Cold Roads, Foggy Mornings: Car Features for Pakistani Winters

Winter driving in Pakistan can be tricky, especially in the northern regions, like Murree, Kashmir, and Hunza, where roads turn into snow-covered paradises. Even in cities like Lahore and Islamabad, chilly mornings make commuting more challenging. But with the right car features, you can navigate winter driving safely and comfortably.

Here are the top winter-friendly car features for Pakistani drivers that can make a real difference in how you drive through icy roads, frosty mornings, and snowy terrains:

1. Heated Seats

The heated seats are a practical solution that provides comfort and warmth during chilly winters in Pakistan. The statistics reveal that nearly 70% of the drivers living in colder regions prioritize buying a car with this feature.

Benefits: They offer warmth and comfort, helping to alleviate muscle stiffness and chronic pain during long drives.

Real Use: If you’ve ever stepped into a freezing car, you know the struggle of waiting for it to warm up. Heated seats provide immediate relief, allowing you to drive comfortably from the moment you start your car.

2. Remote Start and EV Pre-Conditioning

The remote start system allows drivers to warm up the cabin and defrost the windshield before getting in, ensuring comfort and clear visibility.

• Pre-warm the Cabin: No more entering a freezing car. 
• Defrost the Windshield: Clear visibility before driving. 

For electric vehicles (EVs), pre-conditioning optimizes battery health and charging efficiency.

• Battery Pre-conditioning: Uses power from the charger to warm the battery for faster, more efficient DC fast charging. 
• Cabin Pre-conditioning: Warms the cabin while the car is plugged in, drawing energy from the grid instead of the battery.

3. AWD (All-Wheel-Drive) and 4WD (Four-Wheel Drive)

AWD and 4WD are two of the best features in cars, especially when driving through snowy conditions. All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) are essential for snowy or slippery conditions. These systems distribute power to all four wheels, improving traction and control.

Real Use: If you’re driving through areas like Swat or Gilgit, where roads can get slippery with snow, these systems provide the stability you need.

Popular Models:

• Suzuki Vitara
• Subaru Forester
• Ford Mustang Mach-E (AWD on select variants)
• Nissan Maxima
• EVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 have All-Wheel-Drive systems. 

4. Winter and Snow Tyres

Another essential aspect for car owners is using winter and snow tyres for better grip and stability on the roads.

Real Use: Regular tyres lose traction in cold weather. Snow tyres provide superior grip, which is vital for maintaining control during Pakistan’s winter months.

Tip: Keep an eye on your tyre pressure, as it drops quickly in the winter, affecting performance.

5. Defogger and Defroster

Winter fog and frost can seriously impair visibility. Defoggers remove moisture from the inside of the windows, while defrosters use warm air to clear frost or snow from the windshield.

• Defrosters: Use warm air to clear frost and snow from the windshield.
• Defoggers: Remove interior moisture that causes fog.

However, many drivers make common mistakes with these features.  For more details, check out our full blog post on interior defogging mistakes.

6. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)

The ADAS features also help vehicle owners stay safe while driving during winter. Some of the most common ADAS features include:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

The ESC prevents skidding by applying brakes to individual wheels. This is crucial on highways and in snowy areas, where it helps maintain control at higher speeds.

• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

The ABS prevents wheels from locking up during hard braking. This feature can be helpful during emergencies at high speeds, especially on slippery roads. 

The interesting twist is that it’s not always a great tool, especially during conditions like heavy snow. 

A real-life test conducted by an individual on Quora found that the car stops sooner without ABS in some cases.

 This is because ABS systems can sometimes cause a “pulsing” effect that can prevent the vehicle from stopping as quickly as manual braking, especially at lower speeds.

Remember, this is rare and dependent on the driver’s ability to brake manually.

• Hill Descent Control

Car owners can use the hill descent control feature in their cars while driving to northern areas of Pakistan. It helps you control speed while descending a steep or icy hill. It works with ABS to prevent wheel lockup and allows the car to descend slowly.

7. Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)_Caution in Winters

LKA is a useful driving assistance feature that helps drivers detect lane markings and road edges at a given speed. Some websites have mentioned it as a reliable feature for winter. 

However, it has drawbacks and limitations under certain circumstances, as noted by an international website of Kia. These are as follows:

1. Lane markings (or road edges) are covered with rain, snow, dirt, sand, oil, puddles, etc.
2. The color of the lane marking (or road edge) is not distinguishable from the road.
3. The lane markings suddenly disappear due to snow and ice buildup, which can cover or hide them, especially near intersections.

In addition, drivers should avoid using LKA due to the lack of proper lane markings and the extremely dense traffic on urban roads. There, the ADAS may not perform accurately on lane-related features.

For more information, check out our article: ADAS: Helpful Safety Tech or Just a Driver Headache?

8. Traction Control System

The traction control system prevents wheel spin by adjusting engine power. It is helpful to use in snowy or icy conditions where traction is limited.

• Improved Stability: Ensures better vehicle control on slippery surfaces.
• Safety: Helps the vehicle maintain traction, preventing it from sliding on icy or wet roads.

9. Adaptive Headlights

Adaptive headlights are an essential car feature for driving in extreme conditions. These headlights adjust based on factors such as speed, steering input, and vehicle load. The benefits of using adaptive headlights include the following:

• Improved Visibility

 Adaptive headlights automatically switch between high and low beams and illuminate more of the road as you steer, improving visibility around corners.

• Enhanced Safety

According to the WHO in 2021, 28,000 lives were lost in road crashes in Pakistan, accounting for 2.2% of all deaths. Adaptive headlights help keep drivers alert and improve response time, reducing the risk of accidents.

• Reduced Glare

 Night driving in winter can be tough, especially with high beams reflecting off mirrors. Low-beam headlights provide safer, more focused lighting, minimizing glare and improving safety.

For more information, check out our blog: Why Are High Beams Dangerous in Fog?

10. Winter Accessories That Improve Driving in Winter

After enlisting the most essential features for winter driving, we have now explained the top winter accessories that ensure safety and better performance on long routes. These are as follows:

• Car Heated Seat Cushions
• Winter Tires
• Winter Wiper Blades
• All-Weather Car Floor Mats
• Portable Car Heaters
• Car Covers
• Car Fog Lights

Also Read: 9 Handy Car Accessories That Can Help You Through Winters in Pakistan

Next Step: Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter

The next step for car owners is to purchase the car accessories mentioned above from PakWheels Autostore. We ensure we provide high-quality, reliable products at affordable prices.

Plus, we offer a comprehensive return and refund policy with nationwide delivery, ensuring our customers have complete peace of mind with every purchase.

Customers can pay via various methods, including Easy Paisa, Jazz Cash, and debit cards.