Top 5 All-Wheel-Drive Sedans

Redesigned in 2009 and now about the same size as the Subaru Legacy, the A4 is the most aerodynamic of the five. But it's under the skin where the A4 shines.

The quattro AWD system has been impeccably effective and reliable for 20 years. The overachieving 3.2-liter V6 with direct injection and all the best technology has been substantially revised. It makes 265 horsepower, 243 pound-feet of torque, and gets 17/26 mpg on premium fuel. It's mounted farther back in the chassis to improve weight distribution from 60/40 to 55/45, no small thing on winter ice.

The paddle-shifting Tiptronic 6-speed transmission is lovely and the brakes are superb. Drive Select mode allows the driver to set the A4 for cruising, sport or high performance. The MMI (Multi Media Interface) is still more complicated than it needs to be, but itŐs better than before. Audi is listening.