10 Appealing All-Wheel Drive Sedans

2015 volvo s60

All-wheel drive used to be the exotic province of a small number of car companies dedicated to perfecting the art of powering four wheels at a time. Over the past several years, however, all-wheel drive has become one of the more common features available on a wide range of sedans as automakers big and small have begun to target buyers seeking the additional safety and security that this traction-enhancing technology can provide. Let's take a look at 10 appealing all-wheel drive sedans that prove you don't have to opt for a crossover or sport utility vehicle to power through inclement weather conditions.

1) 2015 Subaru Impreza

The 2015 Subaru Impreza is one of the leaders of the pack when it comes to all-wheel drive sedans. It’s capable, comfortable, and offers the kind of fuel economy that makes it truly competitive on the compact scene. The Impreza's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine delivers 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque and returns 28 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway when outfitted with its optional continuously variable automatic transmission. A five-speed manual is standard with the Impreza - as is its all-wheel drive system.

Photo by Subaru Media

2) 2015 Cadillac CTS Sedan

The 2015 Cadillac CTS sedan is a lot of fun to drive regardless of whether it is found in rear-wheel or optional all-wheel drive trim. The mid-size Cadillac CTS luxury car is roomy, nimble and comfortable and it can be outfitted with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or 3.6-liter V-6 engine, each of which is all-wheel drive-friendly from an available equipment perspective. The smaller mill generates 272 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque while the top of the line engine is good for 321 horses and 275 lb-ft of twist. A six-speed automatic is paired with CTS models, and fuel mileage for the two engines is nearly identical with the smaller motor edging ahead thanks to a rating of 20 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

3) 2015 Dodge Charger

The 2015 Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan that makes both its V-6 and V-8 engine choices available with all-wheel drive. The 3.6-liter Pentastar unit that comes standard with the Charger base models puts out 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, managed by an eight-speed transmission and delivering 19 mpg around town and 31 mpg on the highway. The Dodge Charger RT's 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 maintains the same transmission and ups the power ante to 370 ponies and 395 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy for the more robust all-wheel drive Charger drops to 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

4) 2015 Buick LaCrosse

The 2015 Buick LaCrosse courts near-luxury buyers with a mid-size sedan that is long on style and features. When ordered in V-6 trim, the Buick LaCrosse can also be equipped with an all-wheel drive system. The vehicle's 3.6-liter V-6 engine puts out an appreciable 304 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission is charged with handling the sedan's gear shifting duties. Buick lists the all-wheel drive LaCrosse's fuel economy figures as 17 mpg in stop and go driving and 26 mpg on the highway, which is a minor drop for each respective measure when compared against the front-wheel drive model.

5) 2015 Lincoln MKZ

The 2015 Lincoln MKZ is a mid-size luxury sedan that prides itself on the high level of technological sophistication that is has to offer potential buyers, especially in terms of entertainment and safety equipment. The Lincoln MKZ's optional all-wheel drive system is part of this suite of safety gear, and it comes paired with either a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that puts out 240 horsepower, or a 300-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Both are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbo four-cylinder earns EPA ratings of 22 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, while the V-6 version of the 2015 MKZ gets 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.

6) 2015 Subaru Legacy

The 2015 Subaru Legacy is another of the Japanese brand's respected all-wheel drive sedans. The Subaru Legacy has long made standard all-wheel drive a selling point, and the vehicles starts out with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood that can be relied on to produce 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque while returning fuel mileage of 26 mpg in city driving and 36 mpg on the highway. The Legacy is also offered with a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder motor that provides 256 horses and 247 lb-ft of torque while dropping fuel mileage to 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. All versions of the 2015 Subaru Legacy come with an efficient continuously variable automatic transmission.

7) 2015 Chrysler 300

Like the Dodge Charger with which it shares its basic platform, the 2015 Chrysler 300 is capable of pairing optional all-wheel drive with each of its two main engine choices. The Chrysler 300's 3.6-liter V-6 offers 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, shifted via an eight-speed automatic transmission that helps the full-size premium sedan see fuel economy figures of 19 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The much more capable 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 found in the higher-end versions of the 300 delivers 363 horses and 394 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed auto remains standard with the all-wheel drive, Hemi-powered Chrysler.

8) 2015 Volvo S60

The 2015 Volvo S60’s all-wheel drive system is optional and requires indulging in one of the model’s higher trim levels, but the splurge will be well rewarded, with a powerful drivetrain and lots of high-end features and equipment. Safety is the name of Volvo’s game, and an all-wheel drive S60 provides stability and comfort. The 2015 S60 comes with a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder drivetrain that puts out 250 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, or a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder that increases output to 325 horsepower and 354 lb-fit of torque. Both come paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The five-cylinder 2015 S60 gets fuel mileage of 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and the higher-powered six-cylinder falls just one mpg short.

Photo by Megan Green

9) 2015 Audi A4

The 2015 Audi A4 is proudly offered with optional quattro all-wheel drive, one of the systems that first introduced American consumers to the pleasures of four-wheel traction in a luxury sedan. The compact Audi A4 is motivated by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes use of a turbocharger to grind out 220 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque  Quattro-equipped models can be matched with either a six-speed manual transmission or an advanced eight-speed automatic gearbox, and fuel economy for the German vehicle checks in at 22 mpg around town and 32 mpg on the highway. The 2015 Audi A4 is also offered with an optional supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, boosting horsepower up to 333 and torque to 325 lb-ft.

10) 2015 Ford Taurus SHO

The 2015 Ford Taurus SHO is the high performance edition of Ford's flagship full-size sedan. The Ford Taurus SHO comes standard with all-wheel drive and is notable for its use of an EcoBoost V-6 engine to deliver rapid acceleration and great passing power without sacrificing fuel economy. The 3.5-liter, twin-turbo six-cylinder unit is good for 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission that features a manual shift option. The Taurus SHO also comes with bigger brakes and a number of other enhancements to help the big four-door car provide more than its share of driving thrills.