10 Top Sedans with AWD Under $30,000

2017 Subaru Legacy ・ Photo by Subaru

All-wheel drive is a great feature, and not just for people who live where the weather is terrible. Sure, AWD cars hold the road better in the rain, and equipped with a set of winter tires, they’ll get you just about anywhere when the snow flies. But all-wheel-drive also has benefits in dry weather, giving cars better grip that equates to more fun and a safer drive—they do emergency swerves better than front- or rear-wheel drive cars. We set out to find 10 all-wheel drive sedans under $30,000; problem is, we only found six that were truly under that price point. So, to round out the list, we’ve included four other cars that could wind up close to or below $30k with some good bargaining. Here they are, from least- to most-expensive. (Prices listed are for the all-wheel drive version.)

Subaru Impreza — $19,215

The Impreza is one of our favorite buys on the market, primarily because it comes with all-wheel drive as standard and yet it still costs the same as ordinary front-wheel drive cars. (Seriously—a base-model Honda Civic with front-wheel drive actually costs $400 more than an all-wheel drive Impreza!) The Impreza is one of the newest cars on this list, Subaru having just redesigned it for the 2016 model year, and the latest version is better than ever—roomy, comfortable, and surprisingly fuel-efficient, particularly for an all-wheel drive car. And we just can’t get over the price! You can opt for a top-of-the-line 2.0i Limited model with all the options and still stay well under $30,000 ($1,240 under, if you’re curious). The Impreza is a fantastic car, good to drive and built to last forever, and it’s an incredible bargain for an all-wheel drive sedan.

Photo by Subaru

Mitsubishi Lancer — $21,130

Mitsubishi has just added all-wheel drive to their Lancer sedan, and frankly, we’re tickled pink about it, because their All Wheel Control system is one of the more sophisticated all-wheel drive systems out there. The Lancer starts around $18k; the all-wheel drive option brings the price to $21,130. Unfortunately, it’s a bit hard to justify the $21k Lancer against the $19k Subaru Impreza (though we really should call it a $20k Impreza, as an automatic transmission is an extra-cost option whereas it is standard equipment on the AWD Lancer). The Lancer is an older design, and it feels chintzy and dated compared to the Impreza (and, to be frank, pretty much every other car on the market). But if you can deal without some more advanced features—the Impreza is chock-a-block with driver and safety aids; the Lancer is lacking—you’ll be pleased to learn that a fully-loaded Lancer lists for less than $25k.

Photo by Mitsubishi

Subaru Legacy — $22,815

We love the mid-size Legacy for the same reason we love its smaller sibling, the Impreza: It’s a great car and a smokin’ good deal. Once again, let’s compare the all-wheel drive Subaru Legacy to the front-wheel drive Honda Accord: The base-model Accord costs $515 more, and once you add in an automatic transmission (standard on the Subaru, optional on the Honda), the price gap grows to $1,315. That makes the Legacy an almost irresistible deal. And the Subaru gives up nothing to its front-drive competitors: It’s roomy, reliable, and enjoyable to drive. (Just ask the folks who own them—Subaru buyers are among the most brand-loyal in the industry.) As with the Impreza, the value holds up as you add options: A $30k budget will get you a top-of-the-line Limited model, though you’ll have to stretch to $32,640 if you want the optional 6-cylinder engine.

Photo by Subaru

Subaru WRX — $27,515

Remember when we said that the advantages of all-wheel drive go beyond foul-weather grip and extend to dry-road fun? That’s the whole raison d’être of the Subaru WRX. This is Subaru’s hot-rod compact, with a 268-horsepower turbocharged engine and a sport-tuned suspension. All-wheel drive plays a critical role in getting all that power to the ground and launching the WRX out of the corners. It’s an absolutely wild ride—one of the most thrilling cars on the market when driven hard. We highly recommend it. Though it doesn’t quite undercut its front-wheel drive competitors on price like the other Subarus on this list, it’s still a good bargain—it’s in the same general price range as its best front-drive rival, the Volkswagen GTI.

Photo by Subaru

Ford Fusion — $29,015

The Ford Fusion is one of the more underrated cars in the mid-size sedan class. Designed largely by Ford’s European division, the Fusion is stylish, roomy, loaded with technology, and very rewarding to drive. And, unlike most of its peers, it offers all-wheel drive as an option. If you want all four wheels driven, you’ll have to opt for the mid-line SEL model (or higher) and a larger engine, which brings us to the bad news: The AWD SEL lists for $29,015 before options, very close to our $30k budget. There’s a lot to like about the Ford Fusion, but we’re sad to say that if you want all-wheel drive, it’s not the best bargain on the market.

