An auto expert explained the popularity of front-wheel drive crossovers in the Russian Federation

Most of the crossovers sold in Russia in the first half of this year have front-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive. As explained by Nikolai Ivanov, director of the new car department at Rolf, Russians are opting for single-wheel drive vehicles due to the significant cost difference, which can reach up to 25-30%.

"Usually, with all-wheel drive, a different engine is included, and a more complex transmission is added. And besides the fact that you need to put the drive on the rear wheels, you also need a power plant automatically, and sometimes it's not even 100 or 200 thousand rubles, but 500-700 thousand," Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted Ivanov as saying on July 17.

From January to June, 357.6 thousand new crossovers and SUVs were sold in Russia. Among them, only 43% of Chinese SUVs have all-wheel drive. The share of all-wheel drive among all crossovers and SUVs sold last year in the country was 38.4%.

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Earlier in the day, it was reported that the average price of a new car in the SUV segment (crossovers and SUVs) in Russia decreased by 4.8% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year and amounted to 3 million rubles.

On July 15, it became known that following the results of the first half of 2025, the Haval Jolion model became the bestseller in the SUV segment (crossovers and SUVs) in Russia. In second place is the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max crossover, followed by Lada Niva Travel and Niva Legend, as well as Geely Monjaro.