2 weeks Ago By ISeeCars
(iSeeCars) - 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:Subaru Impreza: 8.9/10Mazda Mazda3 Sedan: 8.
9/10Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback: 8.8/10Best AWD Luxury Small Cars:Lexus IS 350: 9.1/10Lexus IS 300: 8.
9/10BMW 3 Series: 8.6/10Best AWD Midsize Cars:Toyota Camry: 8.8/10Ford Fusion: 8.
7/10Nissan Altima: 8.6/10Best AWD Luxury Midsize Cars:Lexus ES 250: 9.0/10Lincoln MKZ: 8.
6/10Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 8.5/10Best AWD Large Cars:Dodge Charger: 8.7/10Ford Taurus: 8.
4/10Chrysler 300: 7.9/10Best AWD Luxury Large Cars:Buick LaCrosse: 8.4/10Lincoln Continental: 8.
2/10Lexus LS 500: 7.8/10Visit our website for a list of the Best AWD Vehicles across all segments.More from iSeeCars:Most Reliable CarsBest Cars for MomsBest SUVsAbout iSeeCars:iSeeCars.
com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $412 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.This article, Best AWD Cars, originally appeared on iSeeCars.
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