I hardly ever need 4WD either but it sure is fun when I do. I currently have a 2008 Jeep gc with Quadradrive II which is technically 4WD but functionally indistinguishable from AWD. It uses a transfer case (4WD) but also has electronic limited slip differentials, front and rear, so you never get a sense of anything but full all wheel drive. I got it in 2013 and since then have only rarely had enough snow to truly test it but when I did, it was pretty satisfactory.
{edit to add} The beauty of QD II is that you don't have to push a button or move a lever to go to 4WD, just push the gas pedal down and it's there.