Photo by Ford

Chrysler 200 — $29,965

Chrysler fits all-wheel drive to its sport-tuned 200S model, and when Sport mode is engaged, it biases power delivery to the rear, giving the 200S the sporty feel of a rear-drive car. Deselect Sport mode, and the all-wheel drive system is optimized for snow and rain. Very cool! Unfortunately, it won’t be cool for much longer: Chrysler is discontinuing the 200 after the 2017 model year, with production having ceased at the end of 2016. That means you may have to scour the dealerships to find what you want. It’s worth it, though—the 200 is a good car, one that is enjoyable to drive and offers a nicely-trimmed interior, though it’s a bit short on back-seat and trunk space. If the 200 is the all-wheel drive sedan you want, good luck and happy hunting!

Photo by Chrysler

Dodge Charger — $30,245

With its aggressive styling and powerful engine lineup, the Dodge Charger is one of the most appealing big sedans on the market—but the Charger has traditionally been a rear-wheel drive car, which rendered it largely useless to buyers who live where it snows. A few years back, Dodge took mercy on the snow-belters and introduced an all-wheel drive Charger. Problem solved! Opting for all-wheel drive limits buyers to the Charger’s V6 engine, but with 292 horsepower on tap—which would have been enough to qualify it for muscle car status back in the '60s—the Charger still has plenty of get-up-and-go, though it does without the rumbly exhaust of its V8-powered stablemates. Dodge’s all-wheel drive system disconnects the front axle when it’s not in use, which helps save fuel and tire wear. If you want an AWD Charger, you’ll have to opt for the SXT model, which puts us just over our $30,000 budget—but we think the Charger is worth spending a few extra bucks.

Photo by Dodge

Buick Regal — $32,390

Buick may be an American brand, but the Regal is really a German car—it’s a rebadged version of the Opel Insignia, a car sold by General Motors’ European division, and it drives accordingly. Buick pairs all-wheel drive with a powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, and you can get it in either the plain Regal or the sport-themed Regal GS. Though a little short on back seat space compared to some of the other mid-sizers on this list, the Regal is a very competent car, albeit not a cheap one; AWD versions start just over $32k. 2017 is the last year for the current Regal; Buick has a new one waiting in the wings for 2018, but it won’t be offered in sedan form—only as a hatchback and a wagon.

Photo by Buick

Ford Taurus — $32,500

Like the Dodge Charger, the Ford Taurus is another full-size sedan that offers all-wheel drive—though since lesser Taurii use front-wheel drive, AWD is not as much of a must-have as it is in the Charger. Ford offers all-wheel drive in the mid-level Taurus SEL, paired with its corporate 3.5-liter V6. Opting for this combo raises the price to $32,500, well above our $30k budget. We can’t say we’re crazy about the Taurus as compared to the Dodge Charger; the Taurus’ back seat feels more claustrophobic than it ought to in a car this size, and the small windows pinch visibility. That said, the Taurus does have one of the most massive trunks we’ve ever seen—truly a wonder to behold. However, if you’re in for a penny, you may as well go in for a pound and consider the $43,395 Taurus SHO, which gets Ford’s exciting EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 and a sport-tuned suspension, and ups the interest factor significantly.

Photo by Ford

Dodge Challenger — $34,490

We love the Dodge Challenger for the way it combines old-school muscle-car feel with modern-day styling and technology. Like the 1970s-era muscle car after which it is named, the Challenger features 6- or 8-cylinder power (including the awesome 707-horsepower Hellcat engine) and rear-wheel drive. But Dodge recently added something new: An all-wheel drive version called the GT, arguably the first true four-season muscle car we’ve ever seen. Like the Dodge Charger to which it is distantly related, the all-wheel drive Challenger can only be had with V6 power, but at 305 horsepower—and boosted by an 8-speed automatic—what a V6 it is. We’ve always liked the V6-powered Challenger as a track car (it has less weight in the nose than the V8 cars, which helps handling), and all-wheel drive gives it even better grip. At $34,490 it’s a budget-buster (and calling it a sedan is a stretch), but for car nuts, the idea of a summer show car that can be driven year ‘round might well be worth the extra cash.

Photo by Dodge