Electric cars used to be seen as a gimmick when Elon announced them in 2008. Today’s EVs can travel hundreds of miles on a single charge and tow massive trailers.
The industry has come a long way as EVs force their way into the mainstream. Electric vehicles are now shipped with a range of exciting additions and features. The biggest of these has to be 4WD.
Why It’s Easy to Ship EVs with 4WD
Four-wheel-drive used to be reserved for high-performance models in petrol and diesel cars. Adding 4WD would come at a steep cost to the car’s price.
However, four-wheel drive is more common in electric vehicles. This is because manufacturers only have to add a second electric motor.
Also, read; Is Electric Car Lease Worth It?
They don’t have to worry about mechanical moving parts such as transfer boxes. The biggest benefit of four-wheel drive is that it improves grip with the ground.
This feature is particularly useful in snow and heavy rain when two-wheel drives lose grip. 4WD also improves traction with the tarmac.
This allows electric vehicles with 4WD to achieve never-before-seen speeds and acceleration, superseding ICE cars.
Note that four-wheel drives are not always found on electric cars. They are usually reserved for pricier trim. However, they are a standard feature with most EV models.
This article takes a look at the best four-wheel drive electric vehicles in California.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a marvel of an electric car with top-of-the-line features. Its high-end models have over 300 miles of range and super-fast charging of 220 kW.
The Ioniq 5 also features top-notch interiors with plenty of class. It may not be top-notch, but it lets you know that you’re witnessing something legendary.
The four-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 takes complete advantage of its EV platform. It offers tons of interior space, stunning aesthetics, and many features.
It features DC fast charging with a capacity of 350 kW. This rivals the charging speeds of luxurious EVs like Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan.
The four-wheel-drive model also features a battery heating system and a precondition in function.
And here’s the best part: the Ioniq 5 has a tow rating of 2300 pounds. You can haul trailers, small caravans, and all kinds of luggage. The Ioniq 5 would effortlessly haul weight.
If towing is important to you, I recommend getting the Tow Hitch add-on. This bundle will help you maximize the power of the Ioniq 5’s towing capabilities.
BMW iX
The iX is BMW’s answer to Tesla’s electric cars in California. It features a stunning new makeover with bold aesthetics that redefine trends.
All trims of the electric car have a horsepower starting at 322 bhp. Their top-of-the-line model can produce a horsepower of 611 bhp. This rivals the power of the M60.
The trims xDrive50 and iX M60 come with a standard BMW xDrive. It’s an intelligent four-wheel drive, an advanced system that improves traction and navigation in harsh weather.
The intelligent 4WD system delivers exactly what you need in terms of power. It covers all driving situations.
The iX also features an optional adjustable air suspension. Drivers benefit from tremendous power, agile handling, and smooth riding in all trims.
The iX comes with a generous 105 kWh battery pack. It can cover an estimated 325 miles of driving range in a single charge.
Moreover, the range of the iX does phenomenally well on highways. Most EVs lose their driving range on highways. However, the iX doesn’t lose more than 20 or 30 miles on highways.
DC fast charging is standard on all trims. It takes 35 minutes for the EV to go from 10% to 80%.
Motorists can choose from a wide range of public charging stations.
It features a plush interior with a slew of high-tech features like curved touchscreen panels. The hexagonal-shaped steering wheel also oozes style.
The iX comes with integrated speakers for the stereo system. The front seats are also heated. Buyers can choose from leather upholstery or faux leather.
BMW also offers a textile seat fabric option at a higher price. It is made for microfiber and feels extra comfortable.
Read Why you should not buy an electric car
2022 Kia EV6
The EV6 is arguably Kia’s most ambitious entry into their EV lineup. It comes with an all-new exterior design that exudes style and luxury.
A spacious cabin provides passengers with comfortable seating. It comes with 12.3-inch displays for ease of use.
Even though the EV6 features 19-inch wheels, the ride always feels smooth. This is all thanks to their 55 series tires.
It features a 77.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that covers 310 miles. Note that the all-wheel drive does not come standard to all trims.
Buyers will have to add the optional all-wheel drive setup at an extra cost. This would drive up the cost of the car.
We would only recommend using the AWD trim for driving in harsher weather and climate. All in all, the EV6 delivers on all fronts – in terms of performance and style.
Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen has also launched its lineup of electric vehicles. The ID.4 is no slow poke, reaching 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
The four-wheel drive is 2 seconds faster than its RWD trim. This won’t win you any competitive races, but there’s enough speed to keep things exciting.
The four-wheel drain train delivers a net power of 295 pounds. The torque goes up to an impressive 339 lb-ft. There are respectable numbers that would embarrass most ICE cars.
Keep in mind that the front motor only kicks in during certain occasions. It activates after detecting slippage in the rear. Drivers will notice this enormous power bump right away.
Adding an all-wheel drive added over 200 pounds to the ID 4 AWD. So it is no surprise that the car’s total range is reduced.
It has a total range of 249 miles. This may be less impressive compared to other AWD EVs. However, the ID.4 happens to be the cheapest AWD EV.
It doesn’t take long to charge the VW ID.4 on DC charging. DC Charging takes only 38 minutes to go from 0% to 80%.
