Living in the northeast I had a rear-wheel drive decades ago and will never get another; any front-wheel drive is better because the weight of the engine is over the drive wheels. Our weather is just too crappy for rear-wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles.
It’s really about the tires.
You can put a set of Bridgestone Blizzaks on just about anything and run like a sled dog.
Those tires are truly impressive.