Saving & Spending Home & Auto

12 Best Cars for Driving in Rain

Wet weather can lead to dangerous road conditions if you don’t have the right car.

mother driving daughter on rainy day
Updated Sept. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Living in rainy cities such as Seattle or hurricane-prone states like Florida can be an issue if you don’t have the right car.

In such places, you might need something that has all-wheel drive to deal with slick roads or that offers a decent amount of clearance to get through standing water.

Which cars are going to do the best job for you in the rain? If you are trying to make money moves that will pay off over the long haul, you might want to consider buying one of the following cars that are great for driving in wet conditions.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources

Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Honda CR-V

Courtesy of Honda black honda cr v

Traction issues can sink you if you’re driving in the rain, so it’s important to have features like all-wheel drive that can grip the road and help you through.

Take the Honda CR-V, for example: It has available real-time all-wheel drive that can automatically adjust control when you are driving in rain-slicked or wintery weather conditions.

Lexus RX

Courtesy of Lexus Lexus RX

The Lexus RX line of SUVs includes an all-wheel drive option to help you stay on the road in wet conditions.

You also get anti-lock brakes to help you stop if your car begins to skid on slippery roads in rain or snow.

Toyota Highlander

Courtesy of Toyota Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander gives you the option of all-wheel drive to help you navigate treacherous roads.

The Highlander also gets top safety marks from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), which should give you more confidence when driving in inclement weather.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Land Rover Defender

Courtesy of Land Rover Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is a luxury SUV with great features that help you drive in slick weather conditions.

The Defender comes with all-wheel drive to get you over slippery roads and also offers off-road features that can be helpful when the weather turns wet.

And as a perk, according to a survey done by Insure.com, SUVs happen to be one of the cars the most attractive people drive.

Subaru Crosstrek

Courtesy of Subaru Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek is packed with off-road capabilities that can come in handy when you are driving on rainy roads.

The Crosstrek also includes 8.7 inches of ground clearance to get you through large puddles and standing water.

The vehicle’s LED steering responsive headlights can help you navigate dark conditions. The headlights respond to your steering wheel and point in the direction you are steering into as you drive.

Audi A6

Courtesy of Audi Audi A6

Audi includes its Quattro all-wheel drive on several models, including the midsize Audi A6 sedan. It gives you better traction in the rain.

The A6 also has a heads-up display that projects relevant information onto your windshield to help you keep your eyes on the road in tough road conditions.

Nissan Altima

Courtesy of Nissan Nissan Altima

It’s possible to get a car that’s a great vehicle in the rain without having to shell out extra cash for additional features.

Try the Nissan Altima, for example, which is a midsize sedan with an affordable MSRP of $26,000.

The sedan includes Intelligent AWD that monitors road conditions and can quickly adjust to changes in the road, such as wet surfaces.

Cadillac XT4

Courtesy of Cadillac Cadillac XT4

The Cadillac XT4 has several features that make the SUV work well in all conditions, including stormy weather.

The SUV has all-wheel drive to help with traction and vehicle control in slick conditions. You also get IntelliBeam automatic high beams to help you see better without the distracting need to switch from high to low beams as you drive.

Ford Explorer

Courtesy of Ford Ford Explorer

Try out the Ford Explorer in bad weather conditions and you will discover great features such as automatic high beams to adjust to changing weather conditions.

You also get a blind-spot detection system to help you see what’s around you even when the weather is wet.

You have the option to choose an Explorer with four-wheel drive that can offer extra help to stay on the road in slippery conditions such as rain or snow.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

BMW X1

Courtesy of BMW BMW X1

The BMW X1 is a great SUV if you want a sophisticated vehicle with safety features that help in slippery conditions.

The X1 includes all-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes on all four wheels, and dynamic stability control that can adjust to changing roads as conditions change when you are out driving.

Dodge Durango

Courtesy of Dodge Dodge Durango

The Dodge Durango is a full-size SUV that can get you through bad weather conditions. It also features an available third row for passengers.

The Durango has automatic high beams that can adjust while you are driving and an option for all-wheel drive that can help you navigate slick roads.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Benz S Class

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a luxury sedan with a luxury price tag. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) comes in at $114,500 for the cheapest model.

But if you have the money to spare and can buy this car without injuring your financial fitness, it can be a good option.

The S-Class includes features such as automatic windshield wipers that sense rain and turn on without driver input and automatic lights that allow other drivers to see you in rainy conditions.

Bottom line

88studio/Adobe sales agent stamping document for couple

If you live in a city where rain is a big part of life, consider buying one of the cars on this list.

By shopping carefully, you might land a bargain on one of these vehicles. And you can cut your costs even further by shopping around for coverage so you can save money on car insurance.

  • You could save up to $600 with some companies
  • Compare dozens of providers in under 5 minutes
  • Fast, free and easy way to shop for insurance
  • Quickly find the perfect rate for you