All-wheel drive is a common feature, but the best AWD cars remain a cut above the rest.
Nothing beats all-wheel drive when it comes to putting power down, whether that’s blasting away from a stoplight or navigating inclement weather on a long-distance drive. The best AWD cars provide the quality, all-around performance and value per dollar that all our top-rated vehicles provide. Whether you’re more interested in maximizing performance or maximizing winter traction, these impressive vehicles have you covered.
Enthusiasts are very happy with Toyota lately, and one reason is the mere existence of the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla. Easily one of the top performance AWD cars one can get for reasonable money, the GR Corolla is a barn-burner hatchback whose turbo I-3 belts out a charmingly disrespectful 300 horsepower. Sure, the "GRolla" isn't the most beautiful car you could have for $40,000 or the comfiest. But no one cares when rowing that six-speed manual, yanking that manual handbrake (huzzah!), and slamming the gas to authorize maximum all-wheel-drive rowdiness.
While previous models were offered with rear-wheel drive, these days the 2024 Tesla Model S is a strictly AWD affair. While Tesla’s driver assist systems and their cameras continue to cause controversy, the mechanicals of the car that changed the automotive industry continue to be a benchmark. Power, handling, practicality and ease of driving are all excellent, even without the Plaid’s insanity. But the benchmark is getting awfully long in the tooth, with serious competition already chipping away at what used to be an unassailable position.
The Model S shook the automotive world, then the Tesla Model 3 shattered it, causing even the most reluctant automakers to consider their all-electric future. Even the EVs that came out of the post–Model 3 electrification sprint struggle to compete with the newly refreshed “Highland” 2024 Tesla Model 3. It’s an update rather than a new generation, but the sleeker look, more comfortable interior and better handling are serious improvements. Other updates merely bring the Model 3 back up to par with growing competition, such as improved sound deadening and better build quality. The Model 3’s excellent powertrain is still a cut above the rest (despite somewhat overactive traction control).
Perennial winner of comparison tests and available with all-wheel drive for decades, the 2024 Porsche 911 can't be left off a list of the best AWD cars. Among its fellow 911s, the Carrera 4 provides some near-GT3 thrills without the full GT3 price tag, but this is still an expensive and formidable sports car. The higher-performance all-wheel-drive variants of the 911 remain among the best-performing vehicles on any road, and they are priced as such — with window stickers that can easily bloat even further with options like a $31,000 paint job.
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Supreme luxury is what the 2024 Genesis G90 pursues and what it attains. While it doesn’t wear a European badge, its comfort and tranquility match the best luxury sedans out there. And it does that with a price tag tens of thousands of dollars cheaper, depending on what spec you select. That combination of luxury and surprising value make it our favorite full-size luxury sedan.
As the last model year of an outgoing generation, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class won’t be state of the art for long, but it is certainly one of the best modern Mercedes, matching interior comfort with a slate of relaxing amenities from ambient lighting to massaging seats. All-wheel drive simply adds more stability and assuredness to an already stately experience.
The top of the current EV food chain, and possibly of cars in general, is now occupied by the 2024 Lucid Air. Sumptuously comfortable, brutally quick and impressively engineered, the Air lineup includes insanely quick and great-handling variants, not to mention potentially the best all-around AWD car on sale today. Granted, this is assuming your road trips don’t extend much beyond the Air’s impressive range, as it still lacks access to the Tesla Supercharger network as of 2024. Infotainment software also leaves something to be desired, and the motorized center console, while cool, isn’t necessarily practical. Headroom is limited, but thanks to some of the industry’s best packaging, other interior measurements read like they’re from a car a size larger.
Looks are somewhat deceiving for the 2024 Audi A5. Rakishly sporty yet mature, the style and cool factor are unmistakable, but behind the wheel the A5 is more calming than exciting. The A5 is still one of the best AWD cars, with comfort, safety and tech features aplenty, but for driving enjoyment to match the exterior's design, the S5 or RS5 would be a better choice.
The 2024 Audi A6 is a luxury midsize sedan that doubles as a sensory deprivation chamber. Built to the nines, the A6 eliminates virtually all outside noise while providing high-quality seating materials to serenely sink into. There is more road noise when the A6 is equipped with larger wheels, but the overall impression is a vehicle built to both blend in with and block out the world. This car uses its all-wheel-drive system to provide stability, though the RS6 variant leverages it to put enormous amounts of power to pavement.
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Quick and easy to drive fast, just about anyone could hustle the 2024 BMW 2 Series line of sporty coupes through a curvy road at pace, especially with the xDrive all-wheel-drive models. Neither available engine is slow in the mainline 2 Series. As is normal for sports 2+2s, the back seat isn't meant to be used by adults often. It's not capable of shrinking around the driver as much as the previous incarnation, but the new 2 Series still has plenty of sporting credentials.
Who could have imagined the 2024 Toyota Prius would be this pretty? Well, here we are. Besides the good looks, the former class nerd still gets excellent fuel economy grades and handling that might shock someone who’s only aware of the old Prius stereotypes. Moreover, its available all-wheel-drive system doesn’t impact fuel economy too badly, dinging the EPA numbers by only a few mpg — and still well into the 50s. Rear-seat visibility is partially sacrificed for the new Prius’ sleek style and aero profile, and those rear seats aren’t the most spacious, but this Toyota hybrid is still impressive enough to be named our Car of the Year. Unfortunately, the even more excellent Prius Prime plug-in hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
The Ioniq 5 won our SUV of the Year award, and the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the sedan version of that surpassingly capable SUV. The 6 offers plenty of power and excellent handling as well as a bold exterior styling language, making it one of the first EV sedans to seriously take the fight to the Tesla Model 3. It offers up to 239 kW of fast charging, allowing it to charge from 10 to 80 percent in under 20 minutes in ideal conditions. At least when compared base to base, the 6 actually handles better than the benchmark Model 3 and has longer range, as well. Inside, the 6’s interior looks complete though not necessarily happy. While its looks are more controversial than the universally praised Ioniq 5, it’s certainly no slouch.
Photos by Manufacturer and Alan Muir
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