These are the 10 best four-wheel drive cars

It is hardly possible without all-wheel drive: In Switzerland, the share of 4×4 vehicles in all new cars is almost half (2021: 48 percent). Nowadays, there are models with all-wheel drive in every class and every price range.

BMW i5 M60

All-wheel drive has never been as easy to achieve as with electric motors. And no 4×4 is as much fun as an electric one in terms of driving dynamics: Yes, BMW's new edition of the 5 Series is also on the price list with gasoline, diesel or plug-in hybrid drives. But even as a convinced gasoline driver, you will love the electric top version.

Other electric cars also shred off brutally, but none as smooth and cultivated as BMW's business sedan – which, by the way, you can also order as a station wagon. In the perfect chassis set-up, you can feel the experience that BMW has gained with combustion engines thanks to its M models.

But the assistance systems are also impressive: such as the Highway Assist, which you can signal by looking that it should overtake automatically. And the electric 5 Series is also at the forefront in terms of connectivity, interior quality and comfort.

• Price from CHF 124'400.-
• Drive: Electric 442 kW/601 hp
• Trunk: 490 l
• Consumption: 18.2 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 2.0 l/100 km petrol)
• CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
• Efficiency class A-B
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

Dacia Duster TC3 130 4x4

New logo, new image, new clientele: Renault's Romanian subsidiary Dacia is the brand of the hour in view of rising prices. It has long since won over people who used to travel in much more expensive cars, but who have long since also appreciated the robust design and the technology that is at eye level.

The new generation of the Duster compact SUV can now even be combined with a true hybrid drive or a cheaper mild hybrid drive as an all-wheel-drive vehicle. An additional electric motor recovers energy when braking and then goes into action when accelerating. Dacia has also continued to grow in connectivity and driving assistants. But one thing is unlikely to change with the new Duster: Those who bought it so far did not put the money they saved in the bank - but put it into all the extras that the price list allowed.

• Price from CHF 26'790.-
• Drive: Gasoline mild hybrid 96 kW/130 hp
• Trunk: 456 l
• Consumption: 5.9 l/100 km
• CO2 emissions: 133 g/km
• Efficiency class: n/a
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

Genesis GV60 Sport AWD Dual Motor

After Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis launched with "normal" drives in Europe, all-electric variants are now following in very rapid succession as an interesting alternative to other high-end electric vehicles. The SUV-like styled GV60 with a length of 4.52 meters seems particularly suitable for Europe. The 77.4 kWh battery is enough for 470 kilometres, and thanks to the high voltage of 800 volts and the charging power of 350 kW, "refuelling" goes from ten to 80 percent battery in 18 minutes.

If you want all-wheel drive and even more power, you can also go for the Sport Plus with 360 kW/490 hp. But the Sport with 234 kW/318 hp also whizzes to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds. For an additional cost, the extensive equipment of the GV60, which has a balanced, dynamic suspension and is technically closely related to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, can be supplemented by cameras that replace the normal exterior mirrors.

• Price from CHF 70'000.-
• Drive: Electric, 234 kW/318 hp
• Luggage compartment: 432 – 1,550 l
• Consumption: 18.8 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 2.1 l/100 km petrol)
• CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
• Efficiency class A
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 34.1 t CO2
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi MHEV 4x4

With the renewed Sportage, the electric age is moving into this compact SUV. Although the Sportage, which is closely related to Hyundai's popular Tucson, is not (yet) fully electric, it will be available exclusively partially electric in the future – as a plug-in, full or mild hybrid. An interesting variant of the 4.52-meter-long all-round all-wheel-drive vehicle is the turbbenziner with mild hybridization and manual transmission - a good compromise of fun and reason after Kia has eliminated the diesel in the SPortage. Inside, the Sportage takes the Kia EV6 as a model and offers an enormous monitor area with two 12.3-inch screens from the EV6 or also uses its automatic selector switch. And like other Hyundais and Kias, it has one of the smartest details: If you turn your lights or the blind spot warning system strikes, the cockpit shows a camera image of the corresponding side – so you can see bicycles in the blind spot, for example.

• Price from CHF 38'950.-
• Drive: Diesel/mild hybrid, 110 kW/150 hp
• Trunk: 562 – 1,715 l
• Consumption: 7.3 l/100 km diesel
• CO2 emissions: 166 g/km
• Efficiency class E
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 62.9 t CO2
• Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 10,826

Mercedes EQB 300 4Matic

While the small Mercedes SUVs GLA and EQA are virtually the stylish A-Class on stilts, the Mercedes GLB and its electric version EQB are the B-Class in SUV style. The EQB can be considered a successor to the classic family vans among electric vehicles. At 4.68 meters long, the EQB accommodates three rows of seats and thus up to seven occupants under or a lot of luggage.

The smart, futuristic "MBUX" operating system on board with the "Hey, Mercedes!" -Voice. According to WLTP, the 66.5 kWh battery has a range of 423 kilometres, which is sufficient in everyday use. With up to 100 kW charging power, the EQB draws power from ten to 80 percent battery charge level in just over half an hour if required. We recommend the EQB 300 4Matic. The EQB 350 4Matic with 215 kW/292 hp costs CHF 2,000 more for the same range.

