7 AWD Sedan Alternatives To The Toyota Camry, Whether New Or Used – Jalopnik

Whether you need to drive on snowy streets or rain-slicked roadways, it is arduous to argue towards the boldness that comes from sitting behind the wheel of an all-wheel drive (AWD) car. But whereas SUVs would be the first AWD-equipped vehicles that come to thoughts, not everybody needs a field with 5 doorways. AWD sedans just like the Toyota Camry provide an alternate that always comes with a cheaper price tag and higher gasoline financial system. 

And but, the Camry is not everybody’s cup of Toyota. In 2025, it was America’s best-selling sedan, and it tops the checklist of hybrids for the primary half of 2026, so some patrons might not need to observe the group, and sellers is probably not prepared to chop offers on Camrys. Whatever the explanation, if in case you have a Camry price range in thoughts and a necessity for AWD, there are different choices to think about, whether or not new or used. But let’s first set a baseline. The least costly 2026 Toyota Camry with AWD has a producer’s urged retail value of $32,285, together with at $1,295 vacation spot payment. That $32,000-ish determine will function a tough guideline, however not a set-in-stone quantity. 

With the concept of transferring up or down from that focus on quantity by just a few thousand {dollars}, we’ll spotlight 4 new fashions from mainstream manufacturers (Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Mazda Mazda3, and Nissan Altima) and three used premium sedans (Audi S4, Acura TLX, and BMW 330i). All info for brand spanking new fashions covers the 2026 mannequin 12 months and the least costly trim with all-wheel drive. By the way in which, all MSRPs talked about right here embrace manufacturing facility vacation spot prices. With a deal with value and four-wheel grip, we’ll save conversations about gasoline financial system (the current-generation Camry is hybrid-only) or reliability for an additional time.

With home non-luxury manufacturers absent from the sedan market, AWD choices stick with Asian producers. The Hyundai Sonata is an apparent selection and a direct Camry competitor. When geared up to spin all 4 corners, the mid-grade SEL Sport (the bottom trim that is out there with AWD) sells for $32,445 (together with $1,295 vacation spot cost), $160 greater than the Camry. Although the Sonata is on the market with a hybrid energy prepare, that model solely comes with front-wheel drive. With AWD, the Sonata has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 191 horsepower. An eight-speed automated transmission manages the drivetrain.

While the Camry earns the best general rating in Consumer Reports’ 2026 sedan rankings, the Sonata nonetheless ranks above common. Hyundai additionally features a five-year or 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper guarantee and 10 years or 100,000 miles of energy prepare protection (in comparison with three years/36,000 miles and 5 years/60,000 miles for Toyota). Hyundai added AWD to the Sonata’s gear checklist as a part of the 2024 refresh, whereas AWD has been a part of the Twenty first-century Camry’s possibility checklist since 2020. (The AWD-outfitted Camry AllTrac was offered from 1988 by way of 1991.)

If the Sonata would not work as a Camry different, the Kia K5, which shares many mechanical bits with the Sonata, should be a viable possibility. The Kia K5 falls final in Consumer Reports’  rankings, however nonetheless sits within the good vary. However, Kia takes a barely totally different strategy, providing AWD solely on the mid-grade GT-Line trim. That means you may’t lower your expenses with the bottom LXS trim or benefit from the more-powerful GT with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 290 horsepower (each include FWD solely). The GT-Line makes use of the identical operating gear as the bottom Sonata (naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine making 191 horsepower and an 8-speed automated gearbox).

Given the AWD-equipped K5’s mid-tier standing within the mannequin lineup, pricing continues to be decrease than the Sonata’s at $31,335, together with $1,245 vacation spot payment. That’s additionally a couple of grand cheaper than the Camry, plus the K5 GT-Line contains leatherette upholstery, heated entrance seats, and different goodies that may require spending extra on a Camry.

If you need AWD with 4 doorways and a trunk, and also you’re much less involved about car dimension, add the Mazda3 Sedan to the procuring checklist. Like Kia, Mazda requires patrons to step as much as the next grade to spin all 4 wheels. In this case, the Carbon Edition trim comes moderately loaded with leather-based upholstery, an influence sunroof, and plenty of different bells and whistles in comparison with a base Mazda3. All this can set patrons again $31,130, together with $1,315 destintation cost. That’s near the K5, however the Mazda3 has a protracted checklist of normal options.

