All-wheel drive has become one of today’s most desired vehicular features, for the primary reason that it enhances traction on all surfaces, diverting traction to the wheel(s) that can most benefit. That’s good on a couple of levels—for off-roading, it enables traction on loose and rocky terrain that may otherwise render single-axle drive wheels useless; on solid pavement, it keeps wheels driving in the direction intended by the driver, even when one or more tires lose their grip.
The way AWD drives performance has made it an integral system in sports cars, especially when conditions are not ideal and straight-line speed alone rarely tells the whole story, outside of an NHRA dragstrip. AWD reduces the likelihood of wheelspin, stabilizing the car in corners and reducing the likelihood of spinning out (which at best can slow lap-times, and at worst can result in dire consequences for human and machine). These AWD sports cars are both quick and able.
Models are listed in ascending order based on 0-60 MPH time, from the “slowest” to the quickest (with a few models tied for their spot).
2022 Audi TT RS Quattro
0–60 MPH Time: 3.6 seconds
Not the fastest, nor even the most exciting sports car on the track, the 2022 Audi TT RS Quattro makes its mark with a punchy 394-horsepower 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder powertrain that continuously distributes 354 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels through a slick seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Factory-claimed acceleration times have proved mostly accurate, with tested acceleration figures from reputable sources showing 0–60 times in the 3.4–3.7 second range.
Current Price: $60,800
In its final year, the 2022 Audi TT RS Quattro was only available as a coupe, though other Audi TTs were also available as roadsters. The Quattro system works with a sporty suspension to enhance the car’s stability through high-speed transitions and tight bends. Reviewers consistently note its composed behavior at higher speeds and confidence-building grip on highway ramps and twisty roads, making it a compelling compact alternative to large grand-touring coupes.
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2020 Jaguar F-Type SVR
0–60 MPH Time: 3.5 seconds
A classic grand tourer, the 2020 Jaguar F-Type SVR commands attention with a ferocious powertrain and near supercar acceleration. A 575-horsepower 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 uses an eight-speed automatic to deliver 516 pound-feet of torque to all wheels. Independent road tests place its 0–60 mph times almost bang-on with the factory’s 3.5-second claim, making it competitive with smaller sporty coupe contemporaries, though not in efficiency (18 mpg, combined, according to the EPA).
Current Price: $65,200
The 2020 Jaguar F-Type SVR’s AWD chassis contributes to handling balance and confident behavior at speed, actively managing torque distribution between axles, helping reduce understeer and enhancing traction over varying surfaces, while an adaptive suspension supports lateral acceleration and directional stability. Test data from automotive sources consistently highlight the F-Type SVR’s ability to carry momentum through corners, with grip and feedback that reward precise inputs.
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Ferrari GTC4Lusso
0–60 MPH Time: 3.2 seconds
The Ferrari GTC4Lusso (2016–2020) stands as one of the most desirable grand tourers sold in the U.S., distinguished by its formidable V-12 power and 4RM-S AWD system. The 6.3-liter naturally aspirated mill churns out 680 horsepower and 514 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 0–100 km/h sprint of 3.4 seconds, which would put 0–60s at about 3.2 seconds (confirmed by multiple performance tests). Efficiency naturally suffers, with the V-12 EPA-rated at just 13 mpg, combined.
Current Price: $162,975
Bearing a crossover likeness, the Ferrari GTC4Lusso is perhaps the most usable of Ferraris, with its wide footprint offset by four-wheel steering for reasonable urban-traffic manners. The 4WS and AWD systems also contribute to smooth and precise highway lane changes and high-speed cornering, as reported by many respected auto sources. That combination of brute force and sophisticated drive distribution makes the car one of the more competent supercars on the market, though price-inhibitive.
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Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera
0–60 MPH Time: 3.2 seconds
It’s probably not a coincidence that the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera (2011–2013) is as closely rated to the Ferrari GTC4Lusso you just read about, with the Lambo delivering like performance and handling prowess. The Gallardo relies on a 562-horsepower naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V-10 sending 398 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels via a six-speed automated manual gearbox. Like the Ferrari, the reported 3.4-second 0–100 km/h time equates to about 3.2-second 0–60 times, corroborated by various auto media.
Current Price: $104,597
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a supercar bargain, but the LP 570-4 Superleggera kicks it up a notch with AWD and lightweight design (tipping the scales at just 3,400 pounds) to deliver confident cornering and grip at speed. Performance data suggest lateral acceleration approaching 1.0g, with torque-spread managing traction out of turns and through rapid transitions. Its suspension and aerodynamic enhancements work with AWD to keep the car poised mid-corner and on high-speed straight-ahead runs, though the ride is at times unforgiving.
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2024 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance
0–60 MPH Time: 2.8 seconds
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance was the halo of the SL roadster lineup in the U.S., pairing an AMG-crafted 4.0-liter bi-turbo V-8 with a rear-mounted electric motor to produce 805 horsepower and deliver a startling 1,047 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels, and rip out 0–60 mph runs in 2.5 seconds, according to independent media outlets, dipping below the factory-claimed figure. Unlike other PHEVs, the SL 63’s powertrain is geared toward performance instead of efficiency.
Its prodigious grip, quick and slightly weighty steering, supreme braking performance, and overall agility are notable.
