More four-wheel drive in Danderyd than in Jokkmokk

Åre tops the list of Swedish municipalities with the highest proportion of four-wheel drive cars – just over 61 percent of all passenger cars have AWD (All Wheel Drive). This is perhaps no surprise in a municipality where snow, steep slopes and unplowed roads are part of everyday life.

More unexpectedly, Danderyd ranks second in the country, with almost 56 percent four-wheel drive cars. This is a higher percentage than in municipalities such as Härjedalen, Jokkmokk and Krokom – places where winters are often both longer and harsher.

– Four-wheel drive has become something completely different from a pure necessity purchase. In municipalities near large cities, it is largely about car type, comfort and a sense of security, rather than accessibility in deep snow. We also see this clearly in the millions of visitors who search for a car on our marketplace, where four-wheel drive is the single most important feature that is valued, according to our site surveys, says Daniel Odsberg, Sales Manager at Kvdbil .

Other municipalities that stand out are Solna, where 47 percent of cars are four-wheel drive, Lidingö with 40 percent, and Stockholm and Vaxholm with 39 percent each. This can be compared to the fact that a little more than one in four cars, 28 percent, in Sweden is four-wheel drive.

Overall, the distinction between urban and rural areas is becoming less clear at the municipal level. In mountainous and inland municipalities, four-wheel drive is often a practical necessity, while development in metropolitan areas is driven more by the SUV trend, dual-motor electric cars and higher incomes.

At county level, however, a clearer pattern emerges. Jämtland, Norrbotten and Västernorrland still have the highest proportion of four-wheel drive cars overall – over 40 percent in all counties. Stockholm is lower, but still stands out.

Top 10 – municipalities with the highest proportion of four-wheel drive cars:

1. Åre – 61 percent

2. Danderyd – 56 percent

3. Härjedalen – 55 percent

4. Crocom – 53 percent

5. Jokkmokk – 53 percent

6. Mountains – 53 percent

7. Gällivare – 52 percent

8. Kiruna – 52 percent

9. Storuman – 50 percent

10. Häcke – 49 percent

Top 10 – counties with the highest proportion of four-wheel drive cars:

1. Jämtland – 51 percent

2. Norrbotten – 45 percent

3. Västernorrland – 42 percent

4. Västerbotten – 41 percent

5. Stockholm – 36 percent

6. Gävleborg – 34 percent

7. Dalarna – 33 percent

8. Värmland – 28 percent

9. Uppsala – 28 percent

10. Örebro – 26 percent