• Price from CHF 61'427.-
• Drive: Electric, 168 kW/228 hp
• Luggage compartment: 495 – 1,710 l
• Consumption: 19.2 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 2.2 l/100 km petrol)
• CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
• Efficiency class A
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

Skoda Enyaq iV 85x

After the small electric Citigo, the first "real" (i.e. specially developed for electric) electric vehicle from Volkswagen subsidiary Skoda looks like an SUV at first glance and also feels a bit like it inside due to the slightly raised seating position. However, the Enyaq is in fact more of a mid-range station wagon in a trendy SUV dress. In any case, the space available is enormous, also due to the electric drive, and the driving comfort is excellent. The 4.65-metre-long Enyaq is something like the Octavia Combi in family e-SUV format. The five-seater impresses with very high-quality workmanship around the sometimes somewhat cumbersome Volkswagen Group infotainment system. The all-wheel-drive version bears the abbreviation iV 85x and is only available with the largest battery with a net capacity of 77 kWh. Although the 4×4 costs a few kilometers of range compared to the rear-wheel drive version, 460 kilometers are enough.

• Price from CHF 63'450.-
• Drive: Electric 210 kW/286 hp
• Trunk: 585 – 1,710 l
• Consumption: 16.1 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 1.9 l/100 km petrol)
• CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
• Efficiency class A
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

DS 7 E-Tense 360 4x4

With this version of its large SUV, the Stellantis luxury brand DS is venturing into completely new regions: Until now, you couldn't combine French style awareness with 4×4, nor with such lush performance. With 360 hp thanks to an electrically driven rear axle, the DS 7 E-Tense comes over hill and dale and is the most powerful DS ever.

Despite all the power, you don't have to do without the usual comfort, a noble interior with stylish details or plenty of space. It is particularly convenient when the DS 7 is on the road purely electrically – the five-seater can cover around 62 kilometres on a single battery charge. Or it uses its power reservoir to be particularly economical on long motorway stages. This does not work with every all-wheel-drive vehicle.

• Price from CHF 71'400.-
• Drive: Petrol plug-in hybrid 265 kW/360 hp
• Luggage compartment: 555 – 1,750 l
• Consumption: 1.7 l + 17.8 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 4.1 l/100 km petrol)
• CO2 emissions: 39 g/km
• Efficiency class C
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

Suzuki S-Cross 1.5 Full-Hybrid

Suzuki has almost casually renewed the S-Cross: The former "SX4" in the name is omitted, as are the rounded shapes. The Cross, which is still closely related to its predecessor in essence, now has a much more powerful appearance and has matured from a crossover to a "real" SUV. As a decidedly budget-friendly family type above the slightly smaller Suzuki Vitara, the 4.30-metre-long S-Cross does not rely so much on style and XL touchscreens. But it prefers to offer a lot of space and practical solutions: Many buttons may seem a little dusty, but they are very suitable for everyday use.

The S-Cross is available as a mild hybrid with manual transmission or full hybrid with automatic, always with all-wheel drive. Our tip is, because of the low consumption and the automated transmission, the full hybrid. The base price, which at first glance seems high, is put into perspective by the extensive equipment.

• Price from CHF 34'490.-
• Drive: petrol/full hybrid, 85 kW/116 hp
• Trunk: 430 – 1,230 l
• Consumption: 6.1 l/100 km
• CO2 emissions: 131 g/km
• Efficiency class C
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 Hybrid AWD-i

In the league of small so-called "city SUVs", we usually look in vain for all-wheel drive. However, there are exceptions – such as the SUV offshoot of the very successful new Toyota Yaris. In addition, the new Toyota Yaris Cross combines all-wheel drive with full hybrid technology including a continuously variable automatic. So it covers four sought-after segments at once: 4×4, hybrid, automatic and city SUV.

The Cross (alternatively available as a front-wheel drive gasoline or hybrid) also stands out with its details. For example, such a large and colored head-up display is unusual in this price range. The Cross is intended more as a second car for families or as a first car for couples, because for the sake of the parking-friendly brevity (4.17 meters in length), the space in the rear is good, but not outstanding.

• Price from CHF 32'900.-
• Drive: petrol/full hybrid, 85 kW/116 hp
• Luggage compartment: 320 – 1,097 l
• Consumption: 4.7 l/100 km
• CO2 emissions: 106 g/km
• Efficiency class B
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a

VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI 4Motion

The SUV for the whole family has long since become a bestseller at VW. Now the new third generation is starting with us – of course still with all-wheel drive. However, you then also have to opt for the turbodiesel – the economical plug-in hybrid versions with up to 100 kilometers of purely electric range are unfortunately only available as front-wheel drive.

But a turbodiesel is still justified – especially if you travel a lot in the mountains or crisscross Switzerland on long distances. In addition to its proven qualities such as plenty of space and generously dimensioned cargo space, the new Tiguan now also shines in terms of connectivity and driving assistants – and new functions and updates can be easily installed via the mobile network. If you're looking for a powerful companion for every occasion – the new Tiguan is the right choice for you.

• Price from CHF 58'800.-
• Drive: Diesel 142 kW/193 hp
• Luggage compartment: 652 – 1,650 l
• Consumption: 6.2 l/100 km
• CO2 emissions: 163 g/km
• Efficiency class D
• Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
• Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a