Reader Question: I’d Like An AWD Car, What Are My Options?

A Wyoming reader, who wishes to remain anonymous asked us about AWD cars.

“I’d like an AWD car, what are my options?”

The reader currently drives a Subaru Outback, and would like a change from a Subaru.  Most people are probably more familiar with 4WD trucks and AWD or 4WD SUV’s but not so many cars. Back in the day, AWD cars weren’t so common, although there are plenty more options to choose from now.

Arranged by manufactures, offered by Fremont Motors, here are some cars available with AWD.

Ford

Ford Focus RS

The Focus RS is a sporty, performance hatchback (hot hatch) car with 320 hp and a ‘drift mode’ button. These have manual transmissions and are fairly rare and difficult to come by. Production of the Focus RS will be discontinued this year. The turbocharged 2.3L 4 cylinder engine can go 0-60 in 4.3 seconds.

Read more about the Ford Focus RS Limited Edition

Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion is available in FWD and AWD with a 6-speed auto transmission. With a 2.0L 4 cylinder engine, the car gets an estimated 29mpg on the highway and 20mpg in the city.

Ford Taurus

AWD is standard on the Ford Taurus SHO, and available with the Taurus SEL and Taurus Limited. The 3.5L V-6 engine comes paired with a 6-speed auto transmission. The bigger of the two Ford AWD sedans, the Taurus has about 4 cubic feet of more space in the truck. The SHO version of the Taurus is the ‘Super High Output’ trim. It has the 3.5L EcoBoost (turbocharged) engine making it a powerful highway cruiser.

Lincoln

Lincoln MKS

The MKS is a luxury sedan that is available with a 3.7L V-6 engine. Paired with the 6-Speed transmission the sedan will get an estimated 26mpg on the highway and 18mpg in the city. There is also the option of the 3.5L EcoBoost (turbocharged engine) which puts out 365hp making the MKS a luxury cruiser. MKS production ended in 2016.

Lincoln MKZ

The Lincoln MKZ is a mid-sized luxury sedan, offered with AWD. The MKZ is based on the Ford Fusion platform. The 3.0L twin-turbocharged engine puts out a whopping 400hp. Available with a retractable panoramic sunroof.

Lincoln Continental

Top of the line luxury, the Lincoln Continental is choice of chauffeurs. It has seat massagers in the front and rear. That’s right, back and bottom seat massagers. Reclining heat and cooled seats in the back.  A 19 speaker audio system, two-pane sunroof and an armrest with digital display in the back are just some of the coolest features. The door handles are particularly unique. If the Lincoln Continental were a chocolate it would be a Ferrero Rocher.

Dodge

Challenger GT

The Dodge Challenger GT is America’s only AWD muscle coupe. Equipped with the 3.6L V-6, the Challenger GT made its debut in 2017. Find out more about the Challenger GT here. Also available in some BRIGHT colors!

Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger is available in RWD or AWD. This roomy muscle car with backdoors just so happens to be the choice of vehicle for the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The full-size sedan can be had in AWD in the following trims; SE, SXT, for 2017’s and GT, and GT Plus for 2018. A 3.6 V-6 engine with 8-speed automatic transmission puts out 300hp. It also gets an estimated 27 mpg on the highway.

Chrysler

Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 like the Dodge Charger is available in RWD or AWD. AWD is available on the following trims; Touring, Touring L, 300S and Limited. It also has the same engine, the 3.6L V-6 with the 8-speed auto transmission. The Chrysler 300 is more about luxury than muscle though. Fuel economy is estimated at 27mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city.

Buick

Buick Regal & Regal Sportback

Buick offers FWD or AWD on almost all of their lineup. The only exception is the convertible Cascada. The Regal is a mid-sized luxury sedan available with a whole host of safety features like Forward Collision Alert. New to the market this year is the Regal Sportback where the entire trunk lid opens to allow access to the rear seats. This is useful if you need extra cargo room, fold down the rear seats and your good to go.This is a popular design in Europe. The sporty turbocharged Buick Regal GS is also available in AWD.

Buick Regal TourX

Also new to the market is the Buick Regal TourX. This station wagon is available exclusively in AWD and has more cargo space than a regular sedan. We featured this car earlier, find out more here. Prices start at $29,070 MSRP.

Buick brings out a wagon!!

Buick LaCrosse

The Buick LaCrosse is a full sized sedan, so slightly bigger than the Regal sedan. For 2018 model years, the LaCrosse gets a new 9-speed transmission to go with the 3.6L V-6 engine. AWD versions of the car are available in the Essence trim and Premium trim levels.

Volkswagen

VW Alltrack

The Volkswagen Alltrack is a wagon version of the Golf. The Alltrack even comes equipped with an ‘off-road’ mode, hill descent control, paddle shifters and a turbo. Estimated fuel economy is 32 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city. It also has the latest tech in new models with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Prices start around $25,850 MSRP for new Alltracks. Coming 2019 will be the Arteon.

There are currently no AWD cars offered by Chevrolet or GMC, although they do have SUV’s and trucks. Fiat has the 500X which is a subcompact crossover.

Got a question? Email us or feel to comment below.

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