If you’re thinking about getting a Hyundai Elantra but live in an area that gets snow, then you’re probably wondering how well this sedan performs in winter weather!
The Hyundai Elantra performs reasonably well in snow thanks to its ABS, stability control, and traction control systems. Although it’s not available in an all-wheel or four-wheel drive option, you can further enhance its winter prowess with the addition of snow tires.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the Hyundai Elantra features that enable it to be a competent vehicle for the snow.
Is the Hyundai Elantra a Good Car for Snow?
Winter weather won’t slow you down too much if you’re behind the wheel of a Hyundai Elantra. It’ll perform even better when you’ve got the right tires on it, though.
The Elantra has several systems dedicated to the car’s stability.
The anti-lock braking system improves winter performance. You don’t need to worry about your brakes locking up whenever you’re applying pressure. Even ice won’t cause that to happen.
Hyundai also included an electronic brake distribution system in the Elantra. When you’re driving, not every tire carries the same amount of weight. As a result, the EBD system will vary how much pressure is applied to them.
Both of these technologies help prevent loss of control whenever you’re braking.
Another useful winter-weather feature would be the remote start system. Sitting in a cold car isn’t fun for anyone. With this, you can warm up the car while you’re still inside. By the time you get in, it’ll already be warmed up.
A new stability control system also improves performance in adverse conditions. It’ll sense when you’ve lost control. Then, it’ll adjust braking pressure and engine speed to realign the car with the road.
That makes it a lot easier for drivers to regain control while sliding.
A new traction control system also helps keep you on the road.
By adjusting power to the tires, you’ll stop spinning your wheels needlessly. A patch of black ice won’t even stand a chance.
As soon as you start slipping, it’ll determine how much power to send to each of the wheels.
If one of your wheels is spinning faster, the traction control system reduces the power sent to that one.
Another benefit of the Hyundai Elantra would be the High-Beam Assist. This will stop oncoming motorists from being blinded by your high beams.
You’ll also have a lane departure assist. If you’re going outside the lines, it’ll let you know. If you keep drifting, the steering assist will push you back to the center.
A blind-spot assist device also alerts you whenever someone’s in your blind spot. It’ll even apply brakes to one of your wheels if you start merging. That prevents collisions from happening.
There’s even a rear-guard-collision-assist feature, too. This one notices if there’s oncoming traffic while you’re backing up. If something gets in the way, it’ll stop the car. That way, you don’t run into anything.
Some Hyundais even come with an engine block heater as standard. This feature depends on the market, though.
It lets you plug your Elantra into a standard outlet to keep the engine warm.
A battery booster could also help improve your winter driving performance. This provides additional juice if your battery gives out due to the cold.
Last but not least, standard heated seats also make things feel comfortable 😉
Does the Hyundai Elantra Come With AWD?
The Hyundai Elantra does not come with an all-wheel-drive, nor does it have a 4-wheel-drive. It’s a front-wheel-drive vehicle. None of the trims options add other drive options, either.
That doesn’t mean the Elantra can’t handle winter weather, though. You should still be able to handle plenty of snow in this sedan.
If you’re driving on ice, you should be extra careful. Since only 2 wheels have power, you could lose traction easily.
Drive slowly if you’re on top of the ice. The traction control system should prevent you from losing control entirely. However, you’ll need much more distance to slow down.
You’ll also notice you’ve got reduced acceleration on ice as well.
How Much Snow Can the Elantra Handle?
The Elantra has a clearance of 5.3 inches. That’s more than enough to drive on most roads during the winter. Unless the roads aren’t plowed, you shouldn’t notice any problems in the snow.
We’d suggest only driving through snow if it’s less than 4 inches deep.
Large snow tires could help you drive through something deeper than that, though.
You might notice other problems from the cold weather. For example, it might seem like your battery drains faster than usual. That’s because batteries don’t hold their charge in the cold as well.
You should also check your tire pressure. Cold temperatures could cause them to underinflate. The tire pressure monitoring system should let you know. But, it might be worth checking before going for a drive.
Your windshield wipers could also become frozen. Frozen wipers won’t be much help if it’s snowing. They’ll probably just stay in place instead.
Keep your engine topped off with antifreeze. Otherwise, you could have issues with frozen fluids inside of it, too.
Ways to Improve the Elantras Snow Performance
The best thing you could do for your Elantra would be to install some snow tires. These maintain traction better in the snow. And, they’ll improve your ground clearance a little bit, too.
Snow tires use a special rubber that’s more flexible in the cold. Flexibility is essential for traction. So, they’ll grip the ground a bit better in the snow.
You’ll notice you’ve got better braking with snow tires on as well. Since they’ve got better traction, it won’t take as long to slow down.
They’ll even help you start on slippery roads. Enhanced traction reduces the probability of wheel slippage.
You might want to carry a tire inflator around with you. Since tires lose pressure in the cold, you never know when you’ll need one.
Replace your spark plugs if they’re getting old. Older spark plugs tend to fail more often when it’s cold. Without good spark plugs, you won’t be able to start up the engine.
The Hyundai Elantra Is Suitable for the Snow
If you’ve been thinking about getting one, don’t let the snow stop you. The Hyundai Elantra has plenty of safety features to keep you on the road safely.
Just make sure not to drive in snow deeper than 4 inches. As long as you do that, snow won’t be a problem!
