Mazda CX-80 Snow Drive Tips | Alpine Road Safety with Karl Reindler

Learn essential winter driving tips for alpine roads with professional driver Karl Reindler in the Mazda CX-80. Discover how to stay safe on icy and snow-covered terrain during your ski field adventures.

MazdaPublished 30 May 2025

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Mazda NewsPOSTED ON 2/8/2025 Mazda CX-80 on the snowy alpine road

Mazda CX-80 Tech Drive

Driving a SUV in the snow

Here are some pointers for when driving up to the ski fields.

Just like driving in off-road terrain, navigating snow-covered and icy roads requires vigilance and care.

Sludgy-looking mud on an alpine road could hide icy surfaces, and keeping safe distances from vehicles ahead is often extra-important.

In this short video, professional driver Karl Reindler takes you through some dos and don’ts when driving on alpine roads during winter.

Read transcript

How to drive in the snow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN5Cb2r1J5U

Welcome to Mazda Tech Drive. This time featuring the Mazda CX-80. My name's Karl Reindler and on this occasion we're heading to the snow. There's so much to talk about and I'm freezing out here. So, let's get stuck into it.

There are, of course, some dos and don'ts when it comes to driving in alpine regions, particularly on snow and ice like we are currently. Firstly, allow for extra braking distance always. The conditions can be highly variable. The level of grip changes very drastically out there and that extra buffer or margin makes a huge difference.

Secondly, and very importantly, is your inputs. When it comes to the steering, the throttle or the power or the brake itself, gentle and smooth is absolutely critical. If you're too aggressive with all of your inputs, you could quite easily lose traction. While we do have hill descent control, above certain speeds, it won't work. So, the other trick you can do when descending the mountain in particularly in very steep parts is use the paddle shift to manually select an appropriate gear and the engine braking will actually assist with descending the mountain and managing the speed.

When it comes to black ice or some snow on the road, always keep an eye out for it as best you can. Sometimes you're going to be caught out by surprise. If that happens, drive to the conditions. That's the most important thing. Reduce the speed gently, of course. Never panic in that situation. Be gentle and smooth with your inputs and allow the car to walk through it with ABS, stability control, and traction control.

Thanks for joining us on this Mazda tech drive. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below. Stay safe, enjoy the snow, and we'll see you on the next tech drive.