Top 15 Best AWD Sports Cars

In climates where there’s snow and ice, many people gravitate towards vehicles with all-wheel drive. It’s one of the reasons why crossovers and SUVs are so popular.

But not everyone wants a crossover or SUV. Thankfully for those folks, all-wheel drive (AWD) is now available in nearly every vehicle segment imaginable, including sports cars.

In a sports car, all-wheel drive helps in all driving conditions. If a car starts to slide, power can be sent to all four wheels to help gain traction and get things back in shape. It’s a bit of extra security to keep that shiny ride off of the crash barriers.

In a high-horsepower car, all-wheel drive also helps with acceleration. Some of the best AWD sports cars on this list can accelerate to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. That’s only possible with all four wheels providing power and traction.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Fastest Cars Under $50,000

The choices out of there of AWD performance vehicles are numerous, with plenty of options. Our goal in compiling this list of the top 15 best AWD sports cars currently on sale was to cover a wide range of segments and price points. Sure, a lot of the vehicles below may not fall into the proper definition of a sports car, but every car on this list is high performance and definitely fun.

When it comes to all-wheel drive performance, many enthusiasts gravitate towards the Subaru WRX. With a deep history in rally racing, this car has been a popular choice with those wanting to attack dirt roads or snow covered mountain passes. An all-new WRX was introduced in 2022 which was a bit bitter sweet. The new car is better than its predecessor, but it also spelt the demise of the even hotter WRX STI.

The new WRX remains quite affordable and is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 271 hp. Best of all, it can still be had with a six-speed manual transmission that locks power equally between the front and rear wheels.

Tesla has built a reputation for making high powered, ludicrously quick accelerating vehicles. The latest Model S Plaid is the best yet. With peak horsepower set at a mind boggling 1,020, the Plaid can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 1.99 seconds. Tesla claims it can reach a top speed of 200 mph as well.

More than just a straight line warrior, the Plaid can also hold its own when the road bends as evident by the car’s recent accomplishments at the famed Nurburgring race track. Being one of only two all electric cars on this list, the Models S is indeed the oddball of the group, highlighted perfectly by its unusual yoke steering, uh, wheel.

Subaru’s all-wheel-drive sports car offering is fun, but with the death of the WRX STI, there’s one less player in the over 300 hp sport compact segment. This is where the Volkswagen Golf R comes in. Equally new for 2022, the new generation sees a bump in power. The small 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder now makes a healthy 315 horsepower.

But the bigger news may be the big step up with the car’s all-wheel drive system. A new, trick rear differential really ensures the car has maximum grip at all times, in all road conditions.

The build quality and Audi-like refinement puts the Golf R’s cabin experience above a lot of the car’s competition. It also has a more restrained look than the other sporty compacts in this segment.

The Golf R isn’t the only vehicle looking to fill the void left by the departure of cars like the Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Toyota is once again giving North American customers a rally-car-for-the-road with the new GR Corolla. Based on the Corolla hatchback, the GR features a widebody, big brakes, grippy tires, and of course all-wheel drive.

Unlike every other vehicle on our best AWD sports cars list, the GR Corolla uses a three-cylinder engine. Yes, that’s right, just three cylinders. But don’t be fooled by the size of the 1.5-liter unit. It still unleashes 300 hp and is paired to a six-speed manual transmission. There’s also an adjustable center differential to make sure traction is distributed just the way the driver wants it.

Wait, isn’t the Dodge Challenger a muscle car? Why is it on the best AWD sports cars list? That’s because of the existence of the Challenger GT.

Unlike most other Challengers, the GT comes with all-wheel drive, to give Dodge’s big coupe extra traction in slippery conditions. As much as we’d love the idea of an all-wheel drive Hemi V8 or Hellcat Challenger, the GT only comes one way. It features a V6 making 305 horsepower paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Even if this is the entry level drivetrain, 305 hp is still a good amount of power.

Plus, this is the only AWD muscle car on the market right now. The all-wheel drive system comes straight from the Charger Pursuit police car and biases power to the rear wheels. It’s still a heavy ride, but it’s easy to slide around corners in the wet or in the dry. The GT is the all-year, all-weather muscle car.

Sharing the same platform as the Golf R, the Audi RS 3 cranks up the performance. On board is a truly epic 401 horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine. Don’t let the sedan body fool you, this car is a sports car through-and-through.

Audi’s five-cylinder engine has its origins in rallying, like many of these all-wheel-drive performance cars. It has a sound unique to the configuration and instantly identifiable. Opt for the performance exhaust, and it’s easy to be convinced this is a street legal rally car.

