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Connecticut winter buying guide
Comparing the Land Rover Defender 110, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover with the BMW X5 and Audi Q7 on what actually gets you up an icy driveway in Avon or across a slushy Route 2 in Glastonbury: drivetrain, suspension, traction systems and tires.
The short answer
For most Connecticut drivers, the best winter luxury SUV is one with full-time all-wheel drive, adjustable air suspension and a set of dedicated winter tires. That last part matters most. Among the five SUVs here, the Defender 110 is the most capable in deep or unplowed snow because every trim has a twin-speed transfer box with low range. The Range Rover Sport is the better daily driver for plowed suburban roads and highway commutes, with air suspension and Terrain Response 2 standard. The BMW X5 and Audi Q7 are both competent in snow, provided you buy the X5 with xDrive. BMW also sells a rear-wheel-drive X5.
In order of how much each one matters on a typical Hartford County winter morning.
1 · Grip
All-wheel drive helps you get moving. Only tire grip helps you stop and turn. A luxury SUV on summer or worn all-season tires will slide through a stop sign on Farmington Avenue just as easily as a sedan. Winter tires stay soft below about 45°F and use siping to bite into packed snow and ice, which is why they change a vehicle's winter behaviour more than any drivetrain feature.
2 · Drive
Every Defender, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Audi Q7 sold in the US comes with all-wheel drive. The BMW X5 does too in its xDrive versions, but BMW also sells a rear-wheel-drive sDrive40i. If you're shopping X5s, used ones especially, check the badge.
3 · Height
Clearance matters when the plow leaves a frozen ridge across the end of your driveway, or a back road in Simsbury or Granby hasn't been cleared yet. Air suspension lets the vehicle sit low on the highway and rise when you need the height. All three Land Rovers here offer it, and so do the X5 and Q7 on specific trims.
4 · Control
Land Rover's Terrain Response adjusts throttle, gearbox and traction control for the surface you select, including a snow-and-ice mode. It doesn't add grip. It makes the grip your tires already have easier to use, especially when pulling away on a hill.
Winter-relevant hardware, from each manufacturer's US specifications.
| Feature | Defender 110 | Range Rover Sport | Range Rover | BMW X5 | Audi Q7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-wheel drive |
Standard, every trim Standard |
Standard Standard |
Standard Standard |
xDrive models only; sDrive40i is rear-drive |
quattro on every trim Standard |
| Low-range gearing |
Twin-speed transfer box, every trim Only one here |
Not listed in US specs | Not listed in US specs | Not listed | Not listed |
| Air suspension | Available | Dynamic Air Suspension, standard | Electronic Air Suspension | Two-axle air, standard on xDrive40i | Adaptive air, standard on Premium Plus |
| Terrain/traction system | Terrain Response; Terrain Response 2 on X and Trophy | Terrain Response 2, standard | Configurable Terrain Response | Drive-mode selector | Drive-mode selector |
| Max wading depth | Up to 35.4 in | Not published (US) | Not published (US) | Not published | Not published |
| Plug-in or electric option | None for 2027 (3.0L six only) | PHEV, up to 51 mi electric | PHEV up to 50 mi; EV up to 333 mi | xDrive50e PHEV | None |
Sources: landroverusa.com and rangerover.com model and specification pages, plus published manufacturer and retailer specifications for the BMW X5 and Audi Q7, checked October 2026. Equipment varies by trim and model year, so confirm a specific vehicle's window sticker.
Two rows deserve a closer look. Low range is the Defender's real advantage in a Connecticut storm: it multiplies torque at very low speed, so the vehicle can creep up a steep, unplowed driveway without spinning the tires. The plug-in row matters more than it seems. A PHEV's electric motor delivers torque instantly and smoothly, which helps traction when pulling away on ice. But battery range drops in the cold, so the 51-mile rating on the Range Rover Sport PHEV is a best case, not a January figure.
They answer different winters. Pick the one that matches yours.
