Travel Information Questions

Great  site. I have a question I could use some local knowledge on.  My wife and I are coming to visit in early February and would are working our our travel arrangements.  

What do you think of traveling with rental car (fwd and all season tires)?  vs rental SUV(4×4)?   Everyone seems to have just all seasons on rentals out of Spokane.

We are experienced winter drivers from northern Vermont and are used to driving daily on snow covered roads and to our local mtns.  We've also been out west in the winter before but usually with bigger groups to offset the cost of an SUV or were able to get awd car. This time the costs for rentals is sky high...and just not sure if the SUVs are worth it.

 We are flying into Spokane and then planning to drive up to Rossland/Nelson and then depending on time conditions etc will explore from there (chance might head for Revelstoke).  

Looked at renting from Rent a Wreck in Nelson (with Snows) but getting to Nelson from Spokane hasn't worked yet at a price that would make sense. 

Thanks for your time.  Think snow.