Ground Clearance and tire size matters. Given both are using winter tires.
Live in the snow belt in northern NY, lake effect storms routinely dump feet of snow overnight.
Corollas (have owned 5 from 1996 -2022) have always been more than enough except the absurd days where there is like 4 feet in a day.
But you shouldn’t be driving during those anyways.
Of course the Rav will be better in the snow, but an experienced winter driver can handle a Corolla easily
Of course the Rav will be better in the snow, but an experienced winter driver can handle a Corolla easily
With proper snow tires, both cars will perform equally. Rav4 will have a little more weight behind it to plow through some thicker areas of snow, but at that point you shouldn’t be driving on the roads anyway and if you are getting this type of weather, you likely have road maintenance anyway which includes plows so the benefit becomes a relatively moot point.
The difference comes down to this, really:
The Rav4 (more weight) will be easier to get moving, but will be harder for it to stop.
The Corolla (less weight) will be harder to get moving, but will be easier for it to stop.
ground clearance could matter yes but if the snow is so deep that it matters you shouldnt be on the road anymore with either vehicle.
we are looking at 13,5cm ground clearance on the Corolla and 18,0cm on the Rav4
to the difference isnt really that big.
Tire size also doesnt really matter or isnt that different, the RAV4 comes with 19" wheels at most and comes stock with 235/55R19 while my Corolla came stock with 18" wheels and 235/40R18 tires.
I never had any problems driving my 1998 Audi A4 Quattro to Colorado ski areas with 205/55R16 snow tires.