– Joe Parker for TopSpeed
Current Price: $188,050
“A pinnacle grand tourer convertible that blends performance thrills with open-air cruising,” the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 S E Performance remains the fastest SL-Class ever, and a top Mercedes-Benz operative in 0–60 sprints. Independent testing demonstrated later grip in excess of 1.0g, with torque vectoring, adaptive suspension, and rear-wheel steering contributing to the directional stability even over variable surfaces. Although it’s primarily aimed at track driving, it has the composure and predictability for everyday use.
2022 Acura NSX Type-S
0–60 MPH Time: 2.7 seconds
The Acura NSX is widely regarded as one of the best sports cars the world has ever known, and the 2022 Acura NSX Type S stands out as the final and most powerful iteration of Acura’s two-seat coupe in the U.S. The hybrid supercar blends a potent 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 with three electric motors to produce a combined 600 horsepower and deliver 492 pound-feet of torque to all wheels through a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Current Price: $225,000
The price of the 2022 Acura NSX Type-S reflects the model’s limited production of just 300 units, but it could be considered a bargain, given its overall presentation and performance. The hybrid AWD system and mid-engine mounting combine for superior balance, which is further enhanced by torque vectoring and advanced suspension tuning to stabilize the car through high-speed direction changes. Its lateral grip has been independently verified at 0.99g, making it competitive with many supercars.
2024 Porsche 911 Turbo S
0–60 MPH Time: 2.6 seconds
Available in coupe and convertible, the 2024 Porsche 911 Turbo S pairs a 640-horsepower 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat-six with Porsche’s full-time all-wheel-drive system, putting 590 pound-feet of torque to the road via an eight-speed dual clutch transmission (PDK). Company claims of 2.6 seconds for the 0–60 mph sprints are eclipsed by independent performance testing in the 2.1–2.5 range. Everyday efficiency is a wash (16 mpg combined, according to the EPA), but that may be the price to pay for the 911’s outstanding balance and handling.
Current Price: $313,000
Underpinning that explosive acceleration is a drivetrain and chassis that excel in real-world handling. The Porsche 911 Turbo S’s AWD setup works with an advanced suspension and torque vectoring to maintain grip through high-speed corners and transitions, helping the car balance its power with predictable stability. With thanks, also, to a wide rear track and massive rear rubber. Porsche Turbo variants show consistently strong skidpad performance and high levels of mechanical grip.
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach
0–60 MPH Time: 2.5 seconds
A successor to the vaunted Porsche Carrera GT, the 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is one of the most extreme-performance cars ever to light on U.S. soil. Using a mid-mounted 4.6-liter naturally-aspirated V-8, it pairs with two electric motors (one front, one rear) to produce 887 horsepower and route 944 pound-feet of torque to all four corners via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Respected independent auto media put its 0–60 mph times below the factory figure, sometimes bordering on the two-second barrier.
Current Price: $1,700,000
Only 918 Porsche 918 Spyders were built between 2013 and 2015 (all are 2015 models), with roughly a third wearing the weight-lightening track-intended Weissach package—hence the nearly $2-million valuation (and it will only appreciate). The combination of sophisticated aerodynamics and a superior chassis delivers exceptional handling capability to go with the powerful powertrain, with the lightweight Weissach version further sharpening responses and withstanding over 1.0g of lateral force.
2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo
0–60 MPH Time: 2.5 seconds
The Nissan GT-R’s reputation precedes it, with the 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo the most performance-focused version of one of Japan’s most iconic sports coupes. The hand-built 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 produces 600 horsepower, and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission supplies 481 pound-feet of torque to the ATTESA ET-S all-wheel drive system to distribute to each wheel, as needed. The sprint to 60 mph is expected to take less than three seconds, with auto media outlets returning runs as low as 2.5 seconds.
Current Price: $161,828
The 2020 Nissan GT-R Nismo distinguishes itself by translating its power into usable handling through Nissan’s renowned AWD system, with active torque distribution front to rear helping to maintain traction under blistering acceleration and through high-speed transitions (independent testing puts lateral grip at between 1.03g and 1.05g). A Nismo-tuned suspension (sometimes evaluated as too firm for everyday use) and enhanced aerodynamics contribute to the raw appeal of the GT-R.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
0–60 MPH Time: 2.5 seconds
The 2024 Corvette E-Ray was “the first-ever hybrid Corvette in history, but also the first-ever to be fitted with all-wheel drive”, and also the first-ever Corvette to run in front-wheel drive (when running on the front-mounted electric motor alone). Combined, the hybrid powertrain (using a 6.2-liter V-8 and the electric motor) puts out 655 horsepower, while 125 pound-feet of torque is vectored between the front wheels, and 470 pound-feet is split between the rear wheels, using an eight-speed dual clutch transmission. Zero to 60 takes 2.5 seconds, according to Chevrolet, which is impressive for a two-ton hybrid.
The acceleration is visceral. Brutal, even. But the aural experience makes everything feel even faster, and weirder, as if you’re warping to your next destination.
– William Clacey for TopSpeed
Current Price: $104,900
Beyond the rocket launches, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray’s AWD capability and chassis tuning help it balance the rear thrust with confident handling. With torque independent between front and rear axles, the e-AWD system enhances front traction to aid balance in corners and acceleration out of them, with contributions from the Z06 performance suspension and aerodynamic tuning. Independent testing pegs lateral grip at 1.10 g on performance tires.
Sources: Kelley Blue Book, Hagerty, Classic.com, The EPA