Nissan Altima: Nissan’s latest Altima has room to spare inside with huge rear seats, legroom galore and an overall sense of space to burn with even four large adults on board. It’s also quiet and has a notably comfortable ride. There is a heap of storage, too, including a dual-tiered storage console and the biggest glove-box I’ve ever seen. No issues for disorganized vehicular pack-rat types to stay organized on the move here.

The up-level powertrain helps add appeal. Nissan’s highly-acclaimed 3.5L V6 with dual variable cams and 270 horsepower means the Altima goes like the wind when called upon, thanks in part to the latest version of Nissan’s CVT, which provides power on a smooth and endless surge. It also improves fuel mileage considerably, and my test consumption of 9.5 L /100 km overall was among the best I’d ever achieved in a car this big and powerful. Being big, comfortable, full of technology and great on fuel makes the latest Altima a priority test-drive.

Volvo S60 R-Design: The Volvo S60 R-Design is a discreet winter-ready hot-rod luxury sedan from a country where people go downhill skiing on their lunch breaks and know a thing or two about getting around in bad weather. This one isn’t the biggest or least-expensive family sedan going, but it is arguably the most beautiful machine to drive anywhere near its price: be it in the snow, on the highway, on a winding backroad, or even on a race-track, if you like.

S60 has the most comfortable seats you’ll sit in all day long, a magnificent lighting system, an AWD system that knows what it’s doing, and a very unique cabin with every conceivable safety system imaginable. There’s plenty of power too – thanks to the turbo straight six under the hood. As a cold-blooded Northerner, I just love the way the S60 feels confident, comfortable and laid back in any driving condition you might throw its way. If you’ve got snow in your veins like me, you’ll love it too.

Connect with Autos.ca