Giant all-wheel-drive test makes for gripping visuals – car pictures of the week

Four-wheel-drive is a bit of a taboo among the most dedicated of driving enthusiasts. Some think it’s an unnecessary safety net that dulls the experience. Some will utter a sigh of disappointment when they arrive across the road to find the Porsche 911 they just skipped over to has ‘Carrera 4 GTS’ on its rump, rather than just Carrera GTS. Those same people will often also roll their eyes when they look inside and see paddles behind the steering wheel and only two pedals. But is all-wheel-drive really that much of a pockmark on a fast car’s spec sheet and driver appeal, these days?

For sure, it’s become more common, across a great number of models that were once rear- or front-driven exclusively, usually because the power levels have jumped so much that AWD is all but necessary to avoid the tyres getting bombed every time you graze the throttle. There are also numerous ways that you can now send drive to the wheels at the front of the car as well as the rear, whether that be through an assortment of differentials, a dedicated gearbox or even, an electric motor or two. 

To get a feel for the state of AWD in 2025, we gathered together a selection of cars that send power to all four wheels, in a variety of different ways, with differing results, both in terms of performance and feel. The cohort certainly made for some entertaining imagery – in what other test will you see a Range Rover Sport SV sideways on two wheels, chasing a V12-engined Lamborghini Revuelto? When else have you seen an Audi RS3 compared to a Bentley Continental GT? Admittedly, the Carrera 4 GTS and Mercedes-AMG GT63 are the latest permutations in a decade-long rivalry.Can these cars engage and enthrall in the same way as their rear-driven relatives? Do extra driven wheels actually add something to the equation?

‘Rear-drive cars remain the purest driving experience, of course, and will always be very special. All-wheel drive brings a different set of abilities and a feel of its own, which can be similarly enthralling. The seven cars here show that, at the mid-point of the 2020s, AWD has the capability to be more nuanced and rewarding than ever. The fascinating thing is to see where ever-improving software, increasingly fluent conversations between chassis and drivetrain, and the evolution of torque vectoring – particularly in cars with electrified axles – will lead.’ – James Taylor, evo Deputy Editor, evo 333.

To read the full test, pick up a copy of evo 333 in-store or online.