10 AWD Sports Cars That Deliver Performance, Style, and Value Under $50,000

If you’re looking for a car that can handle any weather condition, provide thrilling performance, and fit your budget, you might want to consider an all-wheel-drive (AWD) sports car. AWD systems can improve traction, stability, and handling by distributing power to all four wheels, rather than just the front or rear ones. This can give you an edge on slippery roads, tight corners, and fast accelerations. Plus, AWD sports cars are not as rare or expensive as you might think. There are plenty of options under $50,000 that offer a blend of style, speed, and practicality. In this article, we’ll show you some of the best affordable AWD sports cars for 2023, based on the latest information from manufacturers, reviewers, and experts. We’ll also tell you what makes each car stand out, what features and specs you can expect, and how they compare to their rivals. Let’s get started!

10 Affordable AWD Sports Cars Under $50,000

1. Subaru WRX STI – $38,170

The Subaru WRX STI is a legendary name in the world of rally racing and performance cars. It’s also one of the most affordable AWD sports cars you can buy, with a starting price of just $38,170. The WRX STI is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine that delivers 310 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a six-speed manual transmission and a sophisticated AWD system that features a driver-controlled center differential, torque vectoring, and a limited-slip differential. The WRX STI can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 159 mph. It also has a sport-tuned suspension, Brembo brakes, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler that enhance its handling and aerodynamics.

The WRX STI is not just a fast car, but also a practical one. It has four doors, five seats, and a spacious trunk that can accommodate up to 12 cubic feet of cargo. It also comes with standard features like LED headlights, leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a six-speaker sound system. The WRX STI also offers several advanced safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking.

The WRX STI is a great choice for drivers who want a thrilling driving experience without sacrificing comfort or convenience. It’s also one of the most reliable AWD sports cars on the market, with a J.D. Power predicted reliability rating of four out of five. However, the WRX STI is not very fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated rating of 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. It also has a stiff ride quality that might not suit everyone’s taste.

2. Audi S4 – $49,900

The Audi S4 is the sportier version of the popular A4 sedan. It’s also one of the most luxurious AWD sports cars under $50,000, with a starting price of $49,900. The S4 is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine that produces 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro AWD system that can send up to 85% of the power to the rear wheels or up to 70% to the front wheels. The S4 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. It also has an adaptive sport suspension, sport brakes, and 18-inch alloy wheels that improve its agility and stability.

The S4 is not only a fast car but also a refined one. It has a sleek exterior design with LED headlights and taillights, quad exhaust tips, and a subtle rear spoiler. It also has a spacious interior with leather and Alcantara seats (heated in the front), a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters (also heated), dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof (tilt-only), ambient lighting (30 colors), keyless entry and ignition (with hands-free trunk release), wireless charging (with signal booster), an 8.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with navigation), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (wireless), a 10-speaker sound system (with HD radio), and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (with customizable views). The S4 also offers several advanced safety features, such as forward collision warning (with automatic emergency braking), lane departure warning, rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing wipers.

The S4 is a great choice for drivers who want a sophisticated driving experience with a touch of sportiness. It’s also one of the most reliable AWD sports cars on the market, with a J.D. Power predicted reliability rating of four out of five. However, the S4 is not very fuel-efficient, with an EPA-estimated rating of 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. It also has a high destination charge of $1,045 that pushes its price over the $50,000 limit.

3. Toyota GR Supra – $43,090

The Toyota GR Supra is the result of a collaboration between Toyota and BMW. It’s also one of the most fun-to-drive AWD sports cars under $50,000, with a starting price of $43,090. The GR Supra is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that generates 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an AWD system that can switch to rear-wheel drive mode for more excitement. The GR Supra can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph. It also has a sport-tuned suspension, adaptive dampers, variable-ratio steering, launch control, and 18-inch alloy wheels that enhance its responsiveness and handling.

The GR Supra is not just a fun car but also a stylish one. It has a striking exterior design with LED headlights and taillights, dual exhaust tips, and a rear diffuser. It also has a cozy interior with sport seats (heated in the front), leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry and ignition, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility), a 10-speaker sound system (with satellite radio), and a head-up display. The GR Supra also offers several advanced safety features, such as forward collision warning (with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection), lane departure warning (with steering assist), adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go function), blind-spot monitoring (with rear cross-traffic alert), rearview camera, and automatic high beams.

The GR Supra is a great choice for drivers who want a thrilling driving experience with a touch of flair. It’s also one of the most fuel-efficient AWD sports cars on the market, with an EPA-estimated rating of 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. However, the GR Supra is not very practical, with only two seats and a small trunk that can hold only 10.2 cubic feet of cargo. It also has a low predicted reliability rating of two out of five from J.D. Power.

4. Ford Mustang Mach-E – $42,895

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is the first electric vehicle to bear the iconic Mustang name. It’s also one of the most innovative AWD sports cars under $50,000, with a starting price of $42,895. The Mustang Mach-E is powered by an electric motor that delivers 266 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. It’s connected to an AWD system that can adjust the power distribution between the front and rear axles depending on the driving mode and conditions. The Mustang Mach-E can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 111 mph. It also has an adaptive suspension, regenerative braking, and 18-inch alloy wheels that improve its ride quality and efficiency.

The Mustang Mach-E is not only an innovative car but also a versatile one. It has a futuristic exterior design with LED headlights and taillights, door handles that pop out when you approach them (with your key fob or smartphone), and a front trunk that can store up to 4.8 cubic feet of cargo (and has a drain plug for easy cleaning). It also has a spacious interior with cloth seats (heated in the front), leather-wrapped steering wheel (also heated), dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof (fixed-glass), keyless entry and ignition (with phone-as-a-key feature), wireless charging (with signal booster), an 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with SYNC 4A software), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility (wireless), a 10-speaker sound system (with HD radio), and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (with customizable views). The Mustang Mach-E also offers several advanced safety features, such as forward collision warning (with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection), lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring (with rear cross-traffic alert), rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go function and lane-centering).