Under the Mazda3’s hood sits a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 186 horsepower and is routed by way of a six-speed automated transmission. Mazda does provide a turbocharged model of the identical engine, which produces as much as 250 horsepower, however that requires a trim improve. A 0-to-60 mph time of seven.5 seconds would put the Mazda3 behind a Camry, which may hit that benchmark in 6.8 seconds, due to 232 mixed horsepower. Nonetheless, sufficient acceleration and horsepower make the Mazda3 one of the best automobile for a brand new driver. Among non-hybrid vehicles, the 2026 Mazda3 earned the best rating (an excellent score) in Consumer Reports’ evaluation.

In the fashionable period, the Nissan Altima beat the Camry to the punch by first providing all-wheel drive for the 2019 mannequin 12 months (a 12 months earlier than the Camry). This availability continues though 2026 is the final 12 months for the Nissan Altima, with its closing mannequin 12 months providing two trims, each of which could be geared up with AWD. The base SV, when geared up this fashion, stickers at $31,570 (together with a $1,245 vacation spot cost), about $600 lower than the equal Camry. Consumer Reports gave the Altima a CR Recommended designation and an above-average general rating.

Motivation for the Altima comes from, no shock, a non-turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, identical to the opposite new-from-the-factory Camry alternate options listed right here. However, Nissan’s model, when paired with an AWD setup and a constantly variable transmission, produces 182 horsepower, the bottom of the group. With an EPA-estimated mixed score of 28 mpg, the Altima ekes out barely higher gasoline financial system than the Sonata and K5 (every at 27 mpg). Meanwhile, the smaller Mazda3 Sedan will get 29 mpg. The Camry (a hybrid) is rated for 50 mpg.

Shoppers skipping a brand-new car for one thing used with nicer options or extra energy is nothing out of the atypical. As extremely rated as a brand new Camry is, it is nonetheless a Toyota. Some patrons need extra however are nonetheless caught with a Camry price range. Let’s break the mildew by including a 2022 Audi S4 to the combination. There’s a double profit: 4 years of prior possession helps with depreciation, as does Audi dropping the A4 mannequin (which underpins the S4) after 2025. Discontinued fashions have a tendency to not retain worth in addition to nameplates nonetheless being manufactured. Consumer Reports hasn’t rated the S4, although it rated the 2025 A4 as “recommended.”

Looking for examples with no opposed historical past (accidents or title points) and common or higher mileage (about 54,000 miles over 4 years) yields choices priced round $35,000. You can add an additional thousand or two for decrease miles, or possibly a 12 months newer. In change, you may get an all-wheel-drive sedan geared up with a 349-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine. This energy prepare permits the S4 to succeed in 60 mph from a standstill in a sturdy 4.2 seconds, fast sufficient to go away the Camry within the rearview mirror.

Honda hasn’t come up on this AWD sedan dialog as a result of the Accord is strictly front-wheel drive, however Acura is one other matter. Although Acura dropped the TLX from its lineup after 2025, the mannequin is alive and properly within the used automobile market. The 2023 mannequin 12 months is the candy spot as a result of it balances newness with depreciation. Although the TLX was out there as a V6-powered Type S variant, pricing for these (above $40,000 for the 2023 mannequin 12 months) means sticking with a base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 272 horsepower despatched to all 4 corners. The result’s a still-respectable 0-to-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds. An EPA-estimated mixed gasoline financial system score of 24 mpg is not unhealthy both.

Clean-history, moderate-mileage examples within the top-spec Advance trim settle in proper round $35,000. You can modify this quantity up or down a bit by altering mileage or trim. Consumer Reports did not spend a lot time score the TLX, solely evaluating the 2023 and 2025 mannequin years, which obtained above-average grades.

Stretch that $35,000 price range one other $1,000 to $2,000, and also you’re in licensed pre-owned (CPO) BMW territory — particularly, the 330i with xDrive AWD. Dealer listings present choices on this value vary with round 25,000 to 30,000 miles. The BMW CPO program provides one 12 months of unlimited-mileage bumper-to-bumper protection on prime of the remaining manufacturing facility guarantee (4 years or 50,000 miles). These vehicles additionally bear an inspection course of earlier than certification and embrace three years of roadside help and a free oil change. If CPO standing would not matter, asking costs sometimes begin within the $33,000 to $34,000 vary.

The 2024 BMW 3 Series earned a advisable badge from Consumer Reports and an above-average reliability score. Power comes from BMW’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque on this software. An eight-speed automated handles shifting. Despite having much less output than the TLX, the 330i can attain 60 mph considerably faster, in about 5.6 seconds.