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

[mrfu]

My wife has a Subaru forester has 230,000 miles on it and has been very reliable. The deepest snow she has driven in was about 14" with chains on and it was fine, she leaves for work before our road is plowed and usually doesn't worry about chaining up until about there is about 10" on the ground. I find on plowed roads that are packed down snow it is easier to drive and more secure than my Tacoma.
Lots of options out there so have fun and test drive as many as you can find.
Tom

 

[bcp]

My 4wd history:

Jeep pickup (2)
Jeep Wagon
Jeep CJ-2a
Jeep CJ-6
Chev 4wd pickup
Toyota LC wagon
Toyota LC
Toyota 4wd pickup
Isuzu trooper
Land Rover 4dr wagon
Land Rover 2dr wagon
Land Rover short pickup
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Cherokee
Subaru Forester

The Forester with Blizzak tires is by far the best in snow. The Wrangler with studded tires and limited slip rear was worst. Didn't want to turn. For flat, straight line work, there was not a lot of difference. Hills and sharp corners made lots of difference.

Bruce

 

[MikeInEburg]

Our 2001 Subaru Outback has a limited slip rear differential. In slippery conditions as many as three wheels will simultaneously power the vehicle. Ground clearance has been the only limiting factor. As others have said, huge benefit is that all-wheel is always engaged - so surprises don't catch you short. Remember, everyone has four-wheel brakes!
Mike.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I personally like 4 low and really love having electric lockers like my Titan have. Weight is not the only answer. My Titan and the F150's I have had will go through much more than the 3/4 and ton trucks. Now the AWD is nice for the kids and little lady because they do not have to think about it.

Chris

 

[wrooster]

ARFCOM says hi.

 

[nybirdman]

I purchased my first four wheel drive truck in 1973 and have owned my-be twenty in that time period.All GM products..my last is 2005 Silverado that I ordered new.I own a 2010 Subaru Outback and a 2001 Subaru Legacy wagon and did own a 2008 Outback wagon.
First:the new Outbacks(with CVT) is a steel belt not a "rubber band"
Second: Subaru's AWD system only works when it senses slippage,not full time AWD.
Third:IMO the Subaru system is the best in the world only Audi is in the same class
Forth:Our Awd four cylinder ,CVT Outback will get easily 30+MPG high way
Fifth:The new generation Subaru(2010 and up) have a lot more room inside then previous generations.I own(owned two of them)
My only complaint on the 2010 was drifting with a cross wind,easily fixed by replacing the rear sway bar,from the stock 15mm to 19mm.$70.00 and fifteen minutes do it your-self.Our 2010 Outback has "more" ground clearance than my 2005 stock Chevy Pickup.

 

[ultrarunner]

Friend from work bought a brand new Subaru Justy 4 wd for their Tahoe place...

The transmission went at 8,200 miles several months after the warranty expired... the car was immaculate and was garage kept...

Subaru said there was nothing they could do since the warranty expired... I set him up for Arbitration and he cancelled saying at this point he wasn't going to take a chance on it and donated the car to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Being closely involved in trying to get the problem fixed has lowered my expectations for Subaru greatly...

A transmission shouldn't go out like this and it was costly to repair.

 

[thatguy]

I purchased my first four wheel drive truck in 1973 and have owned my-be twenty in that time period.All GM products..my last is 2005 Silverado that I ordered new.I own a 2010 Subaru Outback and a 2001 Subaru Legacy wagon and did own a 2008 Outback wagon.
First:the new Outbacks(with CVT) is a steel belt not a "rubber band"
Second: Subaru's AWD system only works when it senses slippage,not full time AWD.
Third:IMO the Subaru system is the best in the world only Audi is in the same class
Forth:Our Awd four cylinder ,CVT Outback will get easily 30+MPG high way
Fifth:The new generation Subaru(2010 and up) have a lot more room inside then previous generations.I own(owned two of them)
My only complaint on the 2010 was drifting with a cross wind,easily fixed by replacing the rear sway bar,from the stock 15mm to 19mm.$70.00 and fifteen minutes do it your-self.Our 2010 Outback has "more" ground clearance than my 2005 stock Chevy Pickup.

On the current models I think you are wrong on your #2 -

When my wife bought her Forester they described it as power goes to all 4 wheels all the time (vs front wheel drive for a CRV that only shifts power to the rear when it sense slippage)

All-Wheel Drive | Subaru AWD

from the link

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive sends power to all wheels simultaneously for maximum traction and acceleration.

In slippery conditions, that power instinctively flows to the wheels with the best traction.

=====

brian

 

[whistlepig]

I have been considering this option as well. Driving a full sized 4wd pickup 68 miles a day to and from work isn't cheap. The Subaru Outback and Forester are starting to get my attention here. I do need something very good in deep snow. The land is flat as a pancake around here and snow drifts badly. Snow removal by the county is slim to none.

 

[gc2310]

06 X-terra , rear wheel drive with selectable high-low 4wd and a lockable rear diff along with Toyo GO-2's will dig its way through anything I've wanted to try. Don't use 4wd too much but you can drive along in slippery conditions without it being too nerve wracking. When you lock the diff, it shuts off the stability control. Big help, though it can be shut off anytime. Overall pretty good.