Gallery: All-Wheel-Drive Wagons
01subaru-outback-limited-3-6r
Subaru Outback Limited 3.6R --------------------------- An example of versatility, [Subaru's Outback Limited 3.6R](http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/outback/index.html) ($32,095 base) performed just as well on pavement as it did on dirt. With its 8.5-inch ground clearance and boxy exterior, the Outback looks more like an SUV than a wagon. The illusion continues when you get inside: there's plenty of legroom in the back and ample headroom for taller passengers. Plus, the 34-cubic-foot rear compartment can swallow enough gear for a weekend in the woods. Its 256-hp turbocharged engine rears its head on both flat straightaways and on 30-degree-plus inclines, and paddle shifters let you tweak the torque with ease. The higher suspension gives it more sway on sharp turns than the other wagons, but the added clearance is aces for crawling over rocky trails and navigating rutted fire roads. Read More:[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/ft-buying-advice-awd-wagons/) [Buying Advice: AWD Wagons](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/ft-buying-advice-awd-wagons/)We took the Outback on several trail run outings, and fitting five adults in the vehicle was no problem. Even in the back row, three six-foot-tall guys had plenty of headroom and enough legroom to keep them from complaining on the drive to the trailhead. On the way back from the trail running test, we took the Outback on a few miles of fire roads -- about ten miles of rutted and rocky dirt roads winding through Whiskeytown National Recreational area. The Outback handled the rocks, the switchback turns, and the steep incline/declines without problems. The only issue we noticed is that it's taller profile gives it a tendency to lean when speeding around corners, but there was really never a concern about tipping. The only time we lost traction was when I gassed it around a downhill hairpin. I let the wagon drift around the corner, then I gunned it on the ensuing straightaway, spitting a rooster tail of rocks behind us. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/fall-test)The cargo space is huge -- taking it on a climbing trip, I fit three full 65-liter packs and a crash pad with room to spare, and the aforementioned ample passenger room gave it an edge over the other vehicles we tested. With its ballsy acceleration, minimal cabin noise, and off-road prowess, the Outback is the way to go for the driver who wants a spacious vehicle that's equally at home on and off the road, but still rocks a respectable 30mpg. __WIRED__ Plenty of legroom. Great clearance on sketchy roads. Generous hauling capacity. __TIRED__ Spotty Bluetooth smartphone connectivity. Feels top-heavy around corners. __Rating: 8 out of 10__
Peter Hetzmannseder02mini-cooper-s-countryman-all4
Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 ----------------------------- A road-friendly go-kart is the best way to describe the way [Mini Cooper's S Countryman All4](http://www.miniusa.com/mini-cooper-s-all4-countryman-top-features.html) ($26,950 base) handles the paved stuff. This little speedster's widely spaced tires, low center of gravity and stiff shocks gave the it a magnetic grip on the asphalt. I got far too comfortable driving at ridiculous speeds on curvy backroads. The turbocharged 161-hp, 4-cylinder engine has more than enough oomph to shove you deeper into the seats every time you hit the gas, and the all-wheel-drive system provides the best cornering of the four wagons tested. When I took the Cooper off straight stuff and hit the mountain roads, it remained solid, without a hint of sway. Inside the car, Mini's distinct box shape provides an ample amount of passenger space -- we were able to seat two passengers comfortably in the back with a surprising amount of leg and headroom. That passenger comfort comes at a high cost -- if the back seats are up, there's hardly any room for cargo (only 16.5 cubic feet, or 41 with the seats down). The center console definitely wins some style points. The huge, round analog speedometer and the circular LCD screen look like they belong in a space ship. Unfortunately, other aspects of the interior's layout seem designed by aliens in less appealing ways. Those unacquainted with the Mini's controls might feel a little lost at first (the door lock and window controls are at the bottom of the central dash). It took me five minutes to figure out how to roll the windows down, and the two cupholders up front are too small to hold large drinks or water bottles. That stiff suspension and low center of gravity was excellent on the pavement, but is also made for bumpy off-road excursions and a lot of dings on the undercarriage – even well-maintained dirt roads were a tooth-rattling experience, and it doesn't seem like it would take long for a rough road to gut the Countryman's underbelly. This is definitely a city ride, but what a city ride. Those who are looking to stay on pavement and have as much fun as possible should definitely check out the Countryman. __WIRED__ Best cornering of the four cars tested. Surprisingly roomy interior. Sharp-looking exterior. __TIRED__ Puzzling control layout. Rides rough on dirt. Minimal storage space in rear. __Rating: 8 out of 10__
