Best AWD Car maker?
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Joined: Jun 2011
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as mentioned, best is too subjective....
Best as in dry pavement for sporty driving? Probably Acura's. Maybe or Infiniti...
Best in bad weather? Subaru or Audi.
Infiniti's 100% RWD bias under "normal" driving conditions is awesome for a "normal" day.
But no matter how fast it can "react" and transfer power around, it doesn't beat already having ~50% of the power split to begin with (like Subie or Audi or BMW) when you're in deep snow.
Best as in dry pavement for sporty driving? Probably Acura's. Maybe or Infiniti...
Best in bad weather? Subaru or Audi.
Infiniti's 100% RWD bias under "normal" driving conditions is awesome for a "normal" day.
But no matter how fast it can "react" and transfer power around, it doesn't beat already having ~50% of the power split to begin with (like Subie or Audi or BMW) when you're in deep snow.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: New York Metro Area
After I mentioned Subaru, it's interesting that many posters have Voted Subaru a Best or close Best in the AWD race. I'm interested to know: did you folks specifically test the compared vehicles or read reports from other sources. I have both a 2010 G37X (newly leased last June - had a 2007 G35X too), and a 2010 Subbie Legacy (2.5i, Premium). After the snows arrive (not "really" looking forward to that) I intend to test all three of our AWD vehicles in similar driving scenarios of snow : 2010 G37X; 2010 Subbie Legacy & a 2010 CRV AWD.
BTW, it is interesting that the various Subbies: 2.5i with a CVT tranny (as mine is), 3.6R with a 5AT and/or 2.5 Turbo Legacy GT with a Manual 6 speed Tranny only - all have different configurations of the "symmetrical AWD" systems of Subaru. And different tires too. That all makes a difference in the driving mannerisms of AWD.
Oh Yeah, another "Oldie but a Goodie" just came to mind: American Motors Eagle Wagon, has to be in the early 70s..... 4WD - higher up - almost look like a Pre-SUV at the time which was non-existent. Probably with real loking Hubs where torque went to each wheel like a Jeep Wrangler..American Motors was eventually gobbled by Chrysler which became Chrysler - Jeep....
BTW, it is interesting that the various Subbies: 2.5i with a CVT tranny (as mine is), 3.6R with a 5AT and/or 2.5 Turbo Legacy GT with a Manual 6 speed Tranny only - all have different configurations of the "symmetrical AWD" systems of Subaru. And different tires too. That all makes a difference in the driving mannerisms of AWD.
Oh Yeah, another "Oldie but a Goodie" just came to mind: American Motors Eagle Wagon, has to be in the early 70s..... 4WD - higher up - almost look like a Pre-SUV at the time which was non-existent. Probably with real loking Hubs where torque went to each wheel like a Jeep Wrangler..American Motors was eventually gobbled by Chrysler which became Chrysler - Jeep....
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: St. Paul, MN
My wife has an '07 Subaru Forester and I have a '10 G37xS and I swap out to Pilot Alpin PA3s in the winter.
The Subaru Forester with all seasons is definitely hands down more predictable and stable in the snow than the G. The extra ground clearance helps alot.
Someone else mentioned how easy it is to get the rear end out and I assume they meant on the G, and absolutely it is, but it's also why I have the G and prefer driving my G over the Subaru. I'm not looking for pure predictability and stability in the snow. I'm looking for fun, and the G's AWD system is definitely fun. Coming from two RWD vehicles, the G's AWD with snow tires is pretty much perfect for me
The Subaru Forester with all seasons is definitely hands down more predictable and stable in the snow than the G. The extra ground clearance helps alot.
Someone else mentioned how easy it is to get the rear end out and I assume they meant on the G, and absolutely it is, but it's also why I have the G and prefer driving my G over the Subaru. I'm not looking for pure predictability and stability in the snow. I'm looking for fun, and the G's AWD system is definitely fun. Coming from two RWD vehicles, the G's AWD with snow tires is pretty much perfect for me
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re: Best as in dry pavement for sporty driving?
In my view you have to have variable front-to-rear _and_ variable side-to-side on the rear (torque vectoring) to qualify for this category. So Infiniti doesn't qualify. I've only driven two (2012 Acura TL SH-AWD and 2012 Audi S4 with sport differential option). They are both impressive, but I drove them too many months apart to pick one's AWD over the other. The Acura wins for overall value, and the S4 wins if the $11k or so price difference is not a major factor since it is (at least) incrementally better in just about every aspect.
re: Best in bad weather?
