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

[rage2]

I feel like unless you're going off roading, all the systems are pretty close in accomplishing the basics. Get you going better off the line, and lower chance of getting stuck compared to FWD/RWD in slippery conditions. The big differentiator is how it perform at the limit. If you're not racing or driving anywhere near the limit, and just "regular drive" like @ExtraSlow says he's doing, I honestly don't think any of it matters at all. Maybe except CRV, remember a friend's CRV stuck parked on the side of the road in a snow bank and it wouldn't move even with winter tires lol.

[jutes]

Just get the newest X3 M40i you can afford and enjoy life.

[ExtraSlow]

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Just get the newest X3 M40i you can afford and enjoy life.

Well, which one dude?

[finboy]

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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.

I would advise against an outback xt unless you have a $7-10k slush fund for “in case shit happens”

[Sugarphreak]

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I feel like unless you're going off roading, all the systems are pretty close in accomplishing the basics. Get you going better off the line, and lower chance of getting stuck compared to FWD/RWD in slippery conditions. The big differentiator is how it perform at the limit. If you're not racing or driving anywhere near the limit, and just "regular drive" like @ExtraSlow says he's doing, I honestly don't think any of it matters at all. Maybe except CRV, remember a friend's CRV stuck parked on the side of the road in a snow bank and it wouldn't move even with winter tires lol.

I had a 2011 CRV for a few years, it was a champ in the snow.

An investment in good snow or studded tires will elevate any AWD system to god-mode in a Calgary winter. Your time is better spent deliberating on your tires rather than your AWD system.

[finboy]

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I had a 2011 CRV for a few years, it was a champ in the snow.

An investment in good snow or studded tires will elevate any AWD system to god-mode in a Calgary winter. Your time is better spent deliberating on your tires rather than your AWD system.

You sticking around this time?

[Sugarphreak]

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You sticking around this time?

My leave was only temporary!

Well... for Beyond anyway. No plans to return to Calgary

[dirtsniffer]

How many open diffs does it have? For each 1, it has 1 less wheel will be driven when it turns to shit. Brake based systems don't count.

Most will have some ability to lock the center diff to send some amount of power to the other axle. Generally open diffs front an rear that will use the brakes to mitigate wheel spin.

I'd say the good standard would be the ability to send 100% of power to either axle and to have a mechanical lsd diff on the primary drive axle.

[phreezee]

Classic Subaru videos.





I like this channel for AWD tests.
https://www.youtube.com/@CarQuestion/search?query=AWD

[Hallowed_point]

I definitely prefer Acura's SH-AWD system in my former TL-SH AWD over the ATTESA in my current G37X. It could send up to 70% power to the rear wheels and I don't recall ever experiencing a FWD type sensation as it would only go 95% FWD on the highway.

It seemed to react instantly to any traction changes vs the attesa system which feels more like a rwd car that can kinda do awd. Snow mode helps with the G37X as you get 50/50 up to 18 mph iirc but it just feels downright primitive vs acura's system.

[riander5]

My 04 RX330 has AWD. Seems to work well when I put the ol throttle down

[Ca_Silvia13]

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I definitely prefer Acura's SH-AWD system in my former TL-SH AWD over the ATTESA in my current G37X. It could send up to 70% power to the rear wheels and I don't recall ever experiencing a FWD type sensation as it would only go 95% FWD on the highway.

It seemed to react instantly to any traction changes vs the attesa system which feels more like a rwd car that can kinda do awd. Snow mode helps with the G37X as you get 50/50 up to 18 mph iirc but it just feels downright primitive vs acura's system.

Those are completely different AWD systems. The ATTESA is a RWD powertrain that activates a front diff to achieve AWD. The Honda system is a FWD powertrain that activates a rear diff to achieve AWD.

Biggest seat of the pants difference is the ATTESA system will still allow you to slide (i.e. drift) while the SH-AWD will not let you slide the back end out under power.

[bjstare]

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[...] while the SH-AWD will not let you slide the back end out under power.

I agree with the rest of your post, but this definitely isn't true. It just takes different inputs. More steering input to get the car rotating before heavy throttle, otherwise it understeers.

[Ca_Silvia13]

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I agree with the rest of your post, but this definitely isn't true. It just takes different inputs. More steering input to get the car rotating before heavy throttle, otherwise it understeers.

Perhaps the Acura version is tuned different but in the Ridgeline it will not power the rear enough to slide it under power. It always transfers power back up front to pull you straight. And if you attempt to dial in more steering angle it chops all power to the wheel until you're straight. Sure it's "safer" but it's no fun in the snow.

[bjstare]

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Perhaps the Acura version is tuned different but in the Ridgeline it will not power the rear enough to slide it under power. It always transfers power back up front to pull you straight. And if you attempt to dial in more steering angle it chops all power to the wheel until you're straight. Sure it's "safer" but it's no fun in the snow.

Does the ridgeline have SH-AWD? I thought that was an Acura-specific thing, and the Honda AWD system is slightly different (both in name and mechanical/tuning differences)... that would explain it. For context, my point of reference is a 2011 RDX we used to have.

[Hallowed_point]

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I agree with the rest of your post, but this definitely isn't true. It just takes different inputs. More steering input to get the car rotating before heavy throttle, otherwise it understeers.

Yep! Traction control off , lots of steering angle and full throttle miss that TL SH-AWD!! As mentioned, it could send up to 70% to the back, guessing all SH-AWD vehicles are the same..

[jutes]

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Yep! Traction control off , lots of steering angle and full throttle miss that TL SH-AWD!! As mentioned, it could send up to 70% to the back, guessing all SH-AWD vehicles are the same..

Perhaps because yours was a manual?

[ShermanEF9]

None of it really matters when you're heading backwards towards the ditch at 120kph.

[bjstare]

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Perhaps because yours was a manual?

My rdx was not a manual.