School me on different Awd systems. SH-AWD VS AWC vs Symmetrical etc

[ExtraSlow]

Never owned an all-wheel drive vehicle. Only FWD or truck-style 4x4.

I have see posts praising the Acura SH-AWD system, and having a hard time understanding how it differs. Subaru always writes wordy bafflegab about thier symmetrical system. Mitsubishi, oddly, boasts a lot about thier AWC system. I dunno. What's the diff between the "worst" Awd system and these better ones?

Y'all know me, I don't race, so mostly thinking about "regular" driving. And like usual, for me, I'm thinking about "regular" cars, so these days I guess that means stuff under about $90k CAD? Man, inflation is a bitch.

Anyway, would love to hear anyones thoughts, opinions, or even facts.

[benyl]

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...-drive-system/

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/all-wheel-d...ained-compared

[killramos]

I wouldn’t get bogged down in what is basically marketing terminology.

I won’t pretend to know how every system works but i would say lowest on the totem pole are “part time awd” which are FWD systems that use a clutch pack to engage the rear wheels only when slip occurs. Basically the plus with these is fuel economy since they are almost always fwd.

As you move into the better camp you get into cars that always send torque to front and back wheels. Different companies advertise different base torque “splits” ( 60:40 rear to front etc ) and have varying ability to adjust that ratio as grip demands.

As you move more into top systems you get varying amounts of side to side “torque vectoring”, basically how much can the car bias torque to away from the wheel that is slipping due to open differentials. This varies from “brake torque vectoring” which just uses the brakes to stop a wheel from spinning out of control ( common ) to using some form of self locking differential ( a lot less common ) to do this. Very uncommon to see this kind of control on all three differentials and those represent the most elite awd systems in my opinion.

Contrast this to 4WD systems which, to oversimplify, require the driver to engage and lock some combination of three differentials on demand rather than the car handling it for you.

There are loads of technologies to accomplish the above goals: Torsten diffs, fixed ratio clutch pack diffs, complex electronically variable locking diffs which all have pluses and minuses.

Not sure if that’s helpful or not. To my understanding Subaru symmetrical awd refers to an always on awd system basically. Acura SH awd I believe refers to their torque vectoring system. Misty’s awc is just their branding for awd and super awc I believe adds in some torque vectoring.

Though tbh these marketing terms are used loosely and have referred to lots of different systems and technologies with time.

[Sentry]

I've driven shitloads of cars of all kinds and the Subaru AWD system is still my favourite. Especially in winter. Like Killy said, it's always on and has full 50/50 torque split. For me anyways, with other AWD systems it's very noticable the half second or second they take to "kick in". The torque vectoring on Acura SH-AWD is more noticable/useful on dry pavement when you're trying to scoot around a corner quickly.

[ExtraSlow]

Have been strongly considering subaru for the next family car already. Hmmmm

[jutes]

The non-performance trim Subaru's are great if you don't care about acceleration, highway merging or safe passing on a two lane road.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I like the Subaru system as long as it’s not a DCCD car (STi). The 50/50 split ones are great.

[benyl]

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The non-performance trim Subaru's are great if you don't care about acceleration, highway merging or safe passing on a two lane road.

just make sure you buy birks, wool socks, eat granola and get dreds and oh... become a lesbian.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

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just make sure you buy birks, wool socks, eat granola and get dreds and oh... become a lesbian.

Shouldn’t be a problem for ES.

[ExtraSlow]

I fit the demographic requirements

[bjstare]

Subarus awd system is one of the best for sure imo as well. The problem with it is you have to buy a Subaru to get it, which in the past has meant sacrificing things like build quality, creature comforts, and an engine that can keep oil and coolant apart from one another past 120k Km.

[littledan]

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Shouldn’t be a problem for ES.

[benyl]

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Subarus awd system is one of the best for sure imo as well. The problem with it is you have to buy a Subaru to get it, which in the past has meant sacrificing things like build quality, creature comforts, and an engine that can keep oil and coolant apart from one another past 120k Km.

Yup, there is nothing like oval cylinder bores.

[Doozer]

There's a really good youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJf...UBDyqTuNzGbH4A that shows you various cars and how they perform on AWD tests.

He basically has 4 rollers that he places under various wheels (maybe the front 2 wheels, then the back 2, then the 2 right side, then diagonal, etc) and you can watch how the vehicle performs in getting itself off.

He does it for a ton of vehicles, and even compares some older gens and newer gens of the same vehicles, and it's really interesting to watch real-world how a car reacts with various wheels spinning. Pick a couple cars you're interested in and check them out.

[finboy]

Will echo the sentiments, Subaru awd is great, the rest of the car…..eeeeehhh

[KrisYYC]

My wife's Subaru Forester is hands down the best vehicle I've ever driven in winter conditions. It's not a high performance machine by any means though and pretty gutless on the highway. If I was buying a Subaru family wagon for myself I'd go turbo Outback.

[Darell_n]

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My wife's Subaru Forester is hands down the best vehicle I've ever driven in winter conditions. It's not a high performance machine by any means though and pretty gutless on the highway. If I was buying a Subaru family wagon for myself I'd go turbo Outback.

That was my choice this summer, Outback Wilderness or CX-50. I couldn’t get over the looks of the brand new Subarus or having a cvt, so Mazda it was. But ya, the Mazda AWD is made for safety and not enjoyment and entertainment like our previous Subarus were.

[KrisYYC]

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That was my choice this summer, Outback Wilderness or CX-50. I couldn’t get over the looks of the brand new Subarus or having a cvt, so Mazda it was. But ya, the Mazda AWD is made for safety and not enjoyment and entertainment like our previous Subarus were.

We test drove both of those as well, though the Outback was a Premier XT and not a Wilderness. She liked the Forester because of the huge windows, visibility and size. She doesn't care about performance. Plus it was $10k cheaper than both the Outback and CX-50 turbo. I was tempted to get a CX-50 Turbo or Outback for myself. I liked the cargo volume of the Outback better, and ride quality, but that CX-50 was more fun to drive for sure, and looks way better. I would HAVE to get the turbo if I was choosing either of those. Especially the Outback.

[riander5]

ES you just got a new job and you are buying a new car? Inflation fueler!!!

[ExtraSlow]

Hahah, my post history shows I make threads like this routinely. Might just be flapping my gums.