Best AWD Cars of 2026 | New All-Wheel Drive Vehicles | CarBuzzWhen it comes to optimal on- and off-road performance, AWD cars are one of your best bets. Sending power to all four wheels means extra traction on slippery surfaces like rain-slick or snowy roads. In the past, this function was limited to SUVs, but these days you can get a sedan, a muscle car, or even a compact hatchback with AWD. Many hybrid and electric cars are all-wheel drive by default, too. Here are our rankings of the best American AWD cars of 2026.Vehicles are assigned a BuzzScore in relation to their direct segment competitors, and as such, vehicles in this list, while similarly scored, do not necessarily compete directly against one another. Find out more about how the BuzzScore ratings work here. These lists are continuously updated with the latest BuzzScores and vehicles as they become available.This list deals with only non-SUV models; the best AWD SUVs for 2026 can be found here.This list covers wagons, coupes, sedans, and hatchbacks. BMW M5 Touring Our favorite model among this group of all-wheel-drive cars is the BMW M5 Touring. Some enthusiasts are still upset about its higher curb weight when compared to the previous M5 generation. However, once you get over the fact that it weighs more, you can have a ton of fun throwing it around a track. Its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 PHEV setup makes 717 combined horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, which launches it to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds with standard AWD to help maintain traction. AWD cars aren't always as fuel efficient as their two-wheel-drive counterparts, but the M5 Touring can drive 25 miles on electric power, and gets 54 MPGe combined."As we played around with the car on local South Carolina roads, it became clear that the M5 Touring can get its rear end loose, even without putting the car in its rear-drive setting. Even on imperfect back roads, the M5's Adaptive M suspension system straddles a fine line between enthusiastic handling and executive comfort. It's firmer than the Audi RS6 Avant, but far more compliant than the Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon, which is exactly what we want from a sporty wagon."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain Mercedes-Benz contributes to this list of the best AWD cars with its lifted wagon: the E-Class All-Terrain. Wagons might be losing popularity in the United States, but we're glad to see high-end models like this E-Class make a stand. It starts at $78,300 before destination and options. It has standard all-wheel drive — power is sent to all four wheels via a 3.0L turbo I6 mild hybrid that makes 375 horsepower for a 0-60 sprint of 4.6 seconds. That makes for a well-rounded experience on and off the road, since the All-Terrain variant has slightly taller ground clearance than a standard E-Class. Lucid Air Sapphire 4-wheel drive cars are not the same as cars with AWD — we go into the difference between AWD and 4WD in another article. For now, we want to highlight how great the Lucid Air Sapphire is. It reaches Maybach levels of luxury. That's to be expected when you consider the Sapphire trim's starting price of $249,000, though. This is truly one of the best EVs money can buy. It's powered by three motors (two in the rear and one in the front) that make a combined 1,234 horsepower, it can drive 427 miles on a single charge, and sprints to 60 mph in just 1.89 seconds — beating the Tesla Model S Plaid. Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan Mercedes-Benz makes some of the most luxurious cars with all-wheel-drive. For example, the flagship S-Class Sedan never disappoints. There are three trims available, including the S 500 4Matic, the hybrid S 580e 4Matic, and the S 580 4Matic — all have standard AWD. Depending on your trim, power is sourced from a 3.0-liter turbo I6 mild hybrid, a PHEV version of the same engine, or a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 mild hybrid. Pricing starts with the "basic" S 500 at $119,500. However, it might be worth holding onto your wallet until the new S-Class sedan is available later this year. Porsche Taycan Turbo The Porsche Taycan Turbo is an all-electric sports sedan with all-wheel drive. There aren't many rivals to compare this beast to, since the Tesla Model S Plaid is quick, but not luxurious. Nevertheless, Porsche adds a sense of excitement to this variant by giving it two electric motors that make a combined 697 horsepower regularly, or up to 871 hp with "Overboost." Overboost and launch control work together to give the Taycan Turbo a 2.5-second 0-60 mph sprint. It charged fairly quickly, with the ability to go from 10% to 80% charge in 18 minutes. If its $184,600 price tag is too much to handle, then used models can be relatively affordable for the same performance. Mazda 3 Sedan Most of the best all-wheel-drive cars on this list are pretty expensive, to say the least, but they don't have to be. The humble Mazda 3 Sedan is another great option with an impressive AWD system for an affordable entry price. Buyers can choose among five trims, but all-wheel drive is only available on the two most-expensive versions. The 2.5 S Carbon Edition starts at $30,210, and gets powered by a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 that makes a reasonable 186 horsepower. However, the top trim level, the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim, adds a turbocharger to boost power up to 250 hp for a starting price of $36,740. Genesis G90 The Genesis G90 is the brand's flagship model that earns its place on this list with flying colors. It competes with other luxurious large sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. There are only three available trims, but all of them come with standard all-wheel drive. The base model, the 3.5T AWD, starts at $92,700, but moving up to the 3.5T E-SC MHEV AWD introduces a twin-charged (turbo and electric supercharged) hybrid powertrain with 409 horsepower for $103,000. This is easily one of the most luxurious sedans on sale, let alone on this list."Again, the list of standard features for the interior is long, suited to the luxurious feel created by the sheer amount of room. A couple of linebackers in full gear would be perfectly comfortable in the back - which applies to families or the respected executive, too. Headroom and legroom is generous - on par with the S-Class for headroom, and slightly more impressive in terms of front legroom."