Four-wheel-drive is common in large trucks and other vehicles meant for rough terrain, but it’s usually not needed when you’re just driving on regular roads. When you compare four-wheel-drive with all-wheel-drive, AWD is a much better fit for driving on pavement.
It still gives drivers more control over their wheels and works well with automatic transmissions. Because of this, AWD is a favorite among people who want more than what front-wheel-drive offers. That’s one reason SUVs — which might be taken off-road from time to time — can come with AWD.
It can also be found in some sedans, luxury vehicles, and more. Some car makers include it as an optional feature, while others make it a standard part of the vehicle.
AWD works well if you live where the roads often get slippery or hard to drive on because of rain, snow, or other bad weather. Today’s all-wheel-drive systems are better with fuel use than before, though they still usually use more gas than simpler setups.
They are now light enough that even smaller cars can have them. It’s always helpful to have better grip on rough roads to stay safe, but if you’re driving your family around, you’re even more likely to want a car that drives smoothly and safely rather than one that focuses on speed and high power.
There are plenty of good AWD cars in nearly every type of vehicle, whether you’re thinking about a sedan, a sports model, or an SUV. You can even find AWD in some well-made hybrids and electric cars.
Based on what buyers say and what car experts have reported, here are six of the top-rated AWD vehicles you can get, and a few that don’t measure up as well. You can find more about how these cars were judged at the bottom of the list.
Also Read: 11 Foreign Car Brands Building Their Best Vehicles in America
2025 Subaru Forester
As mentioned in review of the 2025 Subaru Forester, one thing that stands out about its AWD system is that it comes with the vehicle by default. That’s different from SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, which come with front-wheel drive first.
Another thing we found during testing is that the engine puts out a reasonable 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, so it’s not made for racing.
But Subaru clearly doesn’t focus on speed with the Forester, and that shouldn’t matter much if you’re thinking about getting one. What it does do well is offer strong reliability, including a dependable AWD system.
Our SlashGear tester said that “the permanent all-wheel drive system meant there was always an excessive grip on dry pavement” while driving, which helps the Forester feel more in control and easy to handle.
This is a big plus, especially since many people use the Forester as a family car. But even if you’re just driving it alone, you’ll like the AWD setup — especially if you’re always dealing with rain, snow, or ice where you live.
Along with the feedback from our reviewer, the 2025 Subaru Forester has gotten good ratings from drivers in surveys, according to Consumer Reports. They gave it high marks for reliability, road tests, and how happy owners are with it.
On top of that, the Forester is on Consumer Reports’ list of the best AWD cars you can get, which the group recommends if “you live in an area where roadways could be covered with ice, snow, or other traction challenges.”
2023 Audi A5
The 2023 Audi A5 is on MotorTrend’s list of the “best AWD cars to buy in 2023,” and it has high scores for how it drives — including things like handling and acceleration — based on information from Consumer Reports.
If you’re considering getting a new car, it’s important to know that this model had a recall last year because of faulty airbags.
While that’s a downside, it doesn’t reflect any problems with the all-wheel-drive system itself. The 2023 Audi A5 includes AWD as a standard feature across all three versions of the car: coupe, convertible, and hatchback.
Consumer Reports mentions that “the controls take some time to master but prove to be logical with familiarity.”
If you’re interested in more power while still having AWD, the S5 version of the A5 uses a 3-liter turbo V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, and it can reach 349 horsepower. There’s also a version called the RS 5 that offers 444 horsepower.
2025 Honda CR-V
All-wheel-drive is especially common in SUVs, since they’re built to handle both city driving and some rougher conditions.
At the top of the “Best AWD SUVs” of 2025 are the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid and the gas-powered version of the same model. Both versions received perfect 10 out of 10 ratings from the publication.
The 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid is one of the newer hybrid vehicles that includes AWD as an option. AWD is starting to appear more often in hybrid cars.
It’s important to remember that this vehicle comes with front-wheel-drive by default. If you want all-wheel-drive, it’s available on the Sport and Sport-L versions for an extra $1,500. The Sport Touring version comes with AWD already included.
If you choose AWD, you’ll lose a little bit of fuel efficiency — the AWD version gets 37 miles per gallon, while the FWD version gets 40. But in return, you’ll get better control and grip on the road. Car and Driver describes the way the hybrid drives as “smooth, quiet, and satisfying, if not particularly quick.”
Car and Driver also describes the gas-powered 2025 Honda CR-V as a “smooth ride.” Along with AWD, this version comes with hill-descent control, which “helps modulate the compact SUV’s speed on steep or slippery declines when traveling at low speeds.”
