5 of the Best Vehicles for Ski Weekends
Snow-beating, passenger-friendly vehicles that are ready to get you to the slopes and back.
Capital One
Getting you and your family to a ski resort can be a major undertaking, but the right vehicle can haul ski and snowboard gear, and safely sail through the worst of winter weather.
We combed through a myriad of four-wheel-drive SUVs to look for vehicles with excellent cargo space (especially up top for skis), decent fuel economy since it can be a long trek into the hills or mountains, and a comfortable cabin with room for your whole family. While vehicles that fit that bill were fairly easy to find (the formula isn’t terribly complex) each of our picks has a few distinct cold-weather features that might be especially helpful when flurries turn to flakes.
Ford
2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid
If a three-row, seven-seat ski machine is on your agenda, the four-wheel-drive hybrid version of the Ford Explorer offers a winter-ready alternative, priced at about $56,000. The 318-hp, 3.3-liter V6/hybrid powertrain generates 25 combined city/highway mpg, and a Deep Snow mode on the drive select knob can help with additional traction. Power-folding third-row seats leave a big spot for equipment, especially with the optional second-row captain’s chairs, while a Yakima SkyBox rooftop cargo box is a dealer-installed option. Additional niceties include heated front- and second-row seats, a self-washing rearview camera for melted splashback, and optional floor liners.
GMC
2023 GMC Yukon XL
With huge seats-up cargo room (41.5 cubic feet) and much more adult-friendly third-row seating than its previous generation, at about 225-inches-long the Yukon XL makes for a solid ski machine. Pricing starts at about $65,000 with 4WD. It’s a bit of a reach to scrape window ice or load rooftop gear on this nearly 77-inch-tall SUV, but its height-adjustable air ride suspension can help, and it also smooths out the ride. A 355-hp, 5.3-liter V8 or a 420-hp, 6.2-liter V8 both return 16 mpg combined according to EPA estimates, and are standard choices. Or consider the optional 3.0-liter, six-cylinder diesel engine, which gives the 4WD Yukon 22 mpg combined and up to 756 miles of range — enough to make it from Breckenridge, Colorado, to Breckenridge, Texas, on one tank.
Kia
2023 Kia Telluride
Named after an old-time mining town-turned ski destination, Kia’s successful three-row SUV is an affordable option with loads of wintertime style, plus room for up to eight occupants. A 3.8-liter V6 provides 291 horsepower and, when paired with AWD, 21 mpg combined for about $39,000. Telluride’s Snow mode and AWD Lock mode can also help provide solid traction on icy roads. Water-resistant synthetic seating surfaces are perfect for carrying a load of snow-soaked passengers, with heated (and cooled, just in case) first- and second-row seating available. Roof rails can accommodate a cargo box to help maximize space, and Safe Exit Assist is a nice feature in a busy ski hill parking lot.
Mercedes-Benz
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450
The midsize member of the Mercedes SUV family offers a sweet spot for weekend skiers, with all-wheel drive and a range of AMG performance models, plus a sleek coupe version. The traditional 362-hp GLE 450, priced around $65,000, will serve your wintertime needs with 33.3 cubic-foot of cargo space and 22 mpg from a turbocharged, 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine with an integrated hybrid starter and generator. The GLE is also available with small third-row seating.
A wide digital instrument display, multicolored LED interior lighting, and heated second-row seating paired with optional rapid-heating front seats, armrests and door panels (even the cupholders are heated) will give your ride home a decadent feel.
Subaru
2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness
It’s unlikely your Outback will be the only Subaru at a ski resort, but you can stand out a bit with the $40,000 Wilderness edition, which gives it a more distinctive, rugged look, and also pushes snowy-road clearance to 9.5 inches. With waterproof upholstery, a helpful 180-degree front-view camera and standard, full-time AWD with enhanced traction from the dual X-Mode system, Outback is also as versatile as ever. It also gets 23 mpg from its 260-hp. 2.4-liter engine. There are only two rows, but it’s also built to handle 200 pounds of dynamic (while driving) roof-rail load, or 700 pounds of static load capacity for hardy rooftop campers who want to be first on the lift in the morning.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Andy StonehouseAndy Stonehouse literally fell into the world of auto writing while working as a ski-town journalist, and has not looked back since. A childhood spent dealing with the eccentricities of a 1976 MG Midget has made any subsequent auto experience a more safe and reliable drive. He has been blessed with nearby mountain trails and snowy roads in Colorado to do TV-adventure-styled test drives on a weekly basis.
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