AWD vs 4WD
 

I'm turning in our leased 2005 Durango. Wife wants something a little smaller and more economical. The new vehicle will not be the primary tow vehicle but may do spot duty. What are everyones opinions on the two drive choices. I've always preferred an SUV that can lock into 4WD but maybe I'm old fashioned. Are the AWD vehicles as good in snow?

Thanks, Dave

my wife's 6 cyl ford escape isn't too bad...i don't know your tow weights, but her car has good power, handles well, has good room and is awd...it's a good value. this from a guy who drives a 1995 2500, 454, 4x4 suburban....

No AWD isnt as good in the snow. You still get a majority of the power to the rear. For minor hwy driving AWD will be fine and mostly transparent. 4WD has a noticable "pull" from the front when driving and usually some t-case noise. I put my truck in 4wd when needed and 2wd all the rest of the time. I cant find a need for anything in between.

I have a ford escape and a suburban. the escape has auto 4 wheel drive, but you can also lock it in, which is much better then the AWD. but nothing can be 4 wheel drive in something heavy like the suburban. I would definitly choose something that you can actually lock into 4x4. also the tow rating of the escape is crap

Depends on the AWD system. Some AWD systems don't have locking diffs up front and if the box isn't checked, not in the rear either. I've heard scenarios where opposite corners of each end get stuck spinning...going nowhere.
IMHO "selectable" 4wd is the way to go if you think you're gonna need it.

Thanks for all the opinions. I'm thinking along the same lines as everyone else about being able to lock in 4WD. The Durango has AWD but seems much better in snow when locked in 4WD. Also my F-150 4x4 seems like a tank when locked in. If I stick with the 4WD it starts to really limit the choices of SUV's. Also we only tow about 5000#.

Dave

We have a 06 Subaru that is great in the snow, for a car.

Hands down my best car ever owned was a 89' BMW 325ix (AWD). That thing survived 3 teen male driver's, who took it off road. Logging roads in B.C and the desert's of Arizona, to Ontario winter's. 400K+ kilometer's that I mostly put on, this thing was awesome in the snow.

Hemmings Sports & Exotics mag said: The other via ABS would brake the individual wheel that was spinning more. Off the line snow exceleration was incredible, heck I even climbed a snow back to park it! The problem even today most AWD vehicle's are not as seemingly advanced as my 89' IX was in it's day. Handling in all dif conditions, it easily out handled the standard 325i's 2wd's of that era (Mom had a 325ic). Having said how awesome it was, died due to timing belt failure, yes I would still have that car today, if it did'nt die.... I've also thought about getting another used one to use as a beater. Part of my current contract get a company lease/financed vehicle (Excursion), so I don't really need one for winter's, but still want one. Would I buy other new AWD's, nope cause none are as good as that model BMW was!!!!!

What are you looking at for replacement?

Locking into 4WD, hands down.

GM's 4x4 also have the 4LOW option, wich I really like to have to pull the boat out of water. I use to have a yukon denali AWD and one time I was stuck in the lauch ramp and wished I had my truck with 4LOW...

sono***un, I'm not really sure about a replacement. I've been shopping online to get some ideas what's out there. This is the first time in a long time I don't know what we want.

Dave

My folks just got a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.7L. So far they love it. I believe they got the TC that's AWD, but it does lock into 4LO. There may be configuration options that allow to lock into 4WD, but I'm not sure. It's got a pretty good tow rating, but the shorter wheelbase may make long tows interesting.

I recently bought a Lexus GX470 and so far I love it. As far as the 4WD / AWD system goes, the truck is full-time AWD. It also has a button to lock up the center differential to give you 4WD, as well as a shifter for low range.
I have yet to tow anything with it, and may never do so, but it's rated for more than 5K. If I ever do tow anything, it will either be a jet ski or a small center console twice a year, so it will be fine.
Gas mileage seems to be pretty good, but keep in mind my last 2 trucks were a gas Excursion and an Expedition. I think the Lexus is averaging around 16, and it gets driven around town a lot by my wife.

my wife has a kia sonrto and we love it it rides a little stiff . but has a 2 speed TC and a elec locking rear diff ..

If the vehicle is front wheel drive based like a escape then you will get the front pull

you can get some killer deals on a Ford 500 awd right now, they drive great in the snow 07 escapes have 3500 in rebates and 1000 in dealer cash, because of a 08 modle change

27k escape for 21137 +ttl :)

invoice below

There are to many different AWD systems out there to say that awd is or isn't any good. I myself wouldn't buy anything that didn't have the option of locking it in 4x4. The quadradrive on the new Grand cherokees is very impreesive in the snow and offroad.
I have 2 vehicles with all wheel drive, a Navigator and a 96 grand Cherokee. They both react completely differently. The Navi is rear wheel drive and if there is slip an electronic clutch sends power to the front. The GC has a viscous coupling that sends around 30% power to the front but if the rear slips it will send more. Both are good on the road but offroad or in Deep snow, they do better in real 4WD.