Chevrolet Keeps the Winter Driver in Mind

These dreary winter days can make a driver cringe, knowing he or she must brave the elements to get to work or the store. Fortunately, Chevrolet has kept the winter driver in mind, and it certainly shows in the features that many of its vehicles are sporting these days.

A driver can take to the road in confidence thanks to the well-thought-out design and accessories on many of Chevrolet's newest vehicles. The Volt, Chevrolet's flagship electric car, for example, is especially up to the rigors of old man winter. Its OnStar MyLink application enables a driver to start the car remotely while the vehicle is still plugged in to its charging dock, which helps to reserve battery power. This makes the Volt a particularly attractive choice for eco-conscious commuters who must deal with frigid driving conditions. Heated seats warm both the driver and passengers in the Volt and several other Chevrolet models, keeping everyone toasty while the cabin of the car warms up via the standard heating system.

While some features are included for the driver's convenience and comfort, Chevrolet has also kept winter driving safety in mind. The company's StabiliTrak Electronic Stability Control System provides extra stability and traction on those slick winter roads, and anti-lock brakes make short work of stopping the vehicle quickly and safely. All-season tires round out the list of perks that Chevrolet has added to many of its vehicles to help a driver handle slippery roads with ease.

Clearly, Chevrolet has put a lot of thought into its newest vehicle offerings and the company definitely does not forget that many American drivers who take to the roads every day must face bitter cold, snow and ice-covered roads. Chevrolet is gaining a lot of fans with these features that make a driver's life a lot easier when he or she must venture out into the cold."

Chevy Has Great Winter Options

Image of Chevy Equinox from Popular Mechanics

Anyone looking for a reason to turn to Chevrolet for the best family-friendly choice in vehicles for winter driving, need look no further.  Chevy has earned numerous top spots from auto experts all over.  Chevy appears twice on MSN's list of Best Winter Cars for Every US Region.  The full-sized Chevy Surburban has a long-standing pedigree for its passenger and cargo capacity.  It boasts a quiet ride and comfortable suspension, as well as a hefty torque for towing.  While SUVS like the Suburban seem a natural choice for winter driving, MSN also recommends a pickup truck.  The Chevy Silverado made their list for braving icy roads and below-freezing temperatures.  This makes sense when you consider that the Silverado 1500 model comes available as a snow plow.  On the other end of the spectrum, the Silverado also comes in a hybrid model to maximize fuel efficiency with minimal sacrifice in hauling.  According to Larry E. Hall's review for hybridcars.com, the Silverado Hybrid burns only an average of twenty-one miles per gallon even with over a ton of cargo.

For those looking for a compact SUV, the Chevrolet Equinox appeared on Forbes' Best Cars For Snow, for reasons including a car-like feel, thanks to its unibody chassis, all-wheel-drive, and optional warming features like heated seats and an engine block heater.  Car and Driver  also praised the comfort features of the Equinox such as adjustable rear seats and effortlessly readable dashboard gauges.


The most recognition, however, has come in for the Chevrolet Traverse.  This spacious mid-sized SUV is lauded not only for its practicality in wintry conditions, but for affordability as well, making it ideal for a holiday family road trip.  Consumer Reports, recommended the Chevrolet Traverse as a featured vehicle for people who live in a snowy climate in their December 2011 Best New Car Deal.  The Traverse was also a contender on Kelly Blue Book's Top 10 Winter Cars for 2012 ().  With a wide variety of choices from rugged to luxurious, Chevrolet has got something for every member of your family.

Winter - Chevrolet Is Winter Strong

Today's line-up of Chevy vehicles include cars, trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, and crossovers, and every model combines Chevy's long-standing tradition of excellent craftsmanship with some of the most cutting-edge technology available. Because having a vehicle that performs well in every type of weather is incredibly important, Chevy makes sure that each and every one of their vehicles is fully equipped to tackle even the harshest winter.

Take, for instance, the Chevy Volt. The Chevy Volt is an electric vehicle that combines an electric battery with an on board gas generator. Cold weather presents different challenges for electric vehicles than it poses for traditional gas-powered ones, and Chevy tackled those challenges head-on. When the mercury dips below freezing, the Volt's engine will automatically cycle on and off. This warms the coolant, and the thermal energy is used to heat up the cabin, keeping passengers comfortable even during the coldest of temperatures.