Audi isn’t the only one that makes a high-powered, all-wheel drive subcompact sedan. Mercedes-Benz does as well, even if the brand refers to this car as a four-door coupe. The AMG CLA 45 Coupe packs a frantic 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that unleashes an impressive 382 hp. Coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission, the small Mercedes can scoot from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds flat.

Inside expect all the usual Mercedes-Benz luxury, comfort, and technology. The CLA does offer a slightly cramped backseat though, so don’t expect to put too many adults in there.

Audi’s smallest sports car comes with all-wheel drive. The TT is sometimes referred to as a baby supercar. It is possible to order a ton of different options and even get a convertible. There is even the five-cylinder turbo that’s in the RS3, which will get the small coupe from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

Unlike many of the cars mentioned so far, the TT is a two-door only. There is a rear seat in case of an emergency on the coupe models, but it’s more for storage than passenger comfort. It’s an automatic transmission only car, but it will bring a smile to your face.

Jaguar’s two-seat coupe and roadster are some of the prettiest cars on sale, and they can be had with all-wheel drive. The F-Type is now available in three trim levels, as either a coupe or a convertible. Entry level models can be had with rear- or all-wheel drive and feature a supercharged V8 making 444 hp. The F-Type R75 bumps power up to 575 hp and is only available with AWD.

Both models can be had with a snarling exhaust note that lets other motorists know this car means business. Unfortunately, the manual transmission options are long gone, but the ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic is one of the best in the business.

When journalists first drove the Nissan GT-R, they proclaimed it to be “Godzilla.” This king of the sports cars was a force of nature with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system and a massive turbocharged engine.

It’s received incremental updates over the years, and the Premium trim level now houses 565 horsepower, a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, and a launch control system that feels more like a rocket launch than acceleration. If that’s not enough, there is the 600 hp NISMO model that is quicker, sharper, and a better performer in every regard.

Why so much hyperbole for the GT-R? Because even as it gets old, it’s still one of the best bang-for-your-buck sports cars on the planet.

Most Porsche 911 s are rear-wheel drive. But if opting for a Carrera with a 4 in the name, it gets all-wheel drive. The world’s most iconic sports car comes in coupe, convertible, and Targa forms with differing power levels from a turbocharged flat-6 engine. Buyers can opt for a 7-speed manual transmission or Porsche’s epic PDK automatic.

If a regular Porsche 911 isn’t quite enough, there’s the 911 Turbo. Even though most 911s are turbocharged, only a select few get a Turbo badge and name. Those two models are some of the fastest-accelerating cars on the planet.

The 911 Turbo starts with 572 horsepower. The Turbo S models are more expensive but up the power to 640 horsepower. Turbos are blisteringly quick but still have the comfort you’d expect from a long-distance cruiser.

The second electric vehicle to make our best AWD sports cars list is the Kia EV6 GT. A new addition to the EV6 range, the GT receives 576 hp from a pair of electric motors. It allows Kia’s EV SUV to scramble from 0 to 60 mph in the low three-second range. But the EV6 GT is more than just an acceleration beast. The rest of the EV has been bulked up to handle better, with larger brakes and grippier tires.

Inside the GT still offers the same premium, technology-packed interior we’ve grown to appreciate in many recent Kia products.

Topping the range for Audi performance, the R8 comes in a variety of V10-powered flavors depending on your needs. The standard rear-wheel drive V10 coupe comes with 562-horsepower for the U.S. version. But upgrade to the all-wheel drive version and power jumps to 602 hp.

The mid-engine sports car sends most of the power to the rear wheels for on track performance but can shift the power forward if things get scary. The V10 on board is basically the same engine in the more-expensive Lamborghini Huracán.

There are few cars left on sale, sports car or not, that are powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine. The AWD Lamborghini Aventador is one of those cars. Nearing the end of its lifecycle, the Aventador in only offered in a single trim as a coupe or convertible. It now produces between 759-769 hp depending on options, and sends power to all four wheels via a single clutch automated manual.

This car is big, wild, and intense. It’s extroversion on wheels. The Aventador is a car that you need to know what you’re doing to get the most out of. But if you do, it’s epic.

Finishing our list of the best AWD sports cars is an entry from BMW. After decades of making exhilarating rear-wheel drive M cars, the brand is starting to offer AWD on most models. This includes the M4, specifically the more potent Competition Coupe and Convertible. With 503 hp coming from a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the all-wheel drive M4 can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

With the added all-weather capability, and more forgiving track performance, the AWD versions of the M4 should only increase the vehicle’s popularity. It’s also one of the few all-wheel drive convertibles on sale today.