Best new AWD sedans under 50k

Started by r0tor, September 24, 2018, 04:20:22 PM

r0tor

Best AWD sedans under $50k (reasonably equipped) on sale today...

Criteria (1 most important)
1) Driver involvement (handling,steering,engine, trans, sound)
2) Family of 4 space... interior + trunk
3) Fuel economy
4) infotainment... cause who cares about infotainment


Vote!!   :heated:

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

93JC


MexicoCityM3

Some version of the A4 followed closely by C Class. At least until the new 3er arrives in a few months or so.
Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
'05 M3 E46 6SPD Mystic Blue
'08 M5 E60 SMG  Space Grey
'11 1M E82 6SPD Sapphire Black
'16 GT4 (1/3rd Share lol)
'18 M3 CS
'16 X5 5.0i (Wife)
'14 MINI Cooper Countryman S Automatic (For Sale)

r0tor

A4 is nice but so damn boring... its like as boring an an F30 but with a less interesting engine
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

r0tor

Honestly there is a fairly small number of interesting awd sedans anymore.  All the r&d is going to crossovers -sad panda-
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

MexicoCityM3

Quote from: r0tor on September 24, 2018, 05:09:27 PM
Honestly there is a fairly small number of interesting awd sedans anymore.  All the r&d is going to crossovers -sad panda-

AWD tends to be boring with few exceptions. WRX STi?

Or M5/E63S for double the price. The E43 is also very good (mags say so) and I liked an M550i that I autocrossed a few months ago for 70% more money.
Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
'05 M3 E46 6SPD Mystic Blue
'08 M5 E60 SMG  Space Grey
'11 1M E82 6SPD Sapphire Black
'16 GT4 (1/3rd Share lol)
'18 M3 CS
'16 X5 5.0i (Wife)
'14 MINI Cooper Countryman S Automatic (For Sale)

r0tor

The new WRX/STi is definitely a lot better of an overall package then the old ones as a car.  Definitely a lot more refined. 

However the STi is manual only (not wife friendly) and the WRX is a cvt for the automatic... and then there is the "ok" but relatively stone age engine and abysmal mileage.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

68_427

Quotewhere were you when automotive dream died
i was sat at home drinking brake fluid when wife ring
'racecar is die'
no


r0tor

At one point I had a man crush on a Mazdaspeed 6... I've read rumors of a new awd 6 but I think it's vaporware at this point and mazda seems to have completely abandoned its mazda speed tuner mentality.

This makes me sad
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

r0tor

A neighbor got a slamming deal on a Fusion Sport... Decent power (but doesn't feel as fast as it should) and I wouldn't call it all that well sorted either.

But it sort of is an interesting thing until it's soon to be dead
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

MexicoCityM3

Giulia with extra rims and the best snow tires money can buy for winter.
Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
'05 M3 E46 6SPD Mystic Blue
'08 M5 E60 SMG  Space Grey
'11 1M E82 6SPD Sapphire Black
'16 GT4 (1/3rd Share lol)
'18 M3 CS
'16 X5 5.0i (Wife)
'14 MINI Cooper Countryman S Automatic (For Sale)

CALL_911



2004 S2000
2016 340xi

MexicoCityM3

Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
'05 M3 E46 6SPD Mystic Blue
'08 M5 E60 SMG  Space Grey
'11 1M E82 6SPD Sapphire Black
'16 GT4 (1/3rd Share lol)
'18 M3 CS
'16 X5 5.0i (Wife)
'14 MINI Cooper Countryman S Automatic (For Sale)

Gotta-Qik-C7

Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on September 24, 2018, 07:13:34 PM
Giulia with extra rims and the best snow tires money can buy for winter.
I vote Giulia also!
2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

GoCougs

Quote from: CALL_911 on September 24, 2018, 07:44:59 PM
Get an A4

It's mos def the A4, no question. That DSG is brilliant, and makes that 252 hp feel like 300-325 hp.

SJ_GTI

I think the Audi S3 is a more fun car than the standard A4 and IMHO the backseat is very usable. To me the smaller size and lighter weight of the S3 trumps the "true" AWD of the A4. Technically the S3's engine is more powerful but I'd guess they are pretty similar in every day use (except that the A4 is heavier).

