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

[thatguy]

Just curious as personal experiences on Small suv/ crossover type vehicles and the different types of 4 wheel drive/ AWD that are available.. I currently have a Dodge Ram 2500 (cummins) but dreaming of downsizing to something smaller..

What i mean is you have your Honda CRV, Subaru's, Nissan Rogue types vehicles that do NOT have a switch to turn 4x4 on/off or have HI/Low ranges (i realize that the subaru's drive all four wheels all the time but close enough)..

Then you have the other similar size vehicles that have switchable 4x4 with hi/low range capabilities - such as the Nissan Xterra/Pathfinder, the jeeps or similar..

Anyone care to share personal experience with one vs the other for normal winter driving in up to 8" of snow, driving dirt/muddy/unimproved forest roads, BUT no rock crawling/extreme off roading..

Brian

 

[B7510HSD]

I've driven the all wheel drive and the electronic switch type which my Dakota has and there is no difference it's still considered 4wd even though it's really only 2wd on most all these rigs.1 front 1 rear !!

 

[Fixemall]

Just remember they are small! I personally cannot get used to them. My daily drivers are a full size blazer and an H2. My sons buddy who has been staying with us while he finishes a contract job has an Equinox and it seems cramped after driving a full size vehicle.

 

[RoyJackson]

We have a 2005 Subaru Outback AWD wagon. These are superb vehicles for foul weather driving.
They're as good as any larger 4WD vehicles and have as much ground clearance as many stock height trucks.
I'll buy another one in a heartbeat. And, although I have a full sized F-150 4WD truck, odds are I'll drive the Suby more when it snows.

As far as unimproved roads...I wouldn't take the Outback over a logging trail, but no problem with a dirt road. BTW, my Suby (new ones too, I suppose) have a front tow hook, just in case...

Of course, one still has to know how to drive in the snow...no 4WD vehicle can make a good driver out of an idiot...just get's stuck worse.

 

[whistlepig]

Weight helps a lot in the snow.

 

[B7510HSD]

Weight helps a lot in the snow.

I tried that excuse bu the wife still put me on a DIET!!

 

[Yandaddy1110]

Wife had a Jeep Liberty, smaller in size with a real truck frame and transfer case. Jeeps are not wimpy 4x4s like the CRVs and Equinox. I was impressed.

 

[streetisneat]

I have a 98 S10 4wd and my wife has a 2001 ford escape awd, can't see any difference driving in snowy conditions. They both are V6 engines. I've have driven full size 4wd trucks that didn't do any better under normal winter conditions. However gas mileage is much better in 2001 escape get 19 to 21 in city with awd and only 13 with s10 (3.73 axle ratio) in 2wd mode! I wouldn't hesitate to get another escape or similar vehicle for "normal" snowy winter driving!

 

[PoorPlowboy]

If your transfer case has a selectable lever then it is considered PART TIME 4x4 and should not be used in dry conditions. These transfer cases do not have a differential.

 

[schmism]

I firmly believe that if your vehicle does not have a 2 speed transfer case it is not 4wd. Instead it is AWD.

There is no substitute for good traction tires (either a mud type or DOT (snowflake) snow tires) and ground clearance when dealing with deep snow.

many of the cute uts may advertise AWD but are in reality are front wheel drive and only AWD if the system detects slippage. The old CRV's were this way. Others can be 60/40 or 70/30 splits front drive to rear drive.

If your transfer case has a selectable lever then it is considered PART TIME 4x4 and should not be used in dry conditions. These transfer cases do not have a differential.

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.

 

[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.