[bestclimb]

My wife got around RURAL Alaska just fine in her ford escort front wheel drive. We have moved in from the real rural area and she is driving another escort, and I drive a Civic. Good winter tires and half a brain will keep you going just fine. Studs are not necessary in my experience with good snow tires.

I only had one day last winter that I could not get out of the driveway in the morning. 31 degrees and light snow on shoveled and packed snow. No going up hill on that from a stop. (father in-laws 4x4 truck would not go up a similar day a few weeks earlier) anyway a little work with a shovel and some salt thrown down got me out of the driveway in about 10 minuets.

Any of robertsmalls suggestions would be good for mileage. I have really liked my civics.

An AWD car can give you a sense of security that you don't really have. Stopping and steering work the same in FWD or AWD. There are situations where if you are smart a AWD can get you out of and they will get off the line better without slipping as much. I duno how much that will help in your situation.