WHY slither and slide through snow and ice when you can buy a cheap 4x4 instead?

A cut-price off-roader is the perfect solution to bad weather.

Four-wheel drive can get you through the worst snow drift and if your car picks up the odd dent it doesn't really matter. Knocks, scratches and dents are a badge of honour for cars like these.

But which to choose? Check out our guide to the best winter workhorses.

1. Suzuki SJ: Suzuki's first 4x4 went on sale more than 40 years ago. Early examples used small capacity two-stroke engines "borrowed" from Suzuki bikes. The dinky SJ 410 and its bigger brother the 413 use larger capacity four-strokes.

Noisy, bouncy and crude to drive, these little Suzukis are great off-road and make the perfect winter hack.

2. Daihatsu Fourtrak: Known as the Rugger in other markets, the Fourtrak went on sale in 1984. Three engines were available, the best being the 2.8-litre turbodiesel.

The second generation has better suspension and a more powerful TDI.

Good off-road, but strangely lacking four-doors so annoyingly impractical if you have a family.

3. Land Rover Freelander. The Defender is much better off-road but the Freelander is nicer to drive on it and still has the AWD ability to shrug off a bit of snow.

Europe's best-selling off-roader from 1998 - 2002, so there are plenty about.

Watch out for clocked examples, dodgy gearboxes, rust spots and creaking trim.

Above all, don't pay too much.

A cheapy 4x4 with a bit of kudos? That'll be the first generation Freelander.

4. Toyota RAV 4: A direct competitor for the Freelander. Looks dated now and doesn't go as well off road, but legendary build-quality means they go on forever.

5. Toyota Land Cruiser: If you want genuine go-anywhere ability this is the off-roader to buy. Cheap now but beware the terrifying running costs and run if anyone offers you the petrol-powered model.