Best All-Wheel-Drive Daily Drivers (7 Models: Cars + SUVs)
Power delivery to all four wheels in AWD vehicles prevents the tires from breaking traction with the slippery pavement.
Opting for an AWD daily driver makes perfect sense if you drive on snow, in inclement weather, or for higher grip and better car control in general.
Best AWD Daily Driver (Car)
#1 Mazda 3
All-wheel-drive: Optional from 2019.
All-wheel-drive small cars were once Subaru-only territory, the long-running Impreza forming part of the Japanese carmaker’s extensive AWD lineup.
The recent years have seen automakers offering the higher-specification all-wheel-drive in their smaller mainstream vehicles.
Though optional, the AWD-equipped Mazda 3 has sharp handling, premium-quality interior, and attractive styling, making it one of the best all-wheel-drive daily drivers with pleasing driving dynamics.
This compact isn’t big on cabin room or storage space, nor is it the most fuel-efficient. However, its excellent handling and performance stretch back several generations, so used Mazda 3 buyers still get a fun-to-drive everyday car (just without AWD).
That said, all pre-2019 models come with the more conventional front-wheel drive.
If you want an AWD Mazda 3, you’ll need to choose a newer model with a slightly pricier specification to enjoy the AWD’s all-weather benefits.
This sporty premium experience is available in the sedan or hatchback body styles.
#2 Subaru WRX
All-wheel-drive: Standard.
All-wheel drive is standard across Subaru’s cars and SUVs, except for the rear-wheel-drive BRZ sports coupe.
But if you desire a fun-to-drive, sporty daily driver with all-wheel drive, the Subaru WRX is the answer for less than $30k brand-new.
The mediocre ride quality somewhat hampers its overall suitability for everyday use. Still, if you appreciate the WRX’s rally heritage and pure, unadulterated driving experience, its responsive steering will provide plenty of thrills on the curvy backroads.
Regardless, these WRX traits will please:
- Standard all-wheel drive – the smooth power delivery to the right wheel without shuddering shows Subaru’s experience in AWD technology.
- Solid crash safety – the fourth-generation WRX (2015 debut) has won many awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
- Roomy sedan interior – plus, it’s easy to get in and out, unlike low-slung sports cars, thanks to the wide-opening doors.
- Excellent build quality.
The Subaru WRX is a satisfying all-season daily driver that excites and is easy on the pocket.
#3 Toyota Camry
All-wheel-drive: Optional from 2020.
Like class rivals, the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camrys were primarily front-wheel-drive vehicles.
Toyota began offering an AWD Camry in 2020, joining the growing list of mainstream midsize sedans to have this option – the others being the:
- Kia Stinger (the following car on this list),
- Nissan Altima,
- Kia K5, and
- Subaru Legacy.
Besides the all-wheel drive making the car more wet-weather and icy-road capable, Toyota Camry has long held these strengths:
- Segment-competitive, if not class-leading, fuel economy.
- Long-distance ride comfort.
- Good visibility.
- Spacious interior.
- Rock-solid reliability.
At less than $2,000, you can get an AWD Camry of similar trim level, an inexpensive and worthy upgrade for all-weather car control.
Current-generation Camrys adopt a sleeker design to keep up with the trend, although they lose some rear passenger headroom and glass area.
#4 Kia Stinger
All-wheel-drive: Optional from its 2018 debut.
Kia has traditionally been a producer of economical cars, but that changed with the introduction of the four-door, primarily rear-wheel-powered Kia Stinger
While all-wheel-drive is optional, the Kia Stinger is a thoroughbred sports sedan and one of the fastest AWD daily drivers under $40,000.
Although it lacks the prestige of similar luxury models from Audi, BMW, and Mercedez-Benz, the Stinger is a worthy challenger to those German marques with impressive performance figures and appearance for less.
Kia vehicles are feature-packed with excellent value for money, and the Stinger is no different with these daily-driver attributes:
- Good forward visibility – a little less so rearward with the sloping roof.
- Relatively strong fuel economy – mid-20s mpg combined; commendable considering the 300-hp output from the base turbocharged engine.
- Easy and fun to drive – the 36.7-feet turning circle is relatively small for a midsize sedan, and the quick and precise steering provides agility on winding roads with minimal body lean.
- Fairly smooth and refined ride – plus minimal road and wind noise when it gets moving.
- High cargo capacity – the hatchback style is a massive plus for storage versatility.
- Generous warranty coverage.
Best AWD Daily Drivers (SUV)
#5 Subaru Forester
All-wheel-drive: Standard.
While economy cars typically have front-wheel-drive, Subaru stands out as the only automaker that provides all-wheel-drive in its vehicles, bar the rear-wheel-drive BRZ sports coupe.
Besides equipping all trim levels with AWD, the Forester is arguably the safest small SUV, winning a string of IIHS safety awards since 2007.
The standard AWD plus top-notch crash safety combination places the Subaru Forester as the top pick for an AWD SUV for daily use.
Other Forester pluses include a roomy cabin with ample cargo space and a smooth-riding quality that keeps its occupants comfortable over long distances.
Off-road enthusiasts will be happy to find Forester’s better-than-average ground clearance handy when paired with all-wheel-drive – venturing to places most of its peers cannot.
#6 Honda CR-V
All-wheel-drive: Optional in gasoline-only models; standard in the hybrid version.
Compact SUV buyers seeking an all-wheel-drive daily driver will be happy to know that the class-leading compact SUV, the Honda CR-V, has been available in FWD and AWD since the first model appeared in 1997.
Although the AWD version typically returns one to two mpg less than an FWD of equivalent specifications, it is a worthy trade-off for the enhanced inclement-weather grip.
It started as a solid little SUV, but subsequent generations made marginal but consistent improvements to maintain the CR-V’s position as the king in overall quality and car sales.
The Honda CR-V’s excellent daily-driving credentials include:
- Strong yet thrifty engine.
- Roomy cabin with cavernous cargo capacity for its class.
- A balanced blend of comfort and athleticism.
- Highly dependable.
- Excellent safety ratings.
A gas/electric hybrid powertrain has been available since 2020 with all-wheel-drive as standard.
#7 Volkswagen Tiguan
All-wheel-drive: Optional.
The compact Tiguan is Volkswagen’s best-selling SUV in the States, and it’s worth considering for car buyers after a smart-looking two-row crossover with all-wheel drive (AWD) – the standard front-wheel drive (FWD) offers three rows that can seat seven.
Unlike the cramped third row in the FWD model, the AWD version has a roomy interior with plenty more storage space behind the seats.
The rest of the all-wheel-drive Tiguan is impressive too:
- Entertaining and easy to drive with nicely-weighted steering.
- Smooth and quiet ride, even at elevated speeds.
- Spacious cargo area – the two-row AWD Tiguan matches the class-leading RAV4 and CR-V for storage room.
- Upscale and sleek-looking interior.
- Segment-competitive fuel economy.
- Comprehensive driver safety features.
Even though the Tiguan is a roomy small SUV, those looking for even more space should opt for the latest generation as its longer wheelbase extends the car’s overall length by ten inches.
References:
https://www.carsforsale.com/used-cars-for-sale