New To Edmonton? These 5 Car Features Are Essential in Winter

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New To Edmonton? These 5 Car Features Are Essential in Winter

Posted on October 24, 2024

The extreme weather swings of Northern Alberta can damage your vehicle if you don’t take care of it. That’s why this list of essential car features is a must-have for Edmontonians, whether you’re a long-time resident or just arrived. 

 

Icy roads, snowbanks, freezing temperatures, and cold starts on your way to work… need we say more? Like a scarf and gloves keep you safe from frostbite, your car also needs protection.

 

Whether you already have a Toyota or are looking for cars in Edmonton, here are our top five essential car features for an Albertan winter. 

 

 

Essential Car Features for Cars in Edmonton

While handy accessories make your drive more enjoyable, these car features can make a BIG difference when the temperatures plummet.

• All-wheel Drive (AWD)
• Winter Tires
• Car-Warming Accessories
• Dash Camera
• Remote Start

 

Essential Car Features #1: All-Wheel Drive

All-wheel drive (AWD) can save the day when the roads are slick and the snow is thick! It offers additional traction and makes winter drives safer than other drive systems like rear-wheel drive.

 

What is an All-Wheel Drive System? 

AWD systems are used in cars and SUVs to deliver power to all four wheels simultaneously and provide traction to get the vehicle going. They operate continuously and vary power delivery to the front or rear wheels when needed. Brilliantly, this makes for seamless, smooth acceleration in icy conditions. This is especially helpful when stuck on an icy patch of the road or in a snowed-in back alley!

 

 

All-wheel drive is better than two-wheel drive when going on slick surfaces; however, it isn’t enough on its own when driving on snowy roads. Our Toyota experts recommend using winter tires in partnership with AWD to improve braking and cornering in winter. 

 

Learn the difference between AWD, FWD, 4WD and 2WD (rear-drive) vehicles here. 

 

Essential Car Features #2: Winter Tires

Winter tires are the best choice for Edmontonians as the engineered rubber is designed to perform optimally in cold, snowy conditions. We recommend changing to winter tires when daily temperatures drop below 7°C.

 

In addition to superior cold weather performance, winter tires improve grip and traction, remain flexible in freezing temperatures, and have better braking performance. 

 

 

Comparison: Winter Tires vs All-Season Tires

Winter tires are created to perform best in cold and icy conditions, but all-season tires are intended for year-round use in mild to moderate climates. While all-season tires are perfect for summer weather, we don’t recommend using them in Canada’s severe winter season. 

 

The benefits of winter tires include helping ensure your vehicle runs smoothly, your tires last longer, avoiding unnecessary tire wear and replacements, and you and your passengers stay safe this season.

 

Read: How To Do Alberta Winter Tires On A Budget

 

Essential Car Features #3: Car-Warming Accessories

The cold months are long, and being comfortable (and warm) in your vehicle is a priority. So we recommend investing in car-warming accessories and features like heated seats and steering wheels!

 

Heated Seats

Toyota knows how cold Canada can get and has included heated and ventilated seat add-ons to its lineup of vehicles. While ventilated seats can cool you off in the summer, our heated seats are designed to provide warmth and comfort in cold temperatures!

 

Heated Steering Wheel

Say goodbye to cold and exposed hands while driving in -30°C temperatures! To use the heated steering wheel feature, simply press the button with the steering wheel icon on the instrument panel. To turn off the heating function, press the button again. 

 

Essential Car Features #4: Dash Camera

Edmonton’s Police Chief, Dale McFee, recently stated that he was concerned about the increase in car crashes involving pedestrian fatalities in 2024. And he’s not alone - CityNews Calgary also reported Alberta’s rising driving injuries. 

 

One of the tools in your road safety toolbelt is the Toyota Genuine Dash Camera Series 2.0. This dashcam, with a 16GB Micro SD memory card and optional rear camera, can provide incident recordings when an unusual shock or movement is detected, like a car crash. You can view the recorded footage on the Toyota Canada smartphone app or desktop.

 

 

This car feature can help keep you safe on the road and assist in any insurance claims or police investigations should you be involved in an accident. Our Parts Centre would be happy to further explain more details about available dash cam accessories to you.

 

Did you know? To manually capture events on the road, you can touch or wave a finger within 20mm of the proximity sensor to trigger manual recording. It will continuously record for 1 minute. 

 

Essential Car Features #5: Remote Start

A remote start feature is an Edmontonian’s best friend. Two great remote start options for Toyota owners are the Toyota App Remote Connect or Toyota START+. 

 

The Toyota App

The Toyota App lets you stay connected with your vehicle with a host of features, including locking your doors, checking your fuel level, and starting the engine. 

 

 

Unfortunately, this convenient Remote Connect option isn’t available for some older Toyota vehicle models. That’s where we meet the Toyota START+!

 

Did you know? West Edmonton Mall Toyota has its own app that allows you to schedule service appointments, earn cash back, and access exclusive deals with West Edmonton Mall businesses. 

 

Toyota START+

START+ is a long-range remote starter that lets you start your vehicle from 800m away and activate the heating system for cold winter mornings. It not only helps clear condensation, but it’s super easy to operate!

 

Watch this video demonstration here. 

 

No more waking up early to start your cold vehicle and defrost your windows. Revolutionize your winter routine by pressing two buttons in sequence to start or stop your engine. 

 

Looking for Cars in Edmonton?

West Edmonton Mall Toyota is here for you, whether you need a new vehicle with great features or some winter add-on accessories. We are proud to have one of the largest service departments in Canada, offering our Tire Match Promise on new tires and our Free Lifetime Oil Change Program. 

 

Contact our team today if you’d like to invest in essential car features for this winter season!

Check out our winter tire promotions here: Winter Tire Promotion: Swap Store Shine