In Canada, Four Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive aren’t luxuries, they’re survival tools. Between icy highways, deep snow, and unpredictable weather, traction is everything. But not every Canadian driver wants or needs a massive SUV or full size truck. That’s where small 4WD and AWD cars come in. They blend the grip and security of larger machines with the efficiency, agility, and urban friendliness of a compact car. Whether new from the showroom floor or discovered in the used market, these 20 small four wheel drive cars offer Canadians a practical yet fun way to take on winter roads.
Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza is one of the most affordable ways into a brand new AWD car in Canada. Available as both a sedan and a hatchback, it delivers year round confidence with Subaru’s symmetrical all wheel drive system as standard. Compact in size but big in capability, it’s a go to for young drivers and families alike. On used lots, earlier generations remain reliable workhorses, especially in snowy provinces like Quebec and Alberta.
Mini Countryman All4
The Mini Countryman All4 takes the quirky charm of the Mini brand and adds the practicality of AWD. Despite being slightly larger than the classic Mini, it’s still one of the smallest AWD crossovers around. Canadians love it for its blend of city friendly size and playful handling, paired with the ability to handle snowy mornings. It may not be an off road monster, but for urban dwellers who also want winter confidence, it’s a stylish solution.
Suzuki SX4
Though Suzuki pulled out of Canada years ago, the SX4 hatchback remains a used market gem. It offered real AWD capability in a small, affordable package. With good ground clearance and rugged reliability, it became an underdog winter warrior. Many Canadian buyers still seek them out for their practicality, simplicity, and low cost to run, making them a cult favorite long after new sales ended.
Fiat 500X
The Fiat 500X is Italian style with winter ready hardware. Sharing its platform with the Jeep Renegade, it inherits some genuine off road DNA. Canadians get the benefit of a fun, compact crossover with available AWD that is surprisingly capable when the weather turns ugly. Its small footprint makes it easy to maneuver in cities like Toronto or Montreal, while its Jeep genes give it confidence on rural snowy roads.
Jeep Renegade
One of the smallest Jeeps ever built, the Renegade delivers real 4WD systems in trail rated trims. It may look like a playful city crossover, but it offers genuine off road chops that many competitors can’t match. Canadians who want a compact but rugged machine appreciate its balance of character and capability. Whether tackling unpaved roads in the Maritimes or slushy commutes in Calgary, it’s a little Jeep that lives up to the name.
Subaru Crosstrek
Built on the Impreza platform but with added ride height and rugged cladding, the Crosstrek is one of Canada’s most popular compact crossovers. It comes with Subaru’s proven AWD system as standard, making it a reliable choice for winter driving. The Crosstrek’s mix of hatchback practicality and SUV like stance has won over Canadians from coast to coast, and used examples hold their value well because of their reputation for dependability.
Honda HR-V AWD
The Honda HR-V is Honda’s smallest crossover and comes with optional AWD. Compact and efficient, it’s perfect for Canadian urban drivers who need winter confidence without going up to a larger CR-V. The HR-V is also known for its “magic seat” interior flexibility, giving it surprising practicality for such a small vehicle. On snowy city streets, it’s a trusted companion that punches above its size.
Mazda CX-3 AWD
Mazda’s CX-3 was a small SUV that put driving fun first. With optional AWD, it combined sharp handling with all weather traction, making it a favorite for Canadians who wanted something sporty but practical. While it’s no longer sold new, the CX-3 is widely available on the used market. Its agile handling and stylish looks continue to make it attractive to drivers who want a small, winter ready ride with some personality.
Toyota Corolla Cross AWD
The Toyota Corolla Cross takes the world’s most famous compact car nameplate and gives it crossover practicality. Available with AWD, it offers Canadian buyers a familiar, reliable badge with the extra confidence needed for snowy roads. It may not be flashy, but its efficiency, dependability, and compact footprint make it one of the best new options for buyers who want Toyota reliability in a winter capable package.
Hyundai Kona AWD
The Hyundai Kona is one of Canada’s most popular small crossovers. With AWD available across most trims, it offers a confident and affordable choice for all weather driving. Its small size makes it perfect for city parking, while its traction systems make it a solid choice for road trips through tough Canadian winters. The Kona also adds a splash of style with bold colors and youthful design.
Kia Soul AWD (Used)
While most Souls sold in Canada were front wheel drive, early generations were available with AWD. These versions are now prized in the used market, combining the Soul’s funky boxy styling with winter traction. Canadians looking for something different love the AWD Soul as a practical, compact, and slightly unusual option that can handle snowy commutes without needing a bulky SUV.
Suzuki Jimny (Imported)
The Suzuki Jimny was never officially sold new in Canada in recent decades, but thanks to import laws, older Jimnys are arriving from overseas. Small, boxy, and incredibly capable off road, the Jimny is a cult classic around the world. Canadians who manage to import one get a tiny true 4WD machine that can conquer trails while being small enough to squeeze through tight urban streets.
Nissan Juke AWD
The Nissan Juke divided opinion with its styling, but it offered AWD and a turbocharged engine that made it genuinely fun to drive. Canadians who bought Jukes discovered that behind its odd looks was a small car with surprising traction and spunky personality. On the used market, it remains an interesting alternative for those who want something compact and capable.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
The Golf Alltrack gave Canadians something rare — a small wagon with standard AWD. Based on the beloved Golf platform, it blended sharp handling, practicality, and the grip of all wheel drive. For Canadian drivers who didn’t want an SUV but needed winter confidence, the Alltrack became a smart choice. Its car like dynamics make it one of the most enjoyable small AWD vehicles to drive.
Subaru Legacy (Compact Generations)
Modern Legacy sedans are mid sized, but earlier generations from the 2000s and early 2010s were compact enough to be considered small cars by today’s standards. All came with Subaru’s trademark AWD system, making them fantastic used options. In Canadian climates, the Legacy became a safe, dependable choice for families who wanted a small sedan with all season confidence.
Chevrolet Tracker
The Chevrolet Tracker was a small SUV from the 90s and early 2000s, based on Suzuki’s designs. With real 4WD systems, it was boxy, simple, and surprisingly capable off road. Canadian buyers loved it for its affordability and winter toughness. Today, used Trackers still have a following among budget conscious drivers who want a small vehicle that laughs at bad weather.
Geo/Chevrolet Metro 4×4 Conversions
While not factory produced in large numbers, there were conversion kits and rare builds of small cars like the Metro fitted with 4WD. In Canada, where creativity often meets necessity, a few of these oddballs exist. They serve as proof that even the tiniest cars can be made winter capable with the right modifications, and they’ve become curiosities in the used car world.
Mitsubishi RVR (Compact Generations)
The Mitsubishi RVR has gone through several generations, and earlier versions were especially compact. With AWD available, they provided a budget friendly way for Canadians to get winter grip in a small, efficient package. Even today, the RVR remains popular as one of Mitsubishi’s most accessible models.
Dodge Colt Vista 4WD
The Dodge Colt Vista 4WD, sold in the 80s and 90s, was a small MPV like car that came with four wheel drive. It wasn’t flashy, but it gave Canadian families affordable winter traction in a practical, compact package. For many, it was their first taste of 4WD in something other than a truck or SUV.
Toyota Matrix AWD
The Toyota Matrix was a hatchback sibling to the Corolla, and certain trims offered AWD. Hugely popular in Canada, the Matrix AWD combined Toyota’s reliability with the practicality of a small hatch and the security of all wheel drive. On the used market, clean examples are still sought after today, proving just how well loved they were.
Four Wheel Drive For All
These 20 small 4WD and AWD cars show that capability doesn’t always require bulk. From brand new models like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Kona to used classics like the Subaru Legacy and Toyota Matrix, Canadians have plenty of compact options for handling snow and ice. They may be small in size, but they deliver big when it comes to keeping Canadians confident on the road.
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