Trax Awd or Equinox Fwd for snowy commute

Where about do you live and how crazy do your winters get?

Upstate NY. Usually 120+ inches of snow per year.

Both come in AWD so that should be good for the snow. Other than that it is more a matter of size. Do you need the extra space of the Equinox, or would you be fine with the size of the Trax?

Why not just get the Equinox AWD? Why is it between Trax AWD and Equinox FWD?

Armond787 said:

Upstate NY. Usually 120+ inches of snow per year.

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You should be fine with either vehicle, just need to make sure you have winter tires to make you safer out there.

And then there are all the other winter driving related things to consider that aren't safety related.

TrainTrax said:

Both come in AWD so that should be good for the snow. Other than that it is more a matter of size. Do you need the extra space of the Equinox, or would you be fine with the size of the Trax?

Why not just get the Equinox AWD? Why is it between Trax AWD and Equinox FWD?

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I'd be fine with the size of either vehicle. It's just a matter of price. Awd trax is approximately the same as a fwd Equinox at the dealer I looked at.

If you can live with the smaller size go with the Trax only because the AWD vehicle will keep its value better in your area when you go to sell/trade it. Same here in Colorado. Either one needs dedicated snow tires (studs if you can!) for the ultimate in safety. I've done front wheel drive cars all winter long from an Ford Escort to a Pontiac Grand Prix, but had good studded snows on all corners on both and except for a couple of deep drifts, I never had a problem.

I think the bigger difference will be putting snow tries on the car. Again, it does depend on how severe the winters get where you live.

TrainTrax said:

I think the bigger difference will be putting snow tries on the car. Again, it does depend on how severe the winters get where you live.

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Traction greatly improves with the use of winter tires, so that's already a big step forward, sometimes the only step needed....actually it's all i've ever done.

I bought a set of extra wheels off ebay for my Trax, I plan on buying a set of Cooper snows for it.

I can get by in NE PA. with regular tires, but I live in the elevations and I do have a steep driveway, I used to have to stop to put my truck in 4wd just to climb the driveway.

I bought a set of Sonic wheels for 300 snow tires another 300 and I have seen the sensors for under 50 so I know I will be able to get out this winter.

I like having snows on my winter vehicles, I put them on at the forecast of the first sizable snow fall, then they come off on St Patrick's day, they last for many years only driving in winter cold.

As others have said, get winter tires. I also read recently that these can be cheaper to buy now rather than waiting until just before the snow hits.

When getting winter tires, also get a set of steel wheels. This will make them easy to swap, plus road salt does nasty things to alloy wheels.

mkaresh said:

As others have said, get winter tires. I also read recently that these can be cheaper to buy now rather than waiting until just before the snow hits.

When getting winter tires, also get a set of steel wheels. This will make them easy to swap, plus road salt does nasty things to alloy wheels.

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You can save even more by buying used sets, just have to make sure you inspect the tires. It's quite possible to pick up a set for a few hundred...that's wheels AND tires.

Used rims are okay as long as they are in great condition but I wouldn't get used tires. What you want are the treads on them and that could have been worn down a bit by the previous owner.

I have seen Cooper snows for the trax for under 300 shipped that is what I am going to get.

I have had Cooper snows on all of my trucks for the last 10 years, I used them only for the snow months then take them off in March.

I usually wind up selling the tires and getting most of my money back because they are in such great condition.

I have a whole set left over from my Colorado , excellent 2012 wheels and all, they are just too big for the Trax

Make sure when putting on the snows with steel rims that you also change the wheelnuts, the originals will not last more than one winter without getting rusty as all get out

Why buy steel when you can buy painted aluminum just as cheaply, cruze or sonic wheels fit.

You can buy wheels with flaws or factory take offs for somewhere around 300.

The steel wheels that were selling for 80 each then look like crap all winter.

c502cid said:

If you can live with the smaller size go with the Trax only because the AWD vehicle will keep its value better in your area when you go to sell/trade it. Same here in Colorado. Either one needs dedicated snow tires (studs if you can!) for the ultimate in safety. I've done front wheel drive cars all winter long from an Ford Escort to a Pontiac Grand Prix, but had good studded snows on all corners on both and except for a couple of deep drifts, I never had a problem.

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Nice assessment. My experience: '15 Trax LT AWD, bought in 9/19 with some Firestone all seasons. I'm In Minnesota - perhaps you get more snow. I've had good luck in some hard minnesota snow that lasted 2 days and dustings both of us can laugh at. 50 K on the odometer when I bought it and a bit over 65K now