Most capable in deep snow
Best for: long or steep driveways, back roads in the hill towns west of Simsbury and Avon, ski weekends in Vermont, and anyone who heads out before the plows. The 2027 Defender 110 runs the 3.0-liter six on every trim.
Best daily winter driver
Best for: commuting from West Hartford, Farmington or Glastonbury on I-84 and Route 2, plowed suburban roads, and buyers who want winter confidence without giving up highway refinement. Starting MSRP excludes the $1,850 destination charge.
If your winter means a steep gravel driveway or regular trips north, the Defender 110's low range is what you'll actually use. If it means getting to the office in West Hartford on cleared roads with the occasional unplowed side street, the Range Rover Sport's air suspension and standard Terrain Response 2 cover that, and it's quieter and quicker on dry pavement the rest of the year. The full-size Range Rover sits above both. It has the same AWD-and-air-suspension recipe in a larger, seven-seat-capable body, and it's the only one of the five offered with a fully electric version.
See all Defender inventory →Both are genuinely good winter vehicles, and both are common in Hartford County driveways. The Audi Q7 has quattro all-wheel drive on every trim and three rows of seats, and for 2026 adaptive air suspension is standard from the Premium Plus trim up. For a family that mostly drives plowed roads, it's a sensible choice. The BMW X5 handles snow well in xDrive form, and the xDrive40i comes with two-axle air suspension. Just don't assume every X5 is all-wheel drive: the sDrive40i sends power to the rear wheels only. That's a real handicap on a Connecticut hill in February.
What neither offers is low-range gearing. On plowed pavement you won't miss it. In 10 inches of fresh snow on an unplowed road, or climbing a long driveway after an ice storm, that is the difference between the Defender 110 and everything else on this list.
Any of these SUVs on proper winter tires will outperform any of them on worn all-seasons.
Three practical notes for Land Rover owners. First, check the size: Range Rover Sport and Defender trims ship on a range of wheel diameters, and a smaller winter wheel (where the brakes allow it) gives you a taller, more forgiving sidewall over frost heaves. Second, use the same tire on all four corners, because all-wheel-drive systems expect matching rolling diameters. Third, if you choose studded tires, they have to come off by April 30.
If you already own a Land Rover, a service visit before the first storm is the easiest way to work through that list. Schedule service online and ask the team to check the tires, battery and wipers while the vehicle is in.
Land Rover Hartford stocks the Defender 110, Range Rover Sport and full-size Range Rover, and its team can walk you through how each one handles the roads you drive every day. Range Rover Sport availability changes quickly, so check current stock or configure the trim you want. Western Massachusetts drivers from Longmeadow and Springfield are well within reach too.
Browse all new inventory → Range Rover Sport inventoryYes. Every current Defender and Range Rover sold in the US has all-wheel drive, and Terrain Response includes a dedicated mode for snow and ice. The Defender 110 also has a twin-speed transfer box with low range on every trim, which is rare in a luxury SUV. As with any vehicle, winter tires make the biggest difference.
The Defender 110 is more capable in deep or unplowed snow because of its low-range transfer box. The Range Rover Sport is the better daily winter driver on plowed roads and highways, with standard air suspension and Terrain Response 2. Choose by the roads you actually drive.
Not always. BMW sells the X5 with xDrive all-wheel drive, but also as the rear-wheel-drive sDrive40i. For a Connecticut winter, choose an xDrive model.
They're strongly recommended. All-wheel drive helps you accelerate, but braking and steering grip come from the tires alone. Hartford-area winters average around 48 inches of snow at Bradley Airport, and dedicated winter tires are the single biggest upgrade for ice and packed snow.
Connecticut allows studded tires from November 15 through April 30.
Yes. Connecticut law requires drivers to clear snow and ice from the hood, trunk and roof. The fine is $75, and it rises to between $200 and $1,000 for a non-commercial driver if snow or ice from the vehicle causes injury or property damage.