- Ian Wright, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz Toyota GR Corolla A fun entry for a more reasonable price than most of these all-wheel-drive vehicles is the Toyota GR Corolla. It's still not cheap, but we feel as though it's a thrilling and impressive hatchback for the money. Our road tester found it to be one of the most entertaining models ever — partly due to its tiny engine that packs a serious punch. This hatchback is propelled by a 1.6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder that makes 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the grip of standard all-wheel drive and its low weight, the GR Corolla can use its launch control function to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in about 4.9 seconds."We still recommend the GR Corolla as one of the most entertaining hot hatchbacks ever built, but there are still some compromises to make with it. It's smaller than competitors, less refined as a daily driver, and the interior feels less premium"- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Audi RS E-Tron GT The quickest vehicle we at CarBuzz have ever personally tested is the Audi RS E-Tron GT. Slightly quicker cars may exist on paper, like the Air Sapphire we talked about earlier, but this Audi shoved us into the seatbacks harder than any we've had the fortune of testing. That said, it comes with an impressive standard Quattro AWD system to keep steady traction. Power is sourced from two electric motors that produce a combined 912 horsepower. Its 2.4-second 0-60 sprint is great, but it's also a luxurious Audi sedan. It comes with standard Nappa leather upholstery, a 360-degree camera, heated and ventilated front seats, and more."You can't talk about the RS e-tron GT without mentioning its bonkers acceleration. It's violent. We've driven quick EVs before; they typically throw your skull into the headrest. This takes it a step further by trying to push your brain and other vital organs beyond your skin and into the rear seat. We want to confirm on flatter, familiar roads in Florida, but our 2.17-second recorded 0-60 time in Las Vegas is frankly astonishing. If repeatable, that would place this four-door sedan behind only some of the quickest cars in the world..."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Audi S8 The last, but not least, AWD car we'll highlight today is the Audi S8. This sportier version of the A8 sedan rides on the same chassis and generally shares most parts with its less-expensive sibling. However, the S8 rides on upgraded suspension, and it has more power produced by a larger engine. This flagship Audi sedan starts at $130,000 before destination. For that much money, buyers will be satisfied — if not thrilled — by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 563 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. As expected from this automaker, Quattro all-wheel-drive is standard."Our tester came equipped with an optional $6,000 Predictive Air Suspension. The car can read the road ahead and respond before even reaching a bump, virtually erasing them from being felt. We can honestly say that no car at this price level exhibits such a comfortable ride. We feel that the S8 belongs at the same table as Rolls-Royce in this regard. And, when it's time for thrilling driving, the air suspension can nearly eliminate body roll and even prevent passengers from getting motion sickness."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Characteristics Of The Best AWD Vehicles Since you can find new all-wheel-drive cars in just about every classification, the similarities are not as clearcut as you may expect. That being said, there are still some qualities you can expect from the best AWD cars, for better or worse: Rugged design: Since all-wheel drive is meant to help cars overcome difficult road conditions, it only makes sense that many cars that include it as standard look more rugged than their run-of-the-mill front- or rear-wheel-drive brethren. This is most evident in the case of SUVs, crossovers, and even some wagons, where you can expect a bit more ground clearance to improve approach/breakover/departure angles. Performance: Many of the best all-wheel-drive cars are high-performance sports sedans or coupes. Sending power to all four wheels helps them accelerate fast while still maintaining excellent traction for superior handling at speed. Also, to overcome the added weight of the AWD system, they often employ a potent V6 or V8 engine, or high-output hybrid powertrains. Fuel economy: Unfortunately, that added weight of all-wheel-drive components harms gas mileage. If you’re looking for cars with the best mpg, you’ll want to compare them with those that are front- or rear-wheel-driven. Top performance models with high-displacement engines are even greedier, especially if they come equipped with a manual transmission - most smart-shifting autos and CVTs are a little more efficiency-minded. Price: If you’re buying new, the best all-wheel-drive cars will always cost more than their two-wheel-driven variants. In most cases, the difference is small, but it can be a few thousand dollars. When you add this to higher fuel bills, the overall cost of ownership can be quite high. Of course, you can always buy used, with many older models selling for under $10k, assuming you’re willing to make sacrifices in terms of modern features. What To Consider When Buying Cars With AWD As you can see, you have to take the good with the bad when buying an AWD car, but if it’s something you need, the sacrifices are usually worth it. Here are the things to keep in mind when you're considering buying one of the all-wheel-drive cars on our list: Pros Confident handling through corners Traction on wet, slippery roads, and in adverse weather conditions Improved acceleration Ability to go off-road (at least a little) Cons Limited availability Poor fuel economy Not as cheap as standard models Heavier curb weight Is AWD better than FWD? The answer here depends on your needs and what purpose your car’s drivetrain will serve. All-wheel-drive cars have much better traction, and the fact that power is sent to all four wheels is beneficial to faster acceleration times and grip through corners. However, if that’s not important to you, the lower fuel costs of rear- or front-wheel-drive cars make them a more attractive option. Can AWD go off-road? All-wheel drive should never be confused with four-wheel drive. While it is true that cars with AWD can more easily handle rough terrain than those without, this doesn’t qualify them as true or reliable off-roaders. All-wheel drive provides more traction, but it doesn’t offer the off-road gearing and drive modes that real 4WD vehicles have that make them adept at handling the road less traveled.Sources: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lucid, Porsche, Mazda, Genesis, Audi, Toyota