03audi-allroad-2-0t-quattro-tiptronic
2013 Audi Quattro Allroad Tiptronic ----------------------------------- Driving in [Audi's Allroad](http://models.audiusa.com/allroad) ($39,600 base) is like sitting in a mobile version of a penthouse suite; black leather seats, chrome everywhere, and a great sound system. It's more than just a cushy ride -- the Allroad's got some brains to it, too. The GPS navigation system is powered by Google Earth, giving drivers a clear secondary view of their terrain from as close as 50 feet overhead and far enough away to view the entire planet (the arrow doesn't move much in the space view, but it's cool nonetheless). If you want a mobile office, the Allroad's Wi-Fi capabilities will let you park and bang out a few e-mails on your way to wherever you're going. The Bluetooth smartphone connectivity is spot-on as well; phone calls came in crystal clear, and the audio link from my iPhone never lost its connection during my time with it. On the pavement, the Allroad proved just as luxurious by providing a smooth, quiet ride, with the supple leather seating and the front and rear sun/moon roofs making a four hour road trip feel nearly as comfortable as sitting in my living room with a cup of coffee. Except the sound system's better in the car. All the luxury conceals a beast beneath the hood -- the 2.0 turbocharged, 211-hp engine provides the Allroad with enough zip to blast around traffic at will, flying up hills and blowing by 18-wheelers like they were standing still. The Quattro all-wheel-drive system grips corners for dear life, which came in very handy during some aggressive "testing" on some windy back roads. Off-road, the Allroad's seven inches of clearance helped navigate some of the ruts and rocks that were jutting out from the road, and its front and rear skid plates kept the undercarriage safe from everything else. For my 5'8" frame, the Allroad was a great fit, but my pals who measure six feet tall and above didn't fare as well. Packing three guys in the back seat led to a pile of cramped legs and heads that were brushing the ceiling. __WIRED__ Grips corners like a gecko on a wall. Front and rear skid plates. Penthouse interior. It's a rolling a Wi-Fi hotspot. 27 cubic feet of storage space. __TIRED__ Pricey. Not much headroom. A/C is slow to cool off the car. Back row left passengers feeling cramped. __Rating: 7 out of 10__
Ford04ford-escape-titanium-4wd
Ford Escape Titanium 4WD ------------------------ First off, the 4WD in the title isn't actual 4-wheel-drive. It refers to the auto-adjusting traction control in the [Escape Titanium](http://www.ford.com/suvs/escape/trim/titanium/) ($32,120 base), which kicks in on corners and slick surfaces by transferring power levels between the four tires, maximizing traction as the situation requires. This gives the Escape excellent traction on curvy two-lanes and dirt roads, but the resulting body sway makes tipping seem like a disturbing possibility. Besides that, the Escape's safety features were comprehensive to the point of annoyance. Sensors on all four sides of the vehicle alerted me to potential danger no matter where it was coming from. Vehicles passing behind me as I backed out of parking spaces caused the car to beep an alert, and it sounded again when it decided I was inching too close to the vehicle in front of me. Meanwhile, the rear-view camera gave me a visual of what I was reversing into. The one nannyware feature I appreciated was the array of LEDs in the side view mirrors -- they light up whenever a vehicle triggers the sensors in the car's blind spots. This came in handy several times during a 300-mile road trip from the Bay Area to Mount Shasta, and the lights are unobtrusive (unlike the front/rear alert beeps), yet impossible to miss when you check your rear view mirror. The on-board computer is simple to use, and the voice-recognition controls are spot on. But the touchscreen is just out of reach, and drivers without simian arms have to lean forward to operate it. This is a minor issue when parked, but it can be a terrifying thing to try to adjust your choice of music while doing 80. Thanks to the extremely responsive steering, subtle shifts in weight (like leaning forward to fiddle with said touchscreen) sends the car veering into other lanes. Luckily, the LED blind spot alert on the side-view mirrors helped me avoid sideswiping that Camry while trying to queue up another Radiolab. __WIRED__ Headlights move to anticipate turns. Remote start will also engage the A/C to pre-cool the car for you. Blind spot and backup motion sensors. Ties Outback for the most storage space. __TIRED__ Touchscreen is out of reach. Lots of sway in high-speed turns. Bluetooth connectivity is spotty. __Rating: 6 out of 10__
