For those contemplating the idea of buying a new car, a list of the best 4 wheel drive cars available in the market today is bound to come as a blessing in disguise. If you second our thought, you’d be pleased to hear that the ‘list’ is exactly what we have for you here.
Owing to the wide range of cars available in the market, it’s but obvious that you will get confused as to which will be the most appropriate one for you. It’s not just about choosing between a sedan, crossover, and hatchback any more. Now you have to decide between four-wheel drive (4WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) systems as well. But before you opt for either of these, you most importantly need to think about the purpose you would use the vehicle for.
4WD and AWD – What’s the Difference?
As a potential customer, you are likely to be bombarded with information about four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive technology when you visit the car dealer. You need to understand that even though these terms are usually used interchangeably, they are conceptually and technically different. In the four-wheel drive vehicles, the driver can change the drive controls from front/rear-wheel drive to four-wheel drive and back as and when required. In AWD vehicles, on the other hand, wheels and axles are controlled by the engine all the time. Both the concepts contribute to increased traction of vehicles on slippery and snowy roads and therefore, the terms can be used interchangeably if we don’t take into consideration the technicalities.
Best 4 Wheel Drive Cars
Subaru Impreza
Engine: 2.0L H4 148hp
Type: 4-door sedan or 5-door hatchback
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 25 City/34 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (5-Star)
Ford Fusion
Engine: 2.5L I-4 175hp
Type: 4-door sedan
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 22 City/34 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (5-Star)
Mazda CX-9
Engine: 3.7L V6 273hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 7 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 17 City/24 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (3-Star)
Hyundai Tucson
Engine: 2.0L I-4 165hp
Type: 5-door Compact SUV
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 20 City/26 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (4-Star)
Acura MDX
Engine: 3.7L V6 300hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 7 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 16 City/21 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (4-Star)
Lexus RX 350
Engine: 3.5L V6 270hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 18 City/25 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (4-Star)
Ford Explorer
Engine: 3.5L V6 290hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 7 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 17 City/24 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (4-Star)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Engine: 2.4L I-4 190hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 21 City/29 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (5-star)
Volvo XC60
Engine: 3.2L I-6 240hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 19 City/25 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (5-Star)
Honda CR-V
Engine: 2.4L I-4 185hp
Type: 5-door crossover SUV
Seating: 5 passengers
Fuel Economy (MPG): 23 City/31 Highway
NHTSA Safety Ratings: (5-Star)
Note: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Transportation, rates vehicles using a five-star rating system after crash testing them individually.
It’s not possible to rank cars purely on the basis of their features. Even the user’s perspective has to be taken into consideration. While a car loaded with high-tech features may boast of being the best, these features will come at a cost, and that may put it out of the reach for most of the people. In other words, it will not be their ‘best’ option. Therefore, the best thing to do would be to put forth all the options available and let the user decide which of these is ideal for him.