It seems more small suvs are awd, are there any that are selectable 4wd? We used the have an 01 escape v-6 that had a switch for 2w or 4wd. I really liked that.
small suv with 4wd not awd
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Jeep Wrangler and maybe the Toyota 4 Runner, but they're not really "small" SUVs. Most "SUVs" these days are glorified minivans unless you go with an Expedition or Suburban.
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Jeep Wrangler and maybe the Toyota 4 Runner, but they're not really "small" SUVs. Most "SUVs" these days are glorified minivans unless you go with an Expedition or Suburban.
>expedition or suburban
>not a glorified minivan
choose one
Jeep Wrangler and maybe the Toyota 4 Runner, but they're not really "small" SUVs. Most "SUVs" these days are glorified minivans unless you go with an Expedition or Suburban.
>expedition or suburban
>not a glorified minivan
choose one
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I had an 02 V6 Escape. The switch locked the front and rear differentials. It was fun leaving 4 rooster tails in the snow as the Blizzacks tried to find traction.
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Hopefully we'll get the South American Trailblazer soon. GM is considering selling it here.
I think the Xterra was body-on-frame. They just stopped selling them, but you can still get a low-mileage CPO 2015 Xterra
I think the Xterra was body-on-frame. They just stopped selling them, but you can still get a low-mileage CPO 2015 Xterra
Originally Posted By: Danno
I had an 02 V6 Escape. The switch locked the front and rear differentials. It was fun leaving 4 rooster tails in the snow as the Blizzacks tried to find traction.
I kind of wish i had not traded it.
I had an 02 V6 Escape. The switch locked the front and rear differentials. It was fun leaving 4 rooster tails in the snow as the Blizzacks tried to find traction.
I kind of wish i had not traded it.
Does the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with Active-Drive "low" 4x4 count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYIDliUxFQ&list=PLvULN5PwSSrvKzLY7wxo4zsxAdvdDyE8w&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYIDliUxFQ&list=PLvULN5PwSSrvKzLY7wxo4zsxAdvdDyE8w&index=2
I think the vehicle closest to that setup is a one of the smaller Jeeps or the Toyota RAV-4, if the RAV still offers the electronic center lock as it used to. That's basically the same as a locking transfer case. Each axle's differential is open in the RAV, but I doubt your Escape had posi-traction differentials, so it will be functionally similar.
Originally Posted By: ejes
Does the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with Active-Drive "low" 4x4 count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYIDliUxFQ&list=PLvULN5PwSSrvKzLY7wxo4zsxAdvdDyE8w&index=2
That looks more like what i'm interested in. You can't select 2wd, but its not 4WD unless there is wheel spin. you can select 4WD low and a few modes. What i like is, its not full time AWD.
Does the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with Active-Drive "low" 4x4 count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYIDliUxFQ&list=PLvULN5PwSSrvKzLY7wxo4zsxAdvdDyE8w&index=2
That looks more like what i'm interested in. You can't select 2wd, but its not 4WD unless there is wheel spin. you can select 4WD low and a few modes. What i like is, its not full time AWD.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: ejes
Does the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with Active-Drive "low" 4x4 count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYIDliUxFQ&list=PLvULN5PwSSrvKzLY7wxo4zsxAdvdDyE8w&index=2
That looks more like what i'm interested in. You can't select 2wd, but its not 4WD unless there is wheel spin. you can select 4WD low and a few modes. What i like is, its not full time AWD.
The rear diff has a electronic lock in 4x4 lock mode, but not a mechanical style lock. Probably about as close as you can come these days in a small SUV. I test drove one but didn't buy it. Looking for a vehicle for my wife and went with the Cherokee limited instead. The Renegade TH was fun, but lacked the comfort of the Cherokee. I wouldn't mind having one for playing around in since I don't do serious off-roading, but not in the cards right now.
We have a '07 Rav4 V6 with the AWD and the transfer case "4x4" low. It was my wife's car before the Cherokee and then we gave it to my daughter last year for college. I liked it for my wife because it was simple (just push the button for 4x4 low) and it automatically turned off once you hit 20mph or so. Basically simple enough of a feature that it might prevent me from having to come push her out of a ditch or snow bank if she ended up there and I didn't have to worry about her ruining anything with having to manipulate 4x4. However, in all the years we've had it in pretty good KS winter snows, we never had to use it. The AWD system is so good you really had to screw up to get it stuck. I drove it down in a ditch with a foot of snow one time just to try to get it stuck; the crazy little thing was like a billy goat and crawled right up and out of it; no 4x4 low needed. The Rav also had hill descent; never used it either except going though some steep paved twisties in the Rockies one time. It, too, worked like a charm. I would think the Renegade would be even more capable than that Rav4, save the lower HP engine.
Originally Posted By: ejes
Does the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with Active-Drive "low" 4x4 count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHYIDliUxFQ&list=PLvULN5PwSSrvKzLY7wxo4zsxAdvdDyE8w&index=2
That looks more like what i'm interested in. You can't select 2wd, but its not 4WD unless there is wheel spin. you can select 4WD low and a few modes. What i like is, its not full time AWD.
The rear diff has a electronic lock in 4x4 lock mode, but not a mechanical style lock. Probably about as close as you can come these days in a small SUV. I test drove one but didn't buy it. Looking for a vehicle for my wife and went with the Cherokee limited instead. The Renegade TH was fun, but lacked the comfort of the Cherokee. I wouldn't mind having one for playing around in since I don't do serious off-roading, but not in the cards right now.
We have a '07 Rav4 V6 with the AWD and the transfer case "4x4" low. It was my wife's car before the Cherokee and then we gave it to my daughter last year for college. I liked it for my wife because it was simple (just push the button for 4x4 low) and it automatically turned off once you hit 20mph or so. Basically simple enough of a feature that it might prevent me from having to come push her out of a ditch or snow bank if she ended up there and I didn't have to worry about her ruining anything with having to manipulate 4x4. However, in all the years we've had it in pretty good KS winter snows, we never had to use it. The AWD system is so good you really had to screw up to get it stuck. I drove it down in a ditch with a foot of snow one time just to try to get it stuck; the crazy little thing was like a billy goat and crawled right up and out of it; no 4x4 low needed. The Rav also had hill descent; never used it either except going though some steep paved twisties in the Rockies one time. It, too, worked like a charm. I would think the Renegade would be even