the winter with ease at a base MSRP of , 210 for the Sport AWD model.

Midsize Car: 2016 Ford Fusion

Ford

Powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost or 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, the Fusion boasts power and efficiency in spades.

? Maybe pure off-roading, but that’s about it. For 2016, Honda keeps its best-selling crossover true to its core – meaning affordable, fuel efficient, and comfortable. Fuel economy can easily reach into the 30s, and thanks to a spacious interior, the CR-V seems much larger than it actually is. With a base price of $24, 895 for the LX AWD model, the CR-V makes a very strong caseto be your ride of choice this winter.

Large Car: 2016 Chrysler 300

Chrysler

Pick up a Chrysler 300 in Limited Trim for , 515 MSRP, you won't be disappointed.

, and sometimes it’s best to roll with the times. In the case of the Chrysler 300, both of these mantras are true. Chrysler’s large sedan is refreshingly old-fashioned, with its smooth Pentastar V-6 and optional Hemi V-8 doing the heavy lifting, but this full-size sedan is not one to fall behind trends. Keeping with the times, the 2016 300 is available with all-wheel-drive, for the discerning, snow-bound customer that doesn’t want to sacrifice a comfortable, American sedan. Pick one up in Limited trim for $34, 515 MSRP.

Family SUV: 2016 Kia Sorento

Kia

Kia’s flagship SUV was fully-redesigned for 2016, and with the overhaul comes power, capability, and loads of standard features.

, and with the overhaul comes power, capability, and loads of standard features. With AWD available across the range (except base L trim), the Sorento is a steal for its size at a relatively miniscule $28, 000 starting MSRP for the well-equipped LX model.

Adventure Machine: 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Jeep

Nothing beats a Wrangler for sheer capability and fun.

, the fact remains that the four-door Unlimited model is wholly more practical, and for a base price of $27, 295, you can’t go wrong. It may not be the one you’ll want to drive every single day, but nothing beats a Wrangler for sheer capability and fun.