The WRX and STI would both be nice. Personally I prefer a hatchback but if you like the sedan form factor these are hard to beat for the price.

r0tor

A4 is a disappointment for me.  I'd go 3er over it even with the flaccid chassis tuning as at least xdrive has a RWD feel to it.  I'm not a fwd fan.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

r0tor

Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on September 24, 2018, 07:13:34 PM
Giulia with extra rims and the best snow tires money can buy for winter.

Giulia Q4!!!

Honestly, it checks all the boxes...
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

mzziaz

#18
Quote from: r0tor on September 25, 2018, 08:37:27 AM
Giulia Q4!!!

Honestly, it checks all the boxes...

I approve of this.
Cuore Sportivo

2o6


FoMoJo

Quote from: r0tor on September 25, 2018, 08:37:27 AM
Giulia Q4!!!

Honestly, it checks all the boxes...
A lovely car.  I'd be tempted.
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." ~ Albert Einstein
"As the saying goes, when you mix science and politics, you get politics."

MexicoCityM3

Go for it. We need better cars on the forum. Or CR-V of. course.
Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
'05 M3 E46 6SPD Mystic Blue
'08 M5 E60 SMG  Space Grey
'11 1M E82 6SPD Sapphire Black
'16 GT4 (1/3rd Share lol)
'18 M3 CS
'16 X5 5.0i (Wife)
'14 MINI Cooper Countryman S Automatic (For Sale)

MrH

Only $50k?  Surely you have more in your 401k
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

12,000 RPM

Read C&D's 10 month update on their Giulia QF. A lot of the problems they had carry over to the base cars.

My vote is an AWD Q50. Powerplant is up to you. Coilovers, tires, sport package and passing on digital steering will make it interesting
Protecctor of the Atmospheric Engine #TheyLiedToUs

68_427

Quote from: r0tor on September 24, 2018, 06:08:02 PM
At one point I had a man crush on a Mazdaspeed 6... I've read rumors of a new awd 6 but I think it's vaporware at this point and mazda seems to have completely abandoned its mazda speed tuner mentality.

This makes me sad

The 2.5T AWD Mazda 6 is already for sale.  Onslaught bought one
Quotewhere were you when automotive dream died
i was sat at home drinking brake fluid when wife ring
'racecar is die'
no


r0tor

Quote from: 68_427 on September 25, 2018, 02:25:54 PM
The 2.5T AWD Mazda 6 is already for sale.  Onslaught bought one

Weird... I see no mention of one anywhere
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee No Speed -- 2004 Mazda RX8 6 speed -- 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia All Speed

68_427

Quote from: r0tor on September 25, 2018, 03:21:28 PM
Weird... I see no mention of one anywhere

Oops maybe it's not AWD yet.  Could have swore it was in the press release but I didn't see it.  Appears an AWD model has been crash tested though.
Quotewhere were you when automotive dream died
i was sat at home drinking brake fluid when wife ring
'racecar is die'
no


68_427

Quotewhere were you when automotive dream died
i was sat at home drinking brake fluid when wife ring
'racecar is die'
no


MrH

Quote from: 12,000 RPM on September 25, 2018, 02:24:30 PM
Read C&D's 10 month update on their Giulia QF. A lot of the problems they had carry over to the base cars.

My vote is an AWD Q50. Powerplant is up to you. Coilovers, tires, sport package and passing on digital steering will make it interesting

Interesting choice.  I totally forgot about that car.  The high output engine is supposed to be really quick, and I think they look really good (save for that hideous swooping chrome C-pillar).  Interior is kind of a mess though with the dual screens.
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
2019 Acura RDX SH-AWD
2023 BRZ Limited

Previous: '02 Mazda Protege5, '08 Mazda Miata, '05 Toyota Tacoma, '09 Honda Element, '13 Subaru BRZ, '14 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec 5.0, '15 Toyota 4Runner SR5, '18 Honda Accord EX-L 2.0t, '01 Honda S2000, '20 Subaru Outback XT, '23 Chevy Bolt EUV

CALL_911

I'm all in favor of the Giulia but haven't you learned your lesson about FCA from your Jeep?


2004 S2000
2016 340xi