All-Wheel Drive Latest Makers’ Trick To Prop Up Sedan Sales

Sales of traditional sedans in the U.S. continue to fall, but that doesn’t mean automakers aren’t still trying to sell as many as they can.

In recent years, an increasing number of saloons, including the Mazda6, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Prius, have been offered with all-wheel drive, The Detroit News notes.

With the increasing popularity of SUVs, consumers have become accustomed to all-wheel drive and car manufacturers believe introducing sedans which send power to all four wheels is one way to boost sales.

“The transition to SUVs has primed American auto buyers for additional capabilities,” Edmunds manager of industry analysis Jeremy Acevedo says. “The recent increase in cars offering AWD is an attempt to level the playing field between cars and SUVs.”

Also Read: 2019 Nissan Altima Revealed, Gets AWD Option And 2.0L Turbo

Following the introduction of an all-wheel drive option to the range in November last year, the company says that 20 per cent of its Altima sales are now made up of all-wheel drive models while half of Altima buyers in the Northeast are opting for all-wheel drive.

All-wheel drive systems were long relegated to off-road vehicles and SUVs and not overly popular in sedans as they traditionally increase fuel use while adding weight and complexity to a vehicle. However, a growing number of traditional car types are starting to get all-wheel drive, including models from Ford, BMW, Dodge, Audi, Acura, Infiniti, Toyota, and Lexus.

There are also reports that Chrysler will add all-wheel drive to the Pacifica minivan while Mazda could make all-wheel drive an option for the Mazda3 and Mazda6.