The Best New All-Wheel Drive Sports Cars According to U.S. News

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Back in the day, driving a sports car on anything but a sunny day made for a harrowing experience. The good news is that these days, several new sports cars are available with all-wheel drive. The even better news is that U.S. News & World Report recently highlighted the following models as some of the best new all-wheel drive sports cars.

The 2021 Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro is an all-wheel drive sports car that provides plenty of thrills

2021 Audi R8 | Audi

According to U.S. News & World Report, there’s a lot to like about the 2021 Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro. It’s not only one of the best new sports cars with all-wheel drive, but this supercar also a comfortable, high-quality interior. From its driver-centric cockpit to its Audi MMI Touch system, the 2021 Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro makes nary a compromise when it comes to its interior.

But let’s get back to what’s under the hood of this new supercar. At the heart and soul of the 2021 Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro is a 5.2-liter V10 engine. Churning out a thrilling 602-hp and 413 pound-feet of torque, U.S. News reports that this new supercar will move from zero to 60 mph in a mere 3.2 seconds.

The 2021 Acura NSX is a hybrid-electric supercar with all-wheel drive

A blue 2021 Acura NSX driving at sunset
2021 Acura NSX | Acura

The 2021 Audi R8 V10 Performance Quattro isn’t the only new supercar with all-wheel drive. As a matter of fact, the 2021 Acura NSX is also available with it. And, much like the R8, the Acura NSX was picked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best new all-wheel drive sports cars. Though, it’s really no surprise as to why.

Driven by a hybrid-electric powertrain that combines a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with three electric motors, this year’s new Acura NSX offers up a total of 573-hp. Paired with a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and also standard with Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, Car and Driver reports that its 2021 Acura NSX managed a 3.1-second run from zero to 60 mph.

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD is one of the best new sports cars

A red 2021 Tesla Model 3 driving along the mountains, the 2021 Tesla Model 3 is one of the best new sports cars with all-wheel drive
2021 Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

The 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD also found itself among the best new all-wheel drive sports cars, reports U.S. News. This year’s new Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD also comes equipped with performance-tuned brakes, a lowered suspension, and a carbon fiber spoiler. According to U.S. News, this new sports car can also move from zero to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds.

Perhaps what’s most enticing about this new sports car with all-wheel drive is its price. While both the Audi R8 and the Acura NSX will have you spending roughly six figures, the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD won’t. In fact, this new Tesla is among the most affordable new sports cars on the list and starts at just $56,990.

The 2021 Porsche Taycan is a new electric sports car with all-wheel drive

A light blue 2021 Porsche Taycan driving
2021 Porsche Taycan | Porsche

Say the 2021 Porsche Taycan is more your style. After all, it’s a four-door sports car that’s a tad more practical than most vehicles on the list. The good news is that’s not all it has going for it either. As a matter of fact, U.S. News recognized the 2021 Porsche Taycan as one of the best new electric sports cars with all-wheel drive.

When equipped with all-wheel drive, the 2021 Porsche Taycan offers up a full 429-hp. It also comes equipped with an overboost function that brings maximum horsepower up to 522-hp. According to U.S. News, this new electric sports car can also go from zero to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds while also delivering “incredible handling abilities.”

The 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe is one of the best all-wheel drive sports cars of 2021

A grey 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe on the track
2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe | Porsche

Last but certainly not least is the 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe. This all-wheel drive sports car is among both the best and the most well-known. It comes powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six engine generating 443-hp and 390 pound-feet of torque. It’s also available with either a seven-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission.

U.S. News isn’t the only one singing the 2021 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe’s praises, either. As a matter of fact, Car and Driver had plenty to say about it too. “No matter the application, every 911 has astonishing acceleration, especially when the gleefully good launch control is utilized,” said Car and Driver.

“Best of all, the 911 is as comfortable as ever and also better to drive.”

