Don’t let winter catch you off guard

Winter is in full swing, so it’s not a bad idea to get a few tips on how to cope with the pitfalls of driving on snow and ice. Which Škoda features and accessories can come in handy? What to look out for?

11. 1. 2024 Lifestyle

• A window scraper is essential – in most Škoda cars you’ll find it under the fuel tank cap (though in the Enyaq it’s in the boot lid).

• Even so, it’s a good idea to have another scraper in the car – so that if there are two of you, you can get the car ready in half the time.

• If the car is covered in snow, you can also use a brush. And if there’s lots and lots of snow, a dustpan or the like can be used.

• Owners of Škoda cars that come with a heated windscreen have a big advantage. The windscreen defrosts in minutes and can be set as an automatic default on selected models.

• Owners of cars with independent heating have it easiest of all – in the morning they can walk up to a car that is already defrosted, heated and has a warm engine. The heating can be controlled remotely from a mobile phone and several regular activation times can be set.

• Sometimes you really can’t do without them, and not only in the mountains. Snow chains for Škoda cars are available in a number of variants that fit the exact size of the car’s wheels.

• Winter driving experts always recommend practising putting on your snow chains beforehand in a garage or car park. In a snowstorm, this could be an unpleasant learning experience.

• And to make sure you don’t get soaked to the bone when putting on your chains, it’s a very good idea to have a rainproof coat on hand.

The principal advice is: never go too fast. If you do get into a skid, keep calm and take your foot off the gas. What you most certainly shouldn’t do is slam on the brakes or jerk the steering wheel. Every car’s braking distance increases on a slippery surface. Don’t drive on snow the way you drive in summer: anticipate far more and brake well in advance of bends.

• A well-equipped car helps you cope with the rigours of winter driving. The ESC stabilisation system is now a matter of course, and the ASR anti-skid system will help when pulling away.

• One invaluable aid is all-wheel drive, which a range of Škoda models come with, from the Octavia to the Enyaq.

• On Škoda’s all-wheel drive cars, Snow mode can be selected from a range of driving profiles. This is ideal when the car is travelling on surfaces with low grip. The electronic assistance systems adapt immediately to the situation. ABS allows the wheels to lock up for a little longer to increase the braking effect by piling snow in front of the tyre; ASR allows more wheel spin for better engagement of the winter tyre tread; the gearbox shifts into higher gears at lower revs than normal; and the accelerator pedal responds more slowly to prevent unwanted torque surges from spinning the wheels.