Compact 4 Wheel Drive Cars

The best compact 4 wheel drive cars are those which pack in the desired features at affordable prices. The reviews of major compact 4 wheel drive car brands presented below should help in choosing the best amongst these.
The compact cars are in great demand these days. The small cars are suitable for family use, allow smooth handling and have a good fuel economy. Most of the features of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are incorporated in these cars. Moreover, the interior and exterior features offer an overall comfortable driving experience. With the market of compact 4 wheel drive cars growing day-by-day, luxury features too are being included in these vehicles. Let us get in to the details of these compact cars with all wheel drive.

Best Compact 4 Wheel Drive Cars

All the car brands mentioned below, have their specialties and specifications which cater to customers with different needs.

Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is an all-time hit and one of the best compact four wheel drive cars. It has all the necessary features of an SUV plus the compact shape of a family car. It is one of the compact 4 wheel drive brand that has car with 2.5 liter DOHC engine. Turbocharged engine generates a power of 224 BHP, while the regular one produces 170 BHP. This car comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission system. In spite of being a compact car, the Subaru Forester has a towing capacity of 2,400 lbs. The 4-wheel Antilock Brakes System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), etc are some of the features of this all wheel drive vehicles which help avoid accidents. Features that are incorporated for comfort include manual seat adjustment (in 6 ways), reclining rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control system, etc. The price of Subaru Forester ranges from $20,495-$29,995.

Suzuki SX4 Crossover
This car has a 4-cylinder 2.0 liter engine and generates a power of 118 BHP. The fine body control, predictable handling and light controls are the features which make this car easy to drive and also suitable for family needs. It offers a mileage of 30 MPG (Miles per Gallon) on highways and 22 MPG in city conditions. These 4 wheel drive vehicles comes in a 5-door hatchback style. Rear wiper and exterior roof rack also are the important features of this vehicle. Tilt steering wheel, height-adjustable seating arrangement for the driver, etc are some of its interior features. The starting price for this car is around $16,000.

Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe has a V6, 4-cylinder engine that comes in 2.4 liter and 3.5 liter sizes. Vibrations that generally experienced at the time of acceleration, do not occur with this engine. Electromagnetic clutch-type system is the specialty of this car. Advantage of having this system is that until a low-traction situation is encountered, front wheels enjoy 95% of the power transmission. It makes the system efficient over those cars in which 4-wheel drive system remains permanently on. Traction control system, Electronic Stability Control, electronic brake-force distribution, anti-lock braking system, etc are the safety features incorporated in this design. This all wheel drive car costs around $22,000.

Toyota RAV4
The Dual VVT-i, 4-cylinder engine of these AWD vehicles have a capacity of 2.5 liter and produces a power of 179 BHP. The Toyota Direct Ignition (TDI) system (electronic) is used in this car. The advanced Electric Power Steering (EPS) offers a great driving experience. Safety features include the electronic brake-force distribution, anti-lock brake system and brake assist. The features include a roof-mounted XM radio antenna, Side-opening rear door (with the feature of hold-open), rear window defogger (with timer), high solar energy-absorbing glass, etc. In spite of being compact in size, the Toyota RAV4 has a towing capacity of 3500-lb. Starting price of the Toyota RAV4 is $22,025.

The small size and powerful engine of these cars together combine unique features which rate them much higher in terms of performance and overall driving experience. One should choose a car that suits most of the needs.
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Last Updated: 9/28/2011
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