Car and Driver

Plenty of new sports cars are available with all-wheel drive

If you want a new sports car with all-wheel drive, you’ve got plenty of options to consider. But when it comes to determining which is the best option for you? Well, that’s going to take a test drive.
RELATED: Porsche Has the Most Dependable Car of 2021

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Buyer’s Guide: Subaru Impreza WRX (2002-2007)

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Subaru Impreza WRX is a paragon of cheap 2000s performance. The WRX is endlessly modifiable and production numbers are simply massive. The turbocharged boxer-4, making 224 hp to all four wheels provides great stability and traction, lending itself well to rally racing. That’s exactly what WRX stands for, in fact. The Impreza World Rally X (WRX) is a fine choice for a daily driver, and if you’re in the market, this guide will teach you all you need to know.

What Subaru WRX options to look for

Peter Solberg’s WRX rally car | Robert Cianflone via Getty Images

There was a mid-life facelift for these cars that split them into two groups: bugeye, like the one above, and hawkeye. These terms refer to the shape of the headlights, making them easy to tell apart. Hawkeye WRX models are easier to spot due to their more modern looks and angular headlights. However, some prefer the bugeye for its cleaner look.

Options aren’t plentiful on the WRX, befitting of its economy-car status. Bugeye models could be optioned with a few paint options, the most desirable being Sedona Red Pearl and Sonic Yellow. These ones also got a nicer interior and MOMO wheel, pictured below. 2004 brought in the WRX STI, by far the most valuable of the bunch. There were some Impreza models with an automatic or stick, so be sure to option the transmission you want. Moreover, some can be found with sunroofs should you desire.

Known issues

The interior of the Subaru WRX with a MOMO wheel
Subaru WRX interior | Antony Dickson via Getty Images

Should the stick be the one you want, there’s an issue to look out for. Beware of any shifter that feels “off”, grindy, or just not right. The early WRX’s 5-speed is horribly fragile, and it’s worth it to hold out for a 2003 model or newer. While Subaru’s all-wheel drive is great, the center differentials are a known failure point. Common symptoms can include a clunking or grinding sound on tight turns.

Now, about that EJ-series motor. They can be a little fussy, so find a model with strong service history. Of course, there’s the notorious Subaru head gasket issue; you’ll want to ensure that and the spark plugs are fresh. Most motors will also eat oil, and it’s more question of how much than anything. Lastly, some of the wiring can be a little suspect. Make sure to inspect relevant sensors and harnesses in the engine bay. Just follow the wires and make sure they look in good condition.

Subaru WRX reliability and pricing

The EJ series engine of the Subaru WRX
The WRX’s engine bay | Antony Dickson via Getty Images

Now that you know what issues to look for, the reliability of your candidate should be strong. Subaru makes a pretty tough little car, and as long as the finicky stuff is sorted, it’s common to see WRX models eclipse 200,000 miles. This brings us to the last challenge of the WRX- finding a clean one. Most have been heavily modified, so nice ones command a premium, but not as much as the WRX STI. A solid WRX like this one should sell for around $9-$15,000 depending on mileage. Bearing this in mind, the Subaru WRX is a fantastic performance bargain and a great, practical daily. Be sure to get one soon, as prices on these may come up in the near future.

RELATED: Chevy Camaro and Subaru WRX Sales Are Closer Than You’d Expect

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What Disqualifies You From Being a Lyft Driver?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Driving for a rideshare service such as Lyft has become increasingly popular as more people work to supplement their income or find a more flexible primary income source. The ads on social media show driving as a lucrative and simple way to earn money, and all you need is a clean, reliable car and a driver’s license. However, the reality is not cut and dried.

How Lyft works

The second-largest rideshare program, Lyft, launched in 2012 and has steadily grown. Using the same premise as Uber, Lyft provides an app where you can request a ride and, in some cities, find car rentals, bike and scooter rentals, and transit schedules. There are around 12 million active riders and 1 to 2 million drivers in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

How do you become a driver?

With a ratio of around 12:1 riders to drivers, there’s plenty of room for more drivers. So how can you start working for Lyft?

First, you need a car. But it must follow specific requirements. According to Lyft, your vehicle must have four doors and at least five seatbelts but no more than eight. Lyft doesn’t allow taxis, limousines, and certain subcompact vehicles, and your state might have more specific requirements. And if you don’t own a car or your vehicle doesn’t meet the criteria, Lyft’s Express Drive program allows you to rent a car.

You also have to be at least 21 years old, and in some states as old as 25. Several states also require at least one year of driving experience, which means high schoolers looking to earn money need not apply.

And, of course, you must have a current and valid driver’s license, a valid plate with up-to-date registration, and auto insurance under your name. After you complete your application, Lyft will perform a background check and a DMV check. Then you’ll have to complete a Community Safety Education program.

What would disqualify you from becoming a Lyft driver?

Besides your age and car, some other things could disqualify you from becoming a driver for Lyft. For example, if you have been convicted of a violent crime — such as homicide, kidnapping, or carjacking — you will not qualify as a driver. Additionally, if you are on the National Sex Offender registry or have been convicted of a sexual offense, such as rape, you are automatically disqualified. And if you have a DUI, typically, you’re eligible to be a Lyft driver after seven years, but this varies based on region. 

Your driving history could also disqualify you. Besides a DUI, if you have been convicted of a serious driving-related crime, such as a hit-and-run, you are ineligible for seven years, depending upon your region. But felonies and DUIs are not the only things that could prevent you from driving for Lyft. For example, if you have four or more driving violations (such as running a red light) or a single major driving violation (like driving on a suspended license) in the past three years, you might be ineligible.

As travel opens post-pandemic, people are increasingly using rideshare services. So if you’re looking for a way to earn extra income, driving for a rideshare service like Lyft can be a good idea.

RELATED: How Much Money Can You Really Make Driving for Uber and Lyft?

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Toyota Ordered to Pay $194 Million to Family in Lexus Crash

by Gabrielle DeSantis

In a verdict just upheld by a Texas appeals court, Toyota was ordered to pay a family rear-ended in their Lexus, $194 million due to their injuries. The 2016 crash happened on the Dallas North Central Expressway in Texas. The two parents and both children were injured when a Honda Pilot slammed into them while stopped for traffic.

A Honda was traveling about 45 mph when it hit the 2002 Lexus ES 300

Lexus sign | Nathan Stirk, Getty Images

As reported by CarComplaints a Honda was traveling about 45 mph when it hit the 2002 Lexus ES 300. Both small children were in child seats in the back seat. They were three and five years old. When impact occurred the front seats collapsed backward.

The lawsuit describes what happened next. Upon impact “the parents ramped up over the tops of their front seats and slipped out of their seatbelts. Launching headfirst into the back seat both of their heads violently hit the heads of their children in their car seats.” Both children received severe head trauma resulting in permanent brain damage from the impact. 

Toyota has maintained the Lexus met all federal safety standards. It says the seats are meant to collapse to protect the front seat passengers from any injuries. But in 2018 the jury awarded the family $242 million. Later, the amount was lowered to $213 million. About $144 million of the award was in punitive damages. 

A Dallas Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld the verdict

A Toyota emblem is seen on the front of a 2012 model year Camry | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A $19.4 million judgment against Toyota Motor Sales USA was asked to be dropped by the plaintiffs. No reason was given why they requested this. The Dallas Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld the verdict. There is a possibility that Toyota will appeal the decision now to the Texas Supreme Court. 

Toyota was found guilty of not performing similar crash tests for this type of collision. The ruling says these types of collisions happen more than 77,000 times every year. Because these are a common crash the courts said this “is evidence of conscious indifference to a known extreme degree of risk of potential harm to others.”

NHTSA says there is insufficient information to warrant changing the standards

A red Toyota Motor Corp. Lexus IS300 sedan at a Lexus dealership in Tokyo, Japan
The 2021 Lexus IS300 | Toru Hanai/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A CBS News investigation found over 100 similar cases of a rear-end collision in a Lexus causing head trauma mostly to children in the back seat. A number of congressmen have approached the NHTSA to have the seatback standards strengthened. The NHTSA says there is insufficient information to warrant changing the standards. It maintains that the back seat is the safest place in a car for children. 

“While we respect the jury’s decision, we remain confident that the injuries sustained were the result of factors specific to this very severe collision, not a defect in the design or manufacturing of the 2002 Lexus ES300,” a Toyota spokesman said in an emailed statement to the press.

RELATED: The 2,000,000-Vehicle Toyota and Lexus Fuel Pump Lawsuit Is Bigger Than We Thought

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