Regardless of fuel type, FWD, RWD or 4wd, the most important part of a vehicle in slippery conditions are the tyres.

A RWD car with brand new winter tyres will perform better on slippery roads than a 4wd on summer tyres with 2mm of tread.

No experience of either.

But, I am a self employed window cleaner working in various places around Aberdeenshire, including some very rural areas. In nearly 16 years I could count on one hand the amount of times I've felt four wheel drive would be of any real benefit.

Unless the hill you mention is very steep and/or generally ignored by the council re gritting and plowing, whether or not the car had four wheel drive wouldn't be a factor for me.

Not sure you would have the option on either of your choices, but "appropriate" tyres are much more important to me. By that, I don't just mean "all season" or "winter", but also not being ridiculously wide and ridiculously low profile.

Edited by badbusdriver on 04/04/2025 at 09:11