Yahoo Autos Best AWD Cars for 2024
All-wheel-drive has transitioned from a relatively exotic technology for sports cars to a mainstream feature available on today's top-selling vehicles. The popularity of SUVs and crossovers is the largest contributor to all-wheel-drive vehicles going mainstream in recent model years, though automakers like Audi and Subaru have been offering AWD systems on sedans and wagons for decades.
iSeeCars has identified the best all-wheel drive cars nd ranked them by their iSeeCars quality score, which takes reliability, resale value, and safety into consideration. Shoppers seeking AWD vehicles can find them in nearly every major vehicle category, though base models often require either adding AWD as an option or moving up to a higher trim level when it’s not included as a standard feature.
Buyers often assume adding all-wheel-drive results in lower fuel economy, and in many cases that’s true. However, new car drivetrain technology has reduced AWD’s impact on fuel efficiency, with most models stuffing only a 1-2 MPG drop in mileage ratings. That small reduction in fuel efficiency is often worth it for buyers in cold-weather climates, where rear- or front-wheel drive vehicles can be challenged in finding consistent traction and the increased confidence that comes with it.
It should be noted that all-wheel-drive systems are not the same as four-wheel drive (4WD). All wheel drive is typically available on cars or car-based crossovers, while 4WD (also known as 4x4, or four-by-four) is almost exclusively found on trucks and SUVs, most of which start out as rear-wheel-drive before adding a driveshaft that runs to the front axle for improved off-road or deep snow driving. A two-speed or “low range” transfer case is also a common component of 4WD systems while rarely seen on AWD vehicles.
Did you know that you can enjoy the all-weather traction and stability of an AWD vehicle without opting for an SUV? Here are some top-rated AWD cars across different size categories:
Best AWD Small Cars:
Mazda Mazda3 Sedan: 9.1/10
Subaru Impreza: 9.1/10
Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback: 9.1/10
Best AWD Midsize Cars:
