Top 5 selections for best all-wheel-drive SUV alternatives

You can find all-wheel drive on most new SUVS on sale today, and some of the most popular models even come standard with this feature.

All-wheel drive can be beneficial for the additional traction it provides on slippery or icy roads, especially when you’re trying to accelerate from a stop or up a hill. But what if you want all-wheel drive without the SUV? After all, SUVS are typically less fuel-efficient and more expensive than a comparably sized sedan or hatchback.

Fortunately, there are options for those seeking SUV alternatives with all-wheel drive.

Edmunds’ experts have picked their favorites (prices include destination charges):

Affordable Hatchback: 2024 Subaru Impreza

Of course, one of the main reasons you may be worried about not having an SUV is storage space. The Subaru Impreza is a nice alternative. Drop the rear seats in the Impreza and you’ll have 56 cubic feet of storage space to work with, which is about what a typical subcompact SUV offers. The Impreza is redesigned for 2024 and only comes as a hatchback. As is often the case with Subarus, all-wheel drive comes standard across the Impreza lineup.

■ Impreza suggested retail price: $24,115

Family Hauler: 2024 Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna minivan is a great SUV alternative if you’ve got a lot to haul. First, it actually holds more than most other SUVS, and that’s the case for both people and cargo. It seats up to eight people and can hold a substantial 75.2 cubic feet of cargo if you fold down the third row of seats. The Sienna is also a hybrid, getting an Epa-estimated 35 mpg in combined city/highway driving if you pick all-wheel drive. You can get all-wheel drive on an entry-level Sienna but Edmunds recommends the slightly pricier Sienna XLE.

■ Sienna LE suggested retail price: $40,580

Stylish Sedan: 2024 Kia K5

Unlike the Impreza or Sienna, the Kia K5 is not going to compete with an SUV for utility. But you will get a midsize sedan that’s comfortable, quiet and well-equipped with features. You also get the best warranty on this list with Kia’s 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. Make sure to get the Gt-line trim. Besides being the only K5 trim level that offers allwheel drive, it’s an excellent all-around value.

■ Gt-line suggested retail price: $29,615

Electrified Choice: 2023 Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 has been the lowest-priced option in the automaker’s lineup since its debut and it continues to be a great choice for an EV. The latest Model 3 Long Range comes with dual electric motors — one for the front wheels and one for rear wheels — to give it all-wheel drive. It also has an impressive Epa-estimated 333 miles of range on a single charge.

■ Model 3 Long Range suggested retail price: $47,380

Fast and fun: 2024 Audi S3

SUVS often fall short in another area: being fun to drive. For the same money as a nicely equipped SUV, Audi will sell you the S3.

This compact sedan is the sporty version of the regular A3. It packs a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 305 horsepower, a quick-shifting transmission, nimble handling and standard all-wheel drive. Pick the midlevel Premium Plus trim with leather upholstery, heated front seats, traffic-adaptive cruise control and a lane-centering assist system.

■ S3 suggested retail price: $48,095

Edmunds says

If an SUV isn’t the best fit for your lifestyle or budget, there are still plenty of all-wheel-drive options out there. On vehicles that don’t come standard with allwheel drive, make sure that the specific vehicle you’re interested in lists it on its window sticker.