A level 1 120-volt outlet takes a whopping 50 hours of charging. And a level 2 240 volt will take 7.5 hours to charge the EV.
Not much has changed in terms of tech for the ID.4. It comes with standard tech, including a 10-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen runs the latest infotainment system by Volkswagen.
You really can’t go wrong by choosing the Volkswagen ID.4 as your first EV.
Tesla Model Y 2022
Four-wheel drive is not standard on Model Ys. The base Standard Range only features rear wheel drive.
However, the Performance and Long Range models feature four-wheel drive. Driving range in all trims is extremely high.
The maximum range on the Model Y 2022 is a whopping 326 miles per charge. This easily beats its more expensive rivals such as the Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-Tron.
The Model Y delivers in terms of performance, but the interior is lackluster at best. Don’t take it the wrong way, the Model Y is still comfortable. However, it could definitely do better.
The Long Range can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Performance trim lives up to its name as it’s faster at 3.6 seconds.
The SUV body of the Model Y doesn’t do it any favors though. Critics argue that the Model 3 delivers superior handling. This is because the SUV body has a higher center of gravity.
You would expect a second motor to reduce the total range of the Model Y. However, the 4WD Long Range has 326 miles of range.
However, the Performance sees a noticeable drop to 303 miles. In its defense, the Performance does come with lowered suspension, 20-inch wheels, and faster acceleration.
The Standard Range model doesn’t hold a candle to its pricier cousins. It delivers only 244 per charge. This is surprising given that it only comes with a single motor.
The Model Y also comes with a slew of driver-assistance features. These include self-parking, Summoning, and semi-autonomous driving systems.
These features ensure that Tesla stays one step ahead of its competition.
Read How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric Car
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
It’s impressive how Porsche hijacked the EV industry by releasing the Taycan Cross Turismo. The outrageously priced luxury EV boasts a top speed of 136 mph.
It can reach speeds of 62 mph in just 5.1 seconds. Moreover, it can cover 265 miles in a single charge.
The Cross Turismo features an all-wheel drive with more horsepower. It also comes with extra interior space and offers more utility.
All-wheel-drive comes standard on all Cross Turismo trims. Buyers can choose from the base model, the 4S, the Turbo, and the Turbo S.
The Turbo S carries a stupendous price tag but delivers impressive performance. According to Porsche, the Cross Turismo can deliver 616 hp.
It can also go up to 750 for short periods of time. Perhaps more impressively, it delivers all this power at a moment’s notice.
This makes the Cross Turismo an absolute joy to drive. Just make sure to find a safe place to push the pedal to the metal.
The Taycan’s cabin is lavish, and everything feels high quality. It’s a knockout both from the outside and inside.
There is much to appreciate, from its aesthetic curves to the large 21-inch wheels. You can charge the Taycan’s battery at a remarkably fast speed.
In fact, charging is faster than most models. You can go from 5% to 80% in just 22.5 minutes. These numbers were unheard of not too long ago.
But Porsche has bashed the stereotypes and shown that EVs too can be exciting.
Skoda Enyaq iV 80x SportLine
The all-electric Enyaq iV is a fantastic achievement from the Czech automaker. Known for its economical cars and ingenuity, Skoda has developed a supremely comfortable 4WD EV.
It feels great to drive, leads the way with advanced tech, and looks terrific.
Let’s run you through a few details. The Enyaq iV comes in seven different trims. Only the iV Sportline X features a four-wheel drive.
Hint: All cars without the x in their names have single motors.
It can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 7 seconds. At such speeds, your surroundings begin to warm before you can even register anything.
The addition of the dual motor results in a net horsepower of 261 bhp. The torque goes up to 425 Nm.
These are impressive numbers that dwarf interior trims. The 80x can cover 303 miles on a single charge.
All 80x SportLine trims come with 125 kW DC rapid charging as standard. This allows the EV to go from 0% to 80% in just under 40 minutes.
It is also equipped with a Drive Mode Select system. This allows the driver to configure the car’s powertrain settings for greater efficiency or performance.
All 80x models are outfitted with progressive steering and Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive suspension dampers.
There are a few minor problems with the 80x. For one, its interior doesn’t feel class-leading. Other than that, the 80x is a powerful EV that is highly recommended.
Read What Would Happen if Everyone Switched to an Electric Car
Other Honorable Mentions
Some noteworthy four-wheel-drive electric vehicles could not be mentioned because of time constraints.
This section takes a look at them briefly:
- Audi Q4 e-tron – comes with a 77kWh battery delivering 293 miles on a charge
- Jaguar i-Pace – Extremely powerful EV that can tow weights exceeding 700kg.
- Ford Mustang Mach-E – The dual motor setup allows the EV to mind-numbingly fast.
- Polestar 2 – This economic EV should not be underestimated. It does 0-62 mph in five seconds and covers 289 miles on a single charge.
Wrapping Up
Electric cars are posting impressive numbers with fast acceleration, top speeds, and fast charging.
Four-wheel-drive unlocks a new dimension of power that deals a death blow to ICE-cars. Of course, in some cases, adding a second motor reduces the range somewhat.
But this doesn’t detract from the overall performance metrics of electric vehicles in California. Do you think that adding a second motor is worth the extra power?
Please share your feedback with us!
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My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.