6 Small Cars With AWD To Consider In 2026

If you're currently shopping around for a small car, you may have noticed that most of them come equipped with front-wheel drive (FWD) systems. The benefit here is that this drive type is lighter and quite efficient, and because small cars typically target budget buyers and beginners, FWD systems help manufacturers to achieve their aim of making these cars as cheap and spacious as possible. Front-wheel drive vehicles also have better handling on loose or slippery surfaces than models with rear-wheel drive. As a result, they tend to be more beginner-friendly and ideal for general everyday driving.

Despite being generally considered better in slippery conditions than rear-wheel drive cars, however, front-wheel drive cars can still get stuck, especially in deep snow, mud, or ice. To ensure a more reliable driving experience, more and more consumers are demanding AWD systems, which sends engine power to all four wheels to make these cars near-unstoppable on all kinds of terrain. 

The good news for you is that small all-wheel drive cars do not need to be expensive, as there are now many mainstream cars and accessible luxury models with this feature. And so we've compiled six small cars with AWD to consider in 2026. Because this list is about new small cars, we've made sure to only include compact sedans and hatchbacks without recourse to crossovers or SUVs.

While the base Mazda3 sedan with the 191-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine comes standard with front-wheel drive, buyers can have standard all-wheel drive by opting for the turbo models, which have a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular octane 87 gasoline, or 250 horses and 320 lb-ft when fueled with 93 octane gas. That output flows to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, and so equipped, the previous year Mazda3 Turbo can sprint from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds.

Efficiency wise, an AWD-equipped Mazda3 sedan gets 23 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. That combined return is one mpg better than the hatchback, which gains 23 mpg in city driving situations, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg in combined city-highway driving. But the Mazda3 Turbo isn't just about performance or fuel economy.

The compact car also offers loads of niceties, namely heated front seats, a heated steering wheel (standard on the Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus), a power driver's seat with power-adjustable lumbar support and memory settings, a 10.25-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-C ports, and more. The 2026 Mazda3 2.5 Carbon Turbo hatch starts at $30,765, while the Turbo Premium Plus begins at $37,890.

It wouldn't be a list of the best small cars with AWD if it didn't include a Subaru. All but the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ sports car come standard with the Japanese automaker's symmetrical all-wheel drive system, which makes a compact car like the Impreza a prime candidate. The Impreza's isn't just any AWD, but a full-time system that continuously sends power to all four wheels, rather than only when you experience grip loss. This not only ensure safety and stability, but also provides better acceleration, no matter the surface you're traveling on.

The Impreza is also great value, considering the base model can be had for $26,595. That price gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, dual-zone automatic climate control, LED headlights, and keyless entry. If you desire more amenities, you can skip both the Base and Sport trim and check out the Subaru Impreza RS, which comes standard with heated front seats, a leather-covered steering wheel, an 11.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless device charger. Plus, you get a more powerful 182-hp 2.5-liter engine; the base model has a 2.0-liter mill that makes less power at 152 hp. However, you jump close to $5,000 in price.

Lexus is by no means a budget brand as a lot of other cars on this list, and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone to describe refreshed the 2026 Lexus IS 350, with its 311 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 as a "beginner" car. But, it is definitely small and one of the less expensive ways to get into the brand if you're looking to buy a new car.

The base model Lexus IS 350 (the IS 300 has gone away for the 2026 model year) is only rear-wheel drive. For the privilege of making all of the wheels spin, the MSRP is at a fairly steep $48,795 just to get your foot in the door.

As the Lexus IS is getting long in the tooth, the "F-Sport" package is now standard across the line. That gives you special exterior accents, bits, and baubles, as well as 19-inch wheels, so that's a nice bonus.

The BMW 2-Series is the Bavarian brand's answer to the compact sport sedan (or coupe) niche. The entry model 228 xDrive Gran Coupe (actually a sedan) comes in at a reasonable $42,000. Its twin-turbo four-cylinder puts out 241 horsepower and will achieve the all-important 0-60 sprint in 5.8 seconds. It also gets an estimated 38 miles per gallon, which is a definite bonus.

The spicier M235 xDrive Gran Coupe ratchets up the power a bit to 312 horsepower and the 0-60 charge now measures in at 4.7 seconds. It's priced at $50,000. SlashGear reviewed a 2025 example and managed to get some track time in as well.

Remove a pair of doors from the 2-Series and you get the 230i Coupe. The M240i, at the top of the power spectrum, gets BMW's 3.0-liter inline-six that throws 382 horsepower. It's priced at a cool $55,600. Unfortunately for this list, however, the proper 473 horsepower M2 is not available with all-wheel drive.

The Audi A4 is no longer part of Audi's lineup, so the smaller A3 has its chance to shine. It sits at a price of $40,100, which isn't particularly inexpensive compared to something like a Corolla, but for a luxury car, especially an Audi, it's a bargain.

Audi's lauded Quattro all-wheel drive system is standard on all A3 models, as is a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder puts out a peppy 201 horsepower, that, according to Audi, should propel the A3 to highway speeds in 6.0 seconds. That's pretty respectable for a little sedan. There is, of course, the significantly crazier Audi RS 3, where the horsepower is cranked up to 394 via a 2.5-liter five-cylinder. The 0-60 time now sits at 3.6 seconds, and the price jumps to $66,100.

Back to reality, the base model A3 is a nicely equipped luxury option for people who want a good deal or want to get into the Audi brand, but don't feel like taking out a second mortgage on their house.

The choice for the final slot for the best AWD small car was ultimately between the Volkswagen Golf R and Subaru WRX, but the German car managed to grab it because of its more persuasive output and the fact that Subaru already has a spot on this list. Speaking of performance, the 2026 model is the most powerful Golf R ever, thanks its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger that puts out generous 328 horsepower. VW says that results in a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds. Not bad for a mean Golf. That meanness translates to a hefty price tag of $49,455.

Volkswagen also claims that impressive performance is helped in part by the fact that the Golf R is lighter, thanks to the standard 19-inch forged alloy wheels, which now weigh 20% less than before. Inside, the 2026 Golf R offers a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.2-inch digital gauge display, navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless device charging, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, memory settings for the driver's seat, Nappa Leather upholstery, and many more.

In order to select the models on this list, factors such as performance and the reputation of the AWD systems in the various cars were taken into account. This was achieved by considering SlashGear's own reviews of the relevant vehicles over the years. In addition, we checked each candidate separately on other authority sites like Car and Driver, MotorTrend, iSeeCars, Edmunds, and also combed through forums and discussion sites like Reddit to determine the models that owners are most impressed with in terms of their value, comfort, amenities, and how great each car is to drive.