We've been driving ours in the snow without snow tires recently and it performs amazingly well. I still want to get snow tires (mainly to improve braking) but I think we're going to wait and get them around January when they usually go on sale. Both my wife and I love the new CRV, it was definately money well spent. Now it's going to be my turn for a new vehicle (since the CRV was for her). I've been toying around with a used 2005-2006 4runner but I am still concerned about gas mileage as I am sure gas prices will remain high for the forseeable future.