What Car? Q&A - What four-wheel drive?

Q: I am looking for a four-wheel-drive saloon or estate car, but I don’t want a huge off-roader. Aside from Subaru and Audi, what other cars fit the bill? I don’t really have any real requirements regarding fuel type or engine size.
Kirsty Davidson

A: If you’re not intending to drive off-road or in treacherous conditions the benefit of four-wheel drive will not be obvious. Four-wheel drive does not automatically make a car faster, it simple provides greater traction if the road is wet or slippery.

As well as Subaru and Audi, there are several manufacturers who make 4x4 road cars, rather than dedicated off-roaders.

The Volvo XC70 is an estate car with a higher-than-normal ride height, as is the Skoda Octavia 4x4. Jaguar’s X-Type is available as an all-wheel-drive, in both salon and estate bodies, and the rapid Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX comes as a saloon only.

There are several four-wheel-drive VWs including selected Golf, Phaeton and Sharan models. If you’re looking for something smaller, think about the Fiat Panda 4x4 and the Suzuki Ignis 4Grip.