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No car sold new in the US has true four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case. What these searches usually find is a sedan, hatchback or wagon with all-wheel drive. AWD sends power to both axles, but it has no low-range gearing for slow, steep or technical ground. The EPA's 2026 data lists AWD versions of several mainstream cars, and the table below shows them.
At a Glance: Mainstream 2026 Cars With AWD
| Car | AWD offered on | EPA combined mpg, AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla | Corolla Hybrid (and the GR Corolla) | 44–48 (Hybrid) |
| Toyota Camry | Hybrid LE, SE, XLE, XSE (every Camry is a hybrid) | 43–50 |
| Toyota Prius | Prius and Prius XLE/Limited | 49–54 |
| Toyota Crown | Every version | 30–41 |
| Nissan Altima | Altima AWD | 28 |
| Hyundai Sonata / Kia K5 | 2.5-liter AWD versions | 27 |
| Mazda3 | Sedan and hatchback (EPA label: "4-Wheel Drive") | 26–29 |
| Subaru Impreza / WRX | Standard on both | 29 / 21–22 |
Luxury and performance brands add many more, from the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class to the Tesla Model 3 and the Dodge Charger. The EPA's Find a Car tool lists AWD availability for any model year.
What AWD Has and a 4x4 Adds
An AWD car sends power to all four wheels, usually through a clutch that decides how much torque goes to the second axle. Subaru, for example, describes its Active Torque Split system as an electronically managed transfer clutch that shifts torque in response to acceleration, deceleration and cornering. A true 4x4 adds a two-speed transfer case: its low range multiplies torque and slows the vehicle for climbing, crawling and pulling out of deep snow or sand. Consumer Reports lists the missing low range as a drawback of AWD, along with limited heavy-towing ability. See Choosing a 4WD for how low range shows up on a spec sheet.
Fuel economy is the trade-off buyers see first. In the EPA's 2026 data, AWD costs one to three mpg on the same car: the Prius drops from 57 to 54 mpg combined, the Camry Hybrid LE from 51 to 50, the Altima from 30 to 28 and the Sonata 2.5 from 29 to 27.
Subaru Outback and Crosstrek: Now Classed as SUVs
These two are the usual answer to "a car with 4-wheel drive", but the EPA classifies both the 2025–2026 Outback and Crosstrek as small SUVs, and Subaru calls the 2026 Outback an SUV. Both have standard all-wheel drive and neither has low range. Subaru's figures for the off-road Wilderness trims:
| 2026 Outback Wilderness | 2026 Crosstrek Wilderness | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 9.5 in | 9.3 in (other trims at least 8.7 in) |
| Engine | 2.4-liter turbo, 260 hp, 277 lb-ft | 2.5-liter, 180 hp, 178 lb-ft |
| Towing | 3,500 lb | 3,500 lb (other trims 1,500 lb) |
| Angles (approach / departure / breakover) | 20° / 22.5° / 21.2° | — |
| EPA combined mpg | 23 | 26 |
The Outback Wilderness adds X-MODE with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes and all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels, and every Crosstrek, including the new hybrid, gets X-MODE with Hill Descent Control. If you want a Subaru that the EPA still counts as a car, the AWD Impreza hatchback and WRX sedan are the ones.
AWD Cars in Snow
Consumer Reports' snow testing found that AWD helps a car accelerate from a stop on a slippery surface but doesn't improve braking or some cornering. In its tests, a front-wheel-drive Toyota Camry and an AWD Honda CR-V, both on new winter tires, each stopped from 60 mph in about 300 feet. CR's advice is four winter tires for any vehicle in snowy regions; an AWD car on all-season tires still stops no better than any other car on all-seasons.
If You Actually Need Low Range
Deep sand, steep unplowed grades and technical trails call for low range, and no car has it. Shop the small off-road SUVs or the best 4x4 SUVs instead.
How We Research This
This page uses the EPA's fuel-economy data and each manufacturer's published drivetrain specifications, not first-hand testing by our team. See how we rank and affiliate disclosure.
Subaru, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and other names are trademarks of their respective owners. 4x4 & Overlanding is an independent publication and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any vehicle manufacturer.
Recommended gear
A first recovery kit for any 4WD
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Best for a complete strap, shackle and glove kit in one bag.
- Straps, shackles, gloves, damper and a recovery bag in one kit.
- Covers most vehicle-to-vehicle recoveries without buying parts separately.
Best for getting unstuck from sand, mud or snow without another vehicle.
- Nylon recovery boards that give spinning tires grip in sand, mud or snow.
- Double as a shovel to clear sand from in front of the tires.
Best for airing all four tires down to a set pressure at once.
- Automatic deflators preset between 6 and 30 PSI.
- Air all four tires down at once, then stop at the set pressure.
Best for airing back up before you hit pavement.
- Portable 12V compressor rated to 150 PSI.
- Sized for truck and SUV tires.
We research products from manufacturer specs and owner feedback; we don't test them ourselves. How we choose.
Sources
- U.S. EPA / DOE — FuelEconomy.gov Vehicle Data (2026 model year) — 2026 drive types, EPA size classes and combined mpg for the Corolla, Camry, Prius, Crown, Altima, Sonata, K5, Mazda3, Impreza, WRX and luxury AWD cars; the AWD Mazda3 filed as '4-Wheel Drive'; the Outback and Crosstrek classed as small SUVs.
- FuelEconomy.gov — Find and Compare Cars — Look up the drive type and fuel economy of any model and year.
- Mazda USA — 2026 Mazda3 Sedan — Mazda sells the Mazda3's all-wheel-drive system as i-ACTIV AWD.
- Subaru U.S. Media Center — Subaru Offers Four Versions of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive — Active Torque Split uses an electronically managed transfer clutch that shifts torque in response to acceleration, deceleration and cornering.
- Subaru U.S. Media Center — All-New 2026 Outback Wilderness SUV — Subaru calls the 2026 Outback an SUV; Wilderness 9.5 in clearance, 260 hp / 277 lb-ft 2.4L turbo, 3,500 lb towing, 20° / 22.5° / 21.2° angles, X-MODE Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud, all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels.
- Subaru U.S. Media Center — 2026 Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid Pricing — Standard AWD on every Crosstrek including the hybrid; Wilderness 9.3 in clearance vs at least 8.7 in; 3,500 lb vs 1,500 lb towing; 180 hp / 178 lb-ft 2.5L; X-MODE with Hill Descent Control standard.
- Consumer Reports — Do You Really Need AWD in the Snow? — AWD helps acceleration, not braking or some cornering; a front-drive Camry and an AWD CR-V on winter tires both stopped from 60 mph in about 300 ft; AWD lacks low range and heavy-towing ability; four winter tires recommended.