Like the hybrid version, the gas-powered model starts with front-wheel drive, so make sure to choose the AWD option if that’s what you’re looking for.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
Even though it’s not quite as popular as in past years, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray is still considered one of the top versions of the Corvette. It holds the number one spot on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the “best all-wheel-drive cars of 2024” and received a high overall score of 9.7 out of 10.
If you’re thinking, “Wait a minute — Corvettes don’t have all-wheel-drive,” you’re not alone. That’s because AWD is only included with the newer hybrid version called the E-Ray.
The E-Ray costs a lot more than the regular 2024 Corvette, but it gives you better gas mileage and a powerful 6.2-liter V8 engine. Its system can produce up to 655 horsepower and 592 pound-feet of torque, letting it go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds.
On our first test drive of the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, it is said the car felt smooth on regular streets, including on curvy mountain roads.
When the road got tighter, our driver switched to the Corvette’s “Z-drive mode,” which “tightens up the electric power steering noticeably, sharpens throttle response, and opens up the exhaust.” With AWD added in, the steering support gave excellent control even when turning sharply.
Our tester said they used “the all-wheel-drive system’s low-end grip to haul out of corners and then banging up to the LT2’s relatively low 6,500-rpm redline so frequently that [they] even stopped using the paddle shifter.”
They added that the AWD on the 2024 E-Ray “inspired confidence at both average pace and well into more aggressive carving.”
2023 Rivian R1S
If you want a car with AWD and prefer an electric vehicle, the 2023 Rivian R1S is the top electric AWD model.
This electric SUV includes AWD as a standard feature, so the whole system was built with AWD in mind from the start. The R1S uses a dual-motor system and comes with different driving modes that help it perform better on tough surfaces like mud, sand, water, and rocks.
You can also choose a version with four motors, which gives the R1S 835 horsepower and 908 pound-feet of torque. This setup was described as “ridiculously fast.”
It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just three seconds, which is impressive, especially considering it’s a large three-row electric SUV made with families in mind.
Its roomy cabin and storage area make it great for bigger families, and having AWD is especially helpful when you’re driving through bad weather like rain or snow.
Besides the drive modes, you can pick from different tires to improve grip. The suspension system also helps give a smoother drive.
The tester said “that the air suspension shakes off even Michigan’s burliest pothole.” The one downside is that AWD can lower how far the car can go on a charge, which matters when choosing an electric car.
Our reviewer also pointed out that a Highway Assist feature would stop working in even light rain, meaning the driver has to take over. This makes having AWD even more useful, since we aren’t yet at fully self-driving cars, strong control and traction are very valuable when you’re behind the wheel.
2025 Toyota Camry
The 2025 Toyota Camry is on Kelley Blue Book’s list of best AWD cars. This hybrid usually comes with front-wheel-drive, but you can add all-wheel drive to any of its four trims for $1,525.
Even with that added cost, the ninth-generation Camry remains a budget-friendly choice if you’re shopping for an AWD vehicle.
With AWD, you not only get better traction but also an extra electric motor built into the rear axle. This addition gives the AWD version of the Camry more power than the standard ones — the setup can produce up to 232 horsepower.
Fuel efficiency does drop a little with AWD, but not by much. Depending on which trim you choose, the AWD Camry still gives between 40 and 50 miles per gallon.
In SlashGear’s review of the 2025 Toyota Camry, the driving experience is described as “balanced” and “compliant and capable, and perhaps far more than (almost) any Camry driver expects or requires.” Besides the AWD, the car includes an electronically controlled CVT and three drive modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport.
The review says, “transition between electric and gas power, and regenerative and physical braking, is seamless,” and also that “the sedan’s electrically-assisted steering is light.” For a fairly low-cost hybrid sedan, the AWD feature, along with everything else, makes the ride smooth and the handling feel steady.
The Worst
2024 Volkswagen Taos
The AWD version of the 2024 Volkswagen Taos uses a dual-clutch automatic transmission that MotorTrend called “clunky” and “ill-behaved.” The problems were bad enough that Volkswagen replaced it in the 2025 model with the eight-speed automatic transmission used in the front-wheel-drive version.
It’s common for drivers to complain about car features, but when the company itself calls something a “major pain point for AWD buyers,” it shows how serious the issue is. Problems included jerky starts and slow gear changes.
SlashGear’s first drive review of the 2025 Taos says the updated version “has its share of hits and misses.” However, the new version at least brings a better transmission and AWD setup. Volkswagen says this SUV is aimed at “young, upwardly mobile families who don’t yet need a third row, and empty nesters who are downsizing.”
The uneven power flow in the 2024 model really hurts the whole driving feel, and any good features the vehicle has can’t make up for it, according to what owners have said.
