Do you want to buy an all-wheel drive vehicle? Here’s what you need to know

2024-02-24 23:58:05

This article was translated from content from CTV News.

“I wanted safety and peace of mind,” said Karlie Stephenson, who recently purchased an all-wheel-drive 2018 Mazda CX-5 for her family.

Since the 1990s, automakers have transitioned to all-wheel drive vehicles, away from rear-wheel drive and, later, front-wheel drive vehicles.

However, not all AWD vehicles operate the same way.

A Subaru, for example, always directs some of the engine’s power to the rear of the car and can send larger amounts if necessary. This is done by means of a mechanical driveshaft that runs the length of the car, whereas electric vehicles and some hybrid vehicles use individual motors on each of their axles.

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“There are cost-effective or different ways to do this, such as when the car is primarily front-wheel drive,” said Consumer Reports’ Alex Knizel. “The front wheels receive most of the power all the time and only in certain situations is the power transmitted to the rear wheels.”

People who live in snowy areas where the ground is often wet and slippery would benefit most from all-wheel-drive vehicles because they provide better traction for drivers, Knizel said. “Or, you know, [s’ils] live at the bottom of a sloping driveway that is often wet, snowy or covered in ice.”

In Canada, all passenger vehicles sold since the 2012 model year are equipped with an electronic stability control system which, in addition to traction control, significantly improves handling, whether ‘all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that even the best systems will struggle to find grip on slippery roads if your tires are in poor condition. While all-wheel drive provides additional protection, it cannot compensate for a bad set of tires.

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