Well even that depends. If you have 2 wheels on one side on ice or 3 wheels on ice and only one rear wheel on pavement, again the torque vectoring AWD that can apply all or nearly all power to the one wheel is about all that will get you out of that. With all wheels on snow and on an incline, it probably comes down to the tires more than anything and just about all AWD systems are the same (but this is purely a guess and if people can explain why one brand is better in this situation and what you've compared to, I'd like to hear about it)
In my view you have to have variable front-to-rear _and_ variable side-to-side on the rear (torque vectoring) to qualify for this category. So Infiniti doesn't qualify. I've only driven two (2012 Acura TL SH-AWD and 2012 Audi S4 with sport differential option). They are both impressive, but I drove them too many months apart to pick one's AWD over the other. The Acura wins for overall value, and the S4 wins if the $11k or so price difference is not a major factor since it is (at least) incrementally better in just about every aspect.
re: Best in bad weather?
Well even that depends. If you have 2 wheels on one side on ice or 3 wheels on ice and only one rear wheel on pavement, again the torque vectoring AWD that can apply all or nearly all power to the one wheel is about all that will get you out of that. With all wheels on snow and on an incline, it probably comes down to the tires more than anything and just about all AWD systems are the same (but this is purely a guess and if people can explain why one brand is better in this situation and what you've compared to, I'd like to hear about it)
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Acura by far. My other car is an MDX. The SH-AWD system with the rear diff is amazing. Infiniti would be wise to emulate it. If they ever fix the looks of the TL or the price of the RL, either will definitely get my attention.
It also depends on the car. For instance, the Quattro system in the S4 is tuned differently than the system in the A4 or the A6. Same goes for Subaru. The AWD system in the STI is tuned differently from the system in the Outback.
My list would go as follows:
1) tied - Mitsubishi All Wheel Control system (found in the Evo X) & Nissan ATTESA-ETS (found in the GTR)
2) Audi Quattro with rear sport diff
3) Acura SH-AWD (found in the TL)
4) Subaru Symmetrical AWD with DCCD (found in the STI)
5) tied - Audi Quattro & Subaru Symmetrical AWD
6) Infiniti Intelligent AWD system
7) tied - Mercedes 4Matic and BMW X-drive
My list would go as follows:
1) tied - Mitsubishi All Wheel Control system (found in the Evo X) & Nissan ATTESA-ETS (found in the GTR)
2) Audi Quattro with rear sport diff
3) Acura SH-AWD (found in the TL)
4) Subaru Symmetrical AWD with DCCD (found in the STI)
5) tied - Audi Quattro & Subaru Symmetrical AWD
6) Infiniti Intelligent AWD system
7) tied - Mercedes 4Matic and BMW X-drive
Last edited by atombomb33; Oct 26, 2011 at 04:44 PM.
But power distribution directly affects how the car drives. That's the whole point of an AWD system - that it can (depending on the type of AWD system) direct power to the wheel(s) with the most traction.
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In my opinion, I truly think the best AWD system on the mark lies with Acura - their SH-AWD system works pretty darn flawlessly (again, to my knowledge). It transfer between per axle much quicker than I had anticipated. Have you guys seen the 6MT TL-SHAWD vs 335i vs S4 comparison around the track? The TL came out on top. It's ability to transfer to the inner wheel during an aggressive corner + acceleration revs that inner wheel faster than the others, pulling/pushing the car around the corner.
The Quattro's nice too, but it just seems like...old news, ya know? But I suppose old age doesn't say anything...
The Quattro's nice too, but it just seems like...old news, ya know? But I suppose old age doesn't say anything...
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Where the Sopranos and Saguaros are
It also depends on the car. For instance, the Quattro system in the S4 is tuned differently than the system in the A4 or the A6. Same goes for Subaru. The AWD system in the STI is tuned differently from the system in the Outback.
My list would go as follows:
1) tied - Mitsubishi All Wheel Control system (found in the Evo X) & Nissan ATTESA-ETS (found in the GTR)
2) Audi Quattro with rear sport diff
3) Acura SH-AWD (found in the TL)
4) Subaru Symmetrical AWD with DCCD (found in the STI)
5) tied - Audi Quattro & Subaru Symmetrical AWD
6) Infiniti Intelligent AWD system
7) tied - Mercedes 4Matic and BMW X-drive
My list would go as follows:
1) tied - Mitsubishi All Wheel Control system (found in the Evo X) & Nissan ATTESA-ETS (found in the GTR)
2) Audi Quattro with rear sport diff
3) Acura SH-AWD (found in the TL)
4) Subaru Symmetrical AWD with DCCD (found in the STI)
5) tied - Audi Quattro & Subaru Symmetrical AWD
6) Infiniti Intelligent AWD system
7) tied - Mercedes 4Matic and BMW X-drive
The order of the list depends on what the benchmarks are to measure the list.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Waterloo, Ont.
BMW should be near the top since it performs the same function as SH-AWD. What would make the ATTESA-ETS better than Xdrive or SH_AWD or DCCD. You could say DCCD is better than SH-AWD since you can't rally an Acura.
The order of the list depends on what the benchmarks are to measure the list.
The order of the list depends on what the benchmarks are to measure the list.
