The Six Best Cars for Pittsburgh Drivers

There’s no doubt that Pittsburgh offers some of the best quality of life in the great state of Pennsylvania. With a population of just around 300,000, it escapes the traffic and congested feel of Philadelphia and larger cities in the state while still offering plenty to do. Pittsburgh is the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with excellent colleges and universities like Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. Its downtown offers excellent culture and nightlife appealing to singles and professionals, and its many charming suburbs are ideal for raising a family. There are many ways to enjoy life in Pittsburgh; no matter how you choose, you will need the right car for this unique corner of Pennsylvania.

If you’ve been looking into Pittsburgh car sales, it’s important to know the basics about driving in the “Gateway to the West.” For starters, it gets snow nearly seven months out of the year. Meanwhile, the summers are hot and humid. While Pittsburgh has a lot to offer, there are also several amazing destinations just a few hours away, like Lake Eerie, dozens of national parks, and the city of Baltimore. You’ll need a car ready for severe winters, one suited to the way you do Pittsburgh living. Whether you’re raising a family here, enjoying the single life downtown, or attending one of the universities or colleges, we have suggestions for the best cars for Pittsburgh drivers.

For College Students

College students attending Carnegie Mellon, the University of Pittsburgh, or one of the other great educational institutions in the area will probably be on a student’s budget and looking for an affordable car. Plus, finding parking on campus isn’t always easy, so a compact car is best. Of course, due to the weather in the area, you’ll want one with at least all-wheel drive to give you better traction on slippery roads. Our picks for college cars in Pittsburgh are:

The 2022 Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry has available all-wheel drive to keep drivers in command on slippery roads, and it comes in at a student-friendly price point. Plus, if it’s equipped with the cold weather package, you’ll get a heated steering wheel to quickly warm up your fingers after a long walk on campus, heated mirrors that will melt away view-hindering snow, and heated front seats. Parents will appreciate the excellent safety features of this option, like the standard forward collision warning, automatic front emergency braking, and automatic high beams (great for low light conditions during the winter).

Dual-zone climate control is standard, so both driver and front seat passengers can select their preferred temperature on those freezing cold Pittsburgh days or hot and humid Pittsburgh summers. A quick note on driving sedans in the snow: depending on where you typically drive, you might need to add snow tires for better traction, but if you stick mostly to the city and paved roads, all-wheel drive with all-season tires should be fine.

The 2021 Honda CR-V

Students looking for a little more space to load up friends for a Steelers game or a day trip to nearby Lake Eerie might want a compact SUV like the Honda CR-V. We also like this one for students because of its low price tag, and for that price, it offers tremendous value. First, all-wheel drive is available on all trims except for the Sport Touring Hybrid, which comes standard. So you can expect good traction in the snow.

Plus, when you opt for AWD on this compact SUV, you get 8.2 inches of ground clearance, which should help when the snow plow didn’t make it to campus before you did for that 8 AM class. This compact SUV also has a nice suite of standard driver-assist features, as well as standard LED headlights and taillights that will cut through winter fog nicely. When the temperature really drops, you’ll enjoy standard heated front seats and heated outboard mirrors.

For Families

There are many great neighborhoods to raise a family in Pittsburgh, like Squirrel Hill North, with its excellent safety rating and great school district, or Regent Square, just a seven-mile drive out of downtown but still offering a peaceful suburban feel. For families in Pittsburgh, we recommend the following vehicles:

The 2023 Volvo V90 Cross Country

The Volvo Cross Country has always been an excellent family car thanks to its spacious back seats and ample cargo space. The 2023 V90 Cross Country has impressive ground clearance, too, which is ideal in the snow, and further enhances the standard AWD. Add to that the standard adaptive LED headlights and this car will light your way on those notoriously short winter Pittsburgh days.

It also has rain-sensing wipers that will turn on when those first drops of precipitation hit the vehicle. What makes this vehicle really great for Pittsburgh is the slippery road alert. This allows enabled Volvo models to communicate with each other and notify one another of upcoming slippery patches. You will also enjoy standard heated front seats here and can add heated rear seats, heated windshield washers, and a heated steering wheel when equipped with the Climate package.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

When it comes to spacious, comfortable, and safe family vehicles, the Chevy Tahoe cannot be beaten. It has 4WD avail on all trims, a cavernous interior with 122.9 cu.ft. of space with the seats down, tons of storage, and great safety features. What we really like about the Tahoe is the remote start, which lets you also pre-heat the car before you get in, a real perk during the Pittsburgh winter. It also enjoys rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights, and LED taillight. If you need seating for up to eight, the Chevy Tahoe just might be the perfect family hauler.

For Singles and Professionals

Singles and professionals who enjoy the bustling downtown area and want a bit more glamour out of their vehicle might like these options, which provide a great balance of performance, functionality, and a sleek and sophisticated design.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic

This elegant SUV has available AWD on all trims, as well as other winter-friendly features like standard heated mirrors and cross-wind assist. Cross-wind assist helps drivers stay in their lane, even in strong gusts. Add to that the standard rain-sensing wipers, heated windshield nozzles, and available heated seats, and the GLA 250 really does combine cosmopolitan sophistication with winter-ready capabilities. If you want a vehicle that will turn heads at the music and cultural events in downtown Pittsburgh but is also ready for the extreme climate this city brings, meet your new travel companion.

The 2021 Nissan Altima

Drivers who stick to even, paved roads and looking for something affordable but stylish might like the Nissan Altima. It also enjoys AWD on all trims above the entry-level model. Like the Chevy Tahoe, it enjoys remote engine start, meaning you can heat the cabin before you get in. It’s also loaded with excellent standard safety features, like automatic high beams to increase visibility in low-light settings, forward collision warning, and blind-spot warning. With the Premium Package equipped, you’ll get heated front seats along with heated outboard mirrors. The upscale look of the Altima also makes it ideal for professionals who need to commute to New York City or Philadelphia for meetings and conferences. It’s attractive enough to impress corporate clients and easy to get into parking spots in these busier cities.