As much as a good set of winter tires can completely transform a vehicle in the cold, we understand that not everyone wants to drive a fast, rear-drive sports car in the snow. Getting a sports car with all-wheel drive (AWD) can make it a completely different experience (as long as you still have those winter tires on) for sports car owners who want to enjoy their rides through a Canadian winter. In the interests of Canadian drivers who still want winter thrills in an all-seasons daily driver, we've made a list of all of the AWD sports cars you can buy in Canada today.
It can be difficult to define what is and what isn't a sports car, but since this is our list, we've used our rules. This is why you'll see some compact AWD hot hatches and sedans on here, but not four-doors that are a size up because at a certain size point, it's a sports sedan and not a sports car, and that's a different list.
Here are all the AWD sports cars you can buy in Canada, arranged from most affordable to most expensive.
Subaru WRX/SRX STI: $29,995
The rally legend of the 1990s is one of the lowest-priced AWD cars around period, and it's definitely made it onto this list as a sports car. The Subaru WRX uses a 2.0L flat-four that's turbocharged to 268 hp, and if that's not enough, the STI gets a 2.5L with 310 hp. Plenty of power for snowy drifts, on a closed course, obviously, the WRX and WRX STI have suspension tuning that's as at home on a rally stage as it is carving apexes on an on-ramp. The STI will even let you turn a dial on the center diff to let you bias where the power goes. With four doors, these AWD sports cars let you bring a friend.
Dodge Challenger GT: $41,440
The Dodge Challenger had us going back and forth on if it counted as a sports car, but ultimately we decided that the 305 hp from the 3.6L V6 made this car sharp enough to go on the list. The V6-powered GT is the only Challenger (and muscle car, peroid) that offers all-wheel drive, plus the GT trim offers a functional hood scoop and a performance front splitter, and inside comes with backside-hugging heavily bolstered seats. It's not as fast as the V8-powered RTs, but having less weight up front should make it more nimble, the AWD makes it better in the snow, and the V6 should save you some fuel, too.
Volkswagen Golf R: $42,495
The Volkswagen Golf R is near the top of the hot-hatch heap, and it definitely qualifies as a sporty car. With a 292-hp turbo-four, AWD, and a dynamic chassis control system that lets you turn the dial from highway cruiser to track-ready, how could it not? The Golf R offers great practicality, sharp reflexes, lots of power, plenty of bolstering from the seats, and plenty of confidence for when you're in a hurry. Rain or shine, or, of course, snow.
BMW M240i $52,500
Just because this is BMW's smallest offering in our market (other than the oddball electric i3) doesn't mean that it doesn't offer big performance. Ignore the badge and just look at the 3.0L inline-six, the exterior dimensions, and the 335 hp and this could easily be an M3 from just a couple of generations ago. Sure, now there are turbochargers helping that six, and all-wheel drive, and there's no manual if you want AWD, but that's just the way things are going. It's a right-size sports car with sharp steering and a firm but well-damped ride. If you want it even more well-damped, get the optional adaptive suspension. Topping it off, as it were, you can get this as coupe or convertible so you can have your all-weather fun under the dome or al fresco.
Audi TT: $53,900
The Audi TT is an all-wheel-drive sports car that offers you a load of options. Coupe, convertible, a Goldilocks level of power choices, it's all here along with styling like nothing else on the road. The base TT offers a 2.0L turbo-four with 228 hp and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and that's plenty to give this car lots of zip. But if that's not enough, step up to the TTS and you get more. Like 288 hp from the same 2.0L four, along with a sharper suspension. And if that's not extreme enough, the TT RS gives you Audi's wonderful 2.5L five-cylinder that sounds like an airplane and pumps out 394 hp. This one is the sharpest of the bunch, and it comes only as a coupe so you'll stay warmer in the winter.
Mercedes-AMG C 43: $62,300
The Mercedes-AMG C43 isn't the hottest C-Class, but it's not far off and it's also the one that comes with all-wheel drive. You might not think of it as a sports car, but 385 hp from a 3.0L turbo V6, an AMG-tuned nine-speed automatic, and AMG Performance all-wheel drive definitely make this one worthy of the title. Turn the drive mode settings down and it's comfortable like a Mercedes, but turn the AMG Ride Control Sport Suspension to Sport + and everything gets quicker. The car comes alive and you can enjoy the AMG Performance exhaust from the comfort of the 14-way sport seats.
Audi RS3: $63,000
Yes, this is a sedan. But it's a really small one that offers sports-car levels of power, agility, and looks, so we're letting the Audi RS3 on the list. Like the TT RS, it uses a turbocharged 2.5L inline-five that delivers 394 hp and an audio experience like few other engines. Razor-sharp steering, adaptive or steel suspension, and one of Audi's sublimely crafted interiors make this a rock-solid choice among AWD sports cars.
Infiniti Q60: $65,295
The sports car choice of the Q60 lineup is the Red Sport 400. That 400 means 400 hp from the 3.0L turbocharged V6, making this a seriously hot coupe in cold weather. The AWD Q60 also comes with Infiniti's dynamic digital suspension that switches between comfort when the potholes get too nasty and firm when the roads invite some fun, able to adjust body roll, pitch, and bounce rate to keep the Q60 comfortable or planted. There's also adaptive steering that uses computers and motors instead of a mechanical connection.
Jaguar F-Type: $80,500
Jaguar has a long history of stunning sports cars, and the F-Type is not just the latest in that line, but the first one to offer all-wheel drive. With handling that's almost as good as the looks, Jaguar offers a range of engines to let you pick just how much sports you want in your car. Start with the 380-hp supercharged 3.0L V6 and work your way up through the 550-hp supercharged 5.0L V8 of the F-Type R or the 575-hp version in the SVR. You can get those all as a convertible, too, should you want. No matter which one you pick, you'll get an exhaust note that'll sound glorious on a cold morning, with traction to keep things composed all year long.
Audi RS5: $83,550
Yes, there are a lot of Audis on this list, which makes sense since Quattro all-wheel drive is sort of Audi's calling card. The RS5 coupe is high on the list of quick Audis, coming with a turbocharged 2.9L V6 that makes 444 hp. The sleek RS5 coupe comes with an RS sports suspension as standard, but you can have it fitted with an adaptive suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and dynamic steering. It also comes with quilted-stiched seats and a microfibre steering wheel that let you enjoy your all-weather performance in comfort.
Lexus LC: $103,050
The Lexus LC offers absolutely stunning presence with styling that looks like it should be a concept car, not one you can buy. It also offers impressive performance. There's a 5.0L with 471 hp or there's a hybrid model that matches a 3.5L V6 to an electric driveline with 354 hp and impressive fuel economy for a sports car. The AWD LC offers variable gear ratio steering, two-piece brake rotors, a host of other performance features like four-wheel steering, Torsen limited-slip rear differentials, and an adaptive variable suspension that can just about eliminate body roll while delivering excellent handling.
Porsche 911: $111,900
Porsche makes a seemingly endless variety of 911 variants, but most of them are available with all-wheel drive for buyers wanting four-season traction. The non-Turbo models include the Carrera 4, 4S, Targa 4, and GTS. Porsche lets you start with the not-a-Turbo new turbocharged 3.0L 385-hp flat-six, move up to the Carrera 4S's 444 hp, or they're still offering the 365 hp last-gen Carrera 4 and Targa 4, the 414 hp last-gen Carrera 4s and Targa 4S, and finally the 444 hp GTS. That's before you get into the Turbo models that we've made a separate entry. The 911 is the classic sports car, feeling light and solid, agile and planted, and offering a driving experience like little else.
Nissan GT-R: $129,998
The GT-R is Nissan's supercar-beating rocketship, though the car has slowly grown to near-supercar prices itself. The quickest Nissan gets a 3.8L twin-turbo V6 that's hand-built and makes 565 hp with 467 lb-ft of torque. The car sends all that power through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel drive system that uses electronic sensors and hydraulic clutches to move power front and rear. It can send 98 percent of the torque to the rear wheels and uses a mechanical limited-slip diff at the rear. The Track edition adds a Nismo-tuned suspension, carbon fibre aerodynamic add-ones, and 20-inch super-light wheels.
At this point, the list of AWD sports cars gets very expensive, so we won't go into detail on them, but please enjoy the eye candy.
BMW M8: $150,000
Porsche 911 Turbo, Turbo S: $184,200
Mercedes-AMG S 63: $185,000
Audi R8: $188,400
Acura NSX: $189,000
Polestar 1: $200,000
Lamborghini Huracan: $223,500
Bentley Continental GT: $264,000
Mercedes-AMG S 65: $270,800
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso: $306,800
Lamborghini Aventador: $463,775