Many of the SUV, truck, and crossover models in Chevy's line-up are available with All Wheel Drive. Vehicles with AWD give drivers greater control and safety in icy or snowy road conditions. Virtually all of the Chevrolet vehicles also come standard with 4-wheel anti-lock brakes. Sensors automatically detect wheel locks when the brakes are applied, and the brakes will quickly release pressure, then return the pressure to normal. Having an all-wheel ABS system can prevent the driver from skidding and losing control. Also standard on virtually all Chevy vehicles is an electronic stability control system. If the vehicle detects that the driver has lost control, the ESC kicks in and will apply each individual brake to help steer the vehicle in the right direction. The traction control system that also comes standard can intervene and enhance driver control in dangerous conditions.

As you can see, Chevrolet strives to implement some of the most cutting-edge safety technologies in their vehicles. Even when driving in less than ideal circumstances, Chevy owners can rest assured that their vehicles were designed with safety in mind. Even the most brutal winters are no match for the Chevy engineers.

Winter - Chevy Volt is Built with Winter in Mind

When most people think Chevy, it's not the company's electric vehicle that immediately comes to mind.  Particularly if you happen to live in an area with heavy winter weather and icy roads, you may have never considered that an electric vehicle such as the Chevy Volt could stand up to wintry conditions.  It's almost ironic, though, that the Volt was released to retail buyers at the end of 2010, just before the dead center of a New Jersey snowstorm in early 2011.

When the Volts hit the roads in Jersey that January, I think customers were more than a little relieved.  Without a standard engine releasing heat to help warm up the inside of the car, most people expected to be huddling up with blankets and gloves while driving along.  The first wave of relief came when they realized that the Volt battery can be started remotely while it's still plugged it, warming up the car without using up all the power.  The remote feature can be utilized either on the Volt website or with an OnStar feature.  After it's heated up initially, all you have to do is maintain the warmth, which is much easier than heating it initially. In addition to the remote feature, the electric engines actually warm interior spaces more efficiently than gasoline powered ones.

Another great winter feature of the Volt is the heated seats.  If you concentrate on heating your immediate space, rather than overheating the entire interior air, your body temperature will be more regulated and you'll be saving power at the same time.

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If you ever venture into temperatures that are sub-zero, the Volt's engine has a nice little trick for creating electric warmth as you buzz along.  Once the temps get that low, the engine will cycle itself on and off, heating up the coolant fluids as it does so.  This actually gives the car a reserve of thermal energy that passengers can use to keep them toasty warm inside.

The Volts were purposefully tested and tried in the coldest regions of North America, including parts of Ontario, Canada and Fairbanks, Alaska.  Chevrolet foresaw the reluctance of drivers to tackle extreme winter weather in an electric buggy and they met the challenge head on. 

Chevrolet Takes Care of you in the Winter

Most automobiles have available accessories that can jazz them up, deck them out or quadruple their comfort levels.  The one set of gadgets that you don't want to do without, however, is a collection of items that prepare you for extreme winter driving.  Chevrolet makes it easy for you to do this by putting together accessible information about what your needs may be and what you can buy to meet those needs.  Do it now, before the need actually presents itself and you find that you are unprepared.

As an example of customized winter accessories for Chevy vehicles, let's look at the popular Chevy Silverado truck. First of all, there's the remote entry system that can be purchased and installed on the Silverado, meaning that you can heat the truck's interior before you ever walk out your door into the cold winter air.  Next in importance for getting you out on the road is the heated wiper blades because if you can't see, you can't drive.  The blades have built-in heating features that actually keep your blades at about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. 

When snow has accumulated on the roadways, you will need to consider things like snow tires and chains.  Chevy makes tires specifically to fit their vehicles, including the Silverado.  You can easily switch back and forth between your regular tires and snow tires, making the winter ones last for years.  Snow chains for the Silverado are available based on your wheel size, as well as the type of weather you will be experiencing the more severe, the more extensive the features of the chains are.  Another very useful accessory for driving in snow is the SnowSport snow plow, which attaches right onto the front of the truck. The rubber blade is six feet tall and one inch thick.

Chevy makes it easy to winterize with accessories that are custom made to fit their vehicles.  Prepare yourself now, before you hit the roads in the coldest months.