I owned 5 New Astro Vans over the years and just loved them. A great all around small full sized Van.
It pulled my 3500lb boat with no problems.

I will say this.... One of them was an AWD and it was fantastic in the snow.
I bought only the top of the line with all the seats etc. and it was a little heavier the the Cargo version. It also was ordered with No Spin/locking rear axle as I recall.
I never got passed All Season tires on it and it was unstopable traction even with those.
The downside was the mileage dropped from the 2wd. and handling was just a little different.

 

Will try the extra weight... if we get
any more snow. Last winter we had a
couple snow falls and i had B.F.G.
Traction TA's and did pretty good
this year i have the Eagle GT's and
fewer hills to deliver. Pressure in the rear
will come down some more !

 

My 2008 panel was terrible in the snow, had factory firestone tires, went with 4 blizzacks was mutch better.

 

I have had front wheel drive since 1974 and I have always been able to go anywhere I wanted to go. I have never had the rear fishtail. I have always used all season radials. I used to ski and my care was the one to get us there. My tire pressuers back then was about 30psi. Our HHR's go very well in snow though we haven't had as much as we used to. We have been very well pleased.

 

Went thru pass today with pack snow and ice with a couple of inches of loose stuff on top and the HHR sailed right thru. I do have studds on it but it performed well for me.

 

I am hoping.... we are done with
snow for this winter. ~

but..will know to have some weight in the back
end of my hhr come next winter.