What 4 wheel drive *saloons* are available?

I would like to buy a 4 wheel drive saloon/hatchback but only know of the Impreza (fine car that it is), what else is out there? Doesnt have to be a preformance car but I absolutely dont want a traditional Land Rover off road type.

 

Audi have all models available in 'Quattro'

'Quattro' is a super version of 4x4 where each axle is differentially driven.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quattro

Although real 'quattro' is only on A4, A6, A8 models; the other models (A3, TT) use Haldex 4x4 (from VW) which is also available on VW Golf/Bora/Jetta.

Real 'quattro' is excellent.

StooMonster

 

as above various Audi/VW's, Jag X-type, lancer evo ,some of the new Alfa's have 4wd, Merc 4-matic (rarer than hens teeth in the U.K), Skyline to name a few

Personally i would go for an A4 with 'Torsen Quattro' esp in TDI form


Rgds

Tony

 

Skoda Octavia 4x4, estate and hatch.

Haldex differential 4wd is excellent and has far less transmission loss than torsen based setups.

 

subaru legacy, Be unique and buy the saloon, So few legacy saloons about.

 

Bentley Continental,Fiat Panda (1 model),Porsche 911,Renault Kangoo (1 model I think),Subaru Forester and Volvo XC70 too,(not that I'm looking for something 4 wheel drive aswell ).

 

Another vote for the Audis here.....totally reliable,huge range of engine and car variations,plus pretty much bullet-proof 4WD system.

 

Drove a Subaru Forester AWD (note "A" for All) for a couple weeks in Tennessee 2 years back - free upgrade on Hertz hire car that I decided to take.
Although I have never been a 4WD or AWD liker, I actually found it a very good vehicle (including a little off road stuff to check its capabilities).

Chris Muriel, Manchester

 

I nearly bought a Forester a couple of years ago. It was the four wheel drive version with the same turbocharged engine that's in the Imprezza

 

Quite a nice Qcar that, looked at it myself before I bought the octavia.

Octavia won out on build qual, space and MPG tho, and still did the Qcar thing.

 

And then there is the Vx Cavalier, Calibra's....and there are some rare BMW 3 and 5's ix models,

 

Ford:

Sierra XR4x4 and 4x4 Ghia estate (the fast load lugger!)
Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4
Granada 4x4 (subtly fast, enormous, comfy, quite rare)
Escort RS Cosworth (iconic)
Escort RS2000 4x4 (poor mans escos)
Mondeo 2.0 4x4 (if you can find one, uses same running gear as above)

All great if you are on a shoestring (or fancy a car that'll never depreciate in the case of the escos)

Legacy twin turbo estates are pretty cool though

 

Some others that people have missed,Golf Syncro, Scenic 4X4, New Suzuki AX4 will be availible with 4wd in July/August - went to look at one on sunday, very impressed . Fiat are also marketing their own version of the same vehicle 1600cc I believe . Petrol only at the moment but apparently Suzuki are talking about using it as the base for their 2007 WRC challenge instead of the Swift they use at present.

 

i have a VW Golf 4motion, 2.8, permanent 4 wheel drive. very comfy and fast

 

Had an Audi A4 2.5 Tdi quattro a few years ago (V reg)
Very nice motor fast & very economical on a run but only average economy in town ( I must learn to be gentle with the accelerator pedal)
A few reliability issues but nothing serious & all sorted under warranty

Recommended

 

The Audi's with "real" quattro have all wheel drive, obviously permanent 4x4 wheel drive, but all four wheels can be driven at different speeds! This is done by combination of differential axles and individual computer control of brake discs.

Makes driving around in the snow or flying around roundabouts on wet tarmac a breeze. Not that we ever get any rain in Kent anymore.

StooMonster

 

The Audi's (and any VAG stuff) with haldex based systems have the same ability, but without the MPG \ power losses of the torsen setup...

 

Even better with the Haldex performance controller

 

I believe so, although it's cost was a little high in my opinion for it's benefits...

Have sold my Octavia now, so back to the joys of FWD

 

Difference is Quattro is on all the time, whereas Haldex AWD is on only when slippage occurs and is FWD the rest of the time.

In Quattro the car will not move if all four wheels loose traction.

In Haldex the car will not move if both front and one rear wheel loose traction. But Haldex not only disengages clutch when brakes applied, but also when handbrake applied so "handbrake turns" are possible.

StooMonster

 

Haldex diffs do not disengage when brakes applied, I think you are getting confused with the fact it will disengage if ESP has to brake an individual wheel.

Ian

 

if you fancy something a bit different and a bit older

a cavalier 4x4 turbo (2ltr 16v) fantastic car.

 

That's not what I posted. I wrote that Haldex disengages clutch when braking, not that braking disengages diffs.

StooMonster

 

A "proper" 4x4 (ie. older Land Rover etc) will actually flip onto it's roof in less than a whole circuit of a roundabout due to transmission windup.

 

And not to mention that you need arms like Popeye to keep it going around the corner!