FWD Cars That Prove Luxury Doesn’t Only Have Rear- Or All-Wheel Drive

It seems like just about everything in the luxury segment has all-wheel drive these days. Most drivers seem to prefer it, whether for the real benefits or the perceived ones, and the sophistication of all-weather capability is an image boost for these vehicles on its own. But for the many people that live in places that don’t see snow, all-wheel drive is an unnecessary drag that hurts fuel economy and is mostly a waste other than in those dynamic scenarios that luxury car buyers rarely find themselves in.

Many luxury automakers recognize this and embrace front-wheel drive, especially on their smaller, more affordable compact offerings, or those that don’t have longitudinal engine setups that lend themselves to rear-wheel drive configurations. If you’re someone interested in seeing what your front-wheel drive options are in the new car market in 2026, keep reading. There’s lots to choose from.

All vehicles included on this list are luxury models available new in 2026. All quoted prices include destination and freight charges.

BMW 228 Gran Coupe

Unlike many other automakers on this list, BMW offers just one front-wheel drive model in America, the 228 Gran Coupe. It got a new generation for the 2025 model year and has some nice improvements but still trails others in this segment. But if you’re looking to get yourself into a new BMW for the least amount possible, the 228 Gran Coupe is the way.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 250

The first of three Mercedes-Benz products that still offer front-wheel drive is the CLA. But it’s only the old gas-only version that’s in its last year of production that offers it, with the new electric CLA 250+ with EQ Technology switching to rear-wheel drive as standard. For those wanting to snag one of the last front-wheel drive CLAs, it offers a lower entry point that makes it that much more attainable while still giving buyers plenty of performance and style.

Mercedes-Benz GLA 250

The other gateway into the Mercedes-Benz lineup that offers front-wheel drive is the GLA 250. It’s actually slightly cheaper than the CLA despite being a crossover, which usually carries a bit of a premium compared to a sedan.

That crossover vibe does make it a bit more surprising that this one is offered with front-wheel drive, but it’s not the only Mercedes crossover to offer the configuration.

Mercedes-Benz GLB 250

The other Mercedes crossover that starts with front-wheel drive on the base trim is the GLB. Despite the more boxy and rugged appearance, the underpinnings are the same as the CLA and GLA, so it’s able to offer the same starting point for those that only need the SUV look and not the all-weather capability. It, too, is on its way out, with a new generation already revealed for Europe and coming to the States soon as well.

Lexus UX 300h

Moving on to Lexus. It offers more front-drive models than any other luxury brand. We’ll start with the oldest and most affordable front-driver it offers, the UX. It’s been around since the 2019 model year, sharing a platform with the Corolla, and unlike some others here, it offers the option of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on every trim. That means you don’t need to deal with base-model amenities if you want to stick with front-wheel drive. It got a power boost in the 2025 model year that took it from 181 hp to 196 hp thanks to the new Lexus fifth generation hybrid system, and that also nets it an impressive 45 mpg city rating.

Lexus NX 350h

Next up is the Lexus NX 350h. Like the UX, Lexus allows you to get any trim you want with front-wheel drive, as long as you’re okay with the regular hybrid. Both the plug-in hybrid and the regular gas NX only come with all-wheel drive now. It’s aging gracefully, despite being around since the 2022 model year. It’s got great technology, good styling, and it’s somehow still the only hybrid in the segment, providing up to 42 mpg in the city.

Lexus RX 350

Moving on to the RX, Lexus flips the strategy to the opposite, offering front-wheel drive only in the gas version and not the hybrid. But at least the brand continues to allow you to keep front-wheel drive when you go up to higher trims, with only the top F Sport Handling trim demanding that you get AWD.

Lexus RZ 350e

The electric-only Lexus RZ also offers front-wheel drive, although here it’s only offered on the base 350e version and the next trim up, the Premium trim. Thankfully, it starts with a high standard feature set, including heated seats and a heated steering wheel, and that Premium trim adds the panorama glass roof and panoramic view monitor, among other things. The big perk for front-drive lovers in this case is that you get the best range out of all the RZs, with up to 301 miles of range versus 264 miles in the all-wheel drive versions.

Lexus ES 350h + 350e

The all-new Lexus ES continues its tradition of offering front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, even with it now offering only hybrid and electric versions. Once again, Lexus allows you to stick with front-wheel drive even if you want the top-of-the-line Premium+ and Luxury trims.

Lexus TX 350

This final front-wheel drive Lexus might be a surprise, but the big three-row TX offers front-wheel drive in every trim other than the top F Sport Handling trim. You do have to stick with the pure gas version though, with the ultra-reliable hybrid TX 500h and plug-in hybrid TX 550h+ both coming standard with all-wheel drive. But the lower cost of the front-wheel drive version improves the starting price and competitiveness compared to its rivals, which undoubtedly helps with its massive success, especially in the sunny states.