
These vehicles may come standard with AWD in the case of the Subaru Impreza, or as an optional variant like the Mazda 3. Passenger cars used to be primarily FWD vehicles, but more and more AWD passenger cars have entered the market. The main difference between FWD and AWD is that the engine provides power to the front axle in front-wheel drive vehicles, while the engine provides power to the front and rear axles in all-wheel drive vehicles. Most mainstream cars come standard with front-wheel drive (FWD). If you want a vehicle that can handle ice and snow, here are the best AWD vehicles you can buy across a variety of vehicle segments. It can be found across many vehicle types to provide all-weather driving confidence without buying a truck or an SUV. Chief among them is the fact that AWD technology is always active and works seamlessly to provide added grip on slippery surfaces. These two drive systems are commonly confused, but there are key differences between AWD and 4WD. Pioneered by Audi and Subaru in the 1980s, it became an alternative to four-wheel-drive (4WD), which was only available for trucks and rugged SUVs.

What is All-Wheel Drive?Īll-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles send power to all four wheels to provide traction that’s indispensable in winter driving conditions. With winter quickly approaching, we’ve done the research to find the best all-wheel drive cars across all drive types to help you navigate the harsh weather conditions. Loud noise heard throughout Tri-Cities was CSX train making emergency stop, rail officials say