On Consumer Reports, the Taos has a low two out of five rating for owner satisfaction and doesn’t perform well in driving experience, which includes things like handling and speed.
It also has a weak reliability score, especially when compared with similar options like the Honda HR-V, which offers AWD, and the Subaru Crosstrek, which includes AWD by default.
Mercedes-Maybach GLS
Yes, the Mercedes-Maybach does come with an all-wheel-drive system. But the Mercedes-Maybach GLS costs more than $160,000, and it’s a large, flashy luxury SUV that many people find unattractive. Even though it includes AWD, this isn’t the kind of SUV you’d actually want to take through mud or on rough trails.
Getting even a small scratch on the paint could cost a lot to fix. The all-wheel-drive system seems more like a way for Mercedes and Maybach to claim, “Look, this SUV can go off-roading.”
But if you can afford to buy this 4.0-liter engine SUV with 550 horsepower, it’s hard to imagine you’d ever actually drive it through dirt, gravel, or over tough ground. There’s a good chance it’ll spend most of its time sitting safely in your garage.
2024 Tesla Cybertruck
The 2024 Tesla Cybertruck comes with all-wheel-drive by default, which should, in theory, help it perform better in off-road situations and on wet or muddy roads.
But in reality, many videos have shown the Cybertruck getting stuck in these kinds of situations — and not always in extreme ones. What makes things worse is the number of recalls the truck has faced.
These include problems with the tires and the electrical system. With each new issue, more people are choosing to wait and see if Tesla fixes these problems before deciding to buy one.
The Cybertruck does have some exciting features and clever engineering under its sharp-edged exterior. And while AWD does help it manage slick roads better, the way the driver controls the vehicle is very different from most cars. Instead of using a regular steering system, the Cybertruck uses software-based steering called drive-by-wire.
This means that when you turn the steering wheel — which has a yoke shape that many drivers already don’t like — you’re not directly turning the wheels. Instead, you’re sending a message to the computer to turn them for you.
This setup is kind of like playing a driving video game, and if the software doesn’t respond, there aren’t any physical backups to take over (though the system does include built-in safety checks meant to help prevent problems).
This is the first vehicle in the U.S. to be sold with this kind of control system, so it may take time for drivers to feel comfortable using it.
Another problem is the shape of the vehicle. While some people like how it looks, the design causes trouble with seeing clearly while driving. When you add in the highly sensitive steering, it can make driving more difficult — especially on roads that are wet or icy.
Hummer H2
It’s not hard to understand why the Hummer H2 ended up on this list. AM General and General Motors had done fairly well with the Hummer H1, so it made sense for them to try continuing that success with the Hummer H2. But this 6,600-pound vehicle failed to meet expectations.
Even though it could manage some light off-road use, anything more serious would cause the H2 to get stuck. Its weight, close to 7,000 pounds, was too heavy, and it usually got only about 9 miles per gallon. Sales dropped each year, with 34,529 sold in 2003, going down to just 1,513 by 2009.
Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
This one is likely to spark some debate. There’s no question that the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato is an impressive piece of engineering.
Top Gear described it as a “jacked-up, armored, off-road psychopath,” which fits the car’s features well. A supercar made for off-road driving with a V10 engine is definitely something unique.
However, Lamborghini has only made 1,499 units of the Huracan Sterrato. Each one has a price tag of $284,000 at its MSRP.
While it is capable of going off-road, there are clear limits to where you can and would actually want to take a supercar that costs nearly $300,000. It’s a brilliant engineering project, but it feels like it doesn’t really serve a clear purpose.
Early Porsche Cayenne Turbo
The first car on this list is considered a failure. The Cayenne is Porsche’s main SUV, and even 20 years after it was first introduced, it remains a strong vehicle and a capable off-roader.
However, things could have turned out differently due to the issues that early versions of the Cayenne faced. The turbocharged Cayenne had problems because of the 4.5-liter V8 engine. How
We Drive points out several model years to avoid, with the 2004 Cayenne being especially problematic. Common issues included cooling system failures, water pump problems, and thermostat malfunctions, which often caused the engine to overheat.
Also Read: Top 10 Budget-Friendly & Luxury Trucks You Can Buy
How These All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Were Evaluated
This list of AWD cars — including both the best and worst — was created by looking at expert opinions and feedback from real drivers. Because all-wheel drive is meant to improve control and grip on roads that are rainy, icy, or snowy, these factors were given extra attention during the research.
We also looked at how well the power system and other related parts of the car worked alongside the AWD setup.
The goal was to show a variety of vehicles — including ones that are good for families, sporty cars, hybrids, and fully-electric models — so that whatever kind of car you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find an AWD option that suits you.
