Thoughts on 4wd types on Crossover/small SUV's

[mjncad]

My wife has a 2005 CRV and it does well in all but the nastiest of storms where snowfall is measured in feet.

Back in September 2007 I ended up driving the CRV on a Jeep trail to get around a rock slide blocking the highway between Naturita and Grand Junction, Colorado. Blasted county-mounty said the dirt road wasn't bad. I took that CRV where it shouldn't have gone, and it didn't have problems; but I turned around when the road got worse than I felt the thing was capable of handling.

My F-250 is 4WD and I've used it on slick roads; but it's still like all pickups...light in the butt unless you add weight.

As others have said, 4WD/AWD is a tool; not a cure all for bad conditions.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've rented the Ford Escape and BMW X3 and found both very capable...

Fuel mileage close to 30 mpg wasn't bad either after my Daily 3/4 Work Van that gets about 11 mpg

 

[nikdfish]

The wife had a Saturn Vue with "on demand" AWD for a few years while I had (& still have) a Dodge Magnum RT with full time AWD (60/40 torque split rear/front). I believe the Dodge AWD is essentially the same as the 3rd generation Mercedes full time 4-Matic seen in their SUV's.

I found driving her vehicle a bit disconcerting because in poor traction conditions there was inevitably noticeable front wheel spin before the AWD kicked in when starting from a dead stop. That was not the case with the Dodge. In comparable conditions it had zero wheel spin - even under heavier acceleration. I love that car... The only downside for snow (or rutted dirt roads) is a low ground clearance.

Nick

 

[ccdck20hst]

At present I regularly drive a 2010 Subaru Outback. It is pretty good in the snow but not as good as the 1998 Subaru Legacy Brieghton wagon I had for 192,000 miles (friend has it now with about 220,000 on it) The new Outbacks have the rubber band CVT transmission, get blown in the wind, and have unnerving sloppy steering. Big benefit from the CVT is averaging 27-29 mpg depending on highway or local driving. The 2010 Outback will tow 2700 lbs. - handy - over 1,000 lbs trailer is supposed to have brakes. I tow a utility trailer instead of having a pickup also tow boats. .My 2010 Outback is the premium edition and has wider and taller tires that are not as good in the snow as narrower tires on the lower trim model, in my opinion. I also have a 2011 Subaru Forester 4 speed automatic (it can tow 2,400 lbs) I got for one of my kids. I almost never drive it - but it handles better, and does not have the rubber band CVT. Gets less than 28 mpg. I reckon it will do better in the snow than the 2010 Outback. The 2010 Outback has handling quirks on dry pavement and on snow ie. it slips at odd times like driving around a corner at low speed. Still miss the 1998 legacy wagon. Susziki Grand Vitari with ladder frame intergrated into unibody looks interesting but limited number of dealers. These are just my opinons. Any how good luck fining what you want.

 

[JimP]

We have had true 4wd (rear wheel drive with selectable front axle engagement and high/low transfer case) SUVs and AWD (front wheel drive with auto rear wheel engagement and no transfer case) wagons. Which is best depends on what you need.

The AWD wagons are MUCH better in bad road conditions up to 6-10 inches of New England snow. They are well balanced, not light in the back and just plain easier to drive. In one snow storm in Vermont we were driving down a hill and saw in the distance car lights all over the road. Turns out there was a coating of ice on the road and we never felt it. But, there is no low range to creep around with, towing capacity is less than a truck and at some point you run out of ground clearance.

The 4wd SUVs had more ground clearance, towed more and the low range was (for me) seldom usable when I needed to creep away from a slick area. But, the were much harder to drive in bad condiitons.

True off road capability s not a concern as either type costs way to much to damage off roading. I use a dirt bike or gator for that.

 

[woodyacres]

I have a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD with 200,000 miles on it. It is a freaky little go kart. I am a volunteer fire fighter in a rural community which means I drive faster than I should on the dirt roads (about 3 miles of dirt) getting to the station. I love this thing for handling. In the snow it's even better! We once had a snow storm on New Year's Eve at 11:50pm we got a call so I went outside to find about 10 inches of new powder on the ground. I plowed my way through the 6 miles to the station. When I got their one of my brothers pulled up in his F150 and looked at me in awe.. He asked "how did you get here?" I said that thing drives like a tank!

I need new shocks and struts for the first time right now and it sure doesn't handle as nice though.

 

[RoyJackson]

I suppose that depends on your transfer case. Range Rover transfer cases use a 3rd center diff that can be independently locked with a different lever position.

Range Rovers and Land Rovers are true off road vehicles...problem is, a lot of that "Off Road" consists of being in a repair shop...

 

[thatguy]

Thanks for all the input.. Im still digesting it all - and not having a car payment is great idea - although my truck should bring top dollar (70k on a 2002 w/ cummins) it still has a LOT of life left in it

Brian

 

[ultrarunner]

Range Rovers and Land Rovers are true off road vehicles...problem is, a lot of that "Off Road" consists of being in a repair shop...

One brother drives a Range Rover from the time it was under the BMW management... he has all the specs and pictures of the same year and model as his fording streams and hanging on the side of mountains...

I don't think his has ever been off road and not a scratch on it...

Another brother's wife drives a Durango with Hemi... they traded in the Jeep when they needed third row seating... I asked him if he ever has been off road with it and he said he has never engaged the 4 wd in 90,000 miles.

 

[Egon]

Weight helps a lot in the snow./QUOTE]

Had a 1987 Suzuki Samuri. They didn't weigh much. Just a great vehicle in snow or other adverse conditions. Best thing a couple of sturdy young lads could just chuck it out of the really deepdrifts.:thumbsup:

Now we have a Subaru Outback, old Dodge 4x4 and a Lexus RX 330 with air suspension. They all work good in snow or adverse conditions.

Range Rovers and Land Rovers are true off road vehicles...problem is, a lot of that "Off Road" consists of being in a repair shop...
/QUOTE]

At one time they may have been an off road vehicle but that Heritage may be a little tarnished these days.