One with high clearance, front-wheel drive and push-button all-wheel drive.
We aren’t sure that the Mitsubishi Lancer SE has the highest ground clearance at 5.5 inches, but we do know for sure that it has selectable all-wheel drive through a switch on the center console. The all-wheel-drive Lancer SE is new for 2012, and the console switch lets you choose front-wheel drive, an all-wheel-drive mode that sends power to all wheels as needed and all-wheel-drive Lock, which keeps the system engaged in a 50/50 power split front/rear.
The Lancer Ralliart has a permanently engaged all-wheel-drive system, though a console switch allows selecting operating modes for Tarmac, Gravel or Snow. Ground clearance is 5.8 inches on the Ralliart.
You asked about all-wheel-drive cars, but SUVs will give you greater ground clearance, and more will offer selectable all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive systems. Although the Toyota RAV4’s all-wheel-drive system engages automatically as needed, a dashboard switch allows keeping it engaged, and it has 7.5 inches of ground clearance. The Jeep Liberty has fully selectable four-wheel drive and 7.7 inches of clearance.
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