Volvos do reasonably ok in snow, but certainly do not compare to a 4x4, of course. But as someone said, if you mess up, the Volvo will protect you. A couple years ago, coming home from work in a fresh snow, I managed to scoot on snow covered ice into a brick mail box. I hit the box so hard that it broke and crumbled apart. I am talking about a large residentail brick mailbox! I backed off it and proceded up the owner's driveway to confess my sin. Thankfully, she had a good sense of humor! Anyway, I drove on home with a crumpled front end and a now leaking radiator. The next week, I went to the local bone yard and purchased a fender (got a matching color!), a radiator, and a corner light. I replaced the radiator and drove around with the damaged front end until I got around to the rest of the repairs. Long story short, the Volvo certainly lost traction and hit the bricks hard. (Hey, I'm from Tennessee -- I can't drive in snow!). But, except for realitively minor damage, no harm was done to the car. The mailbox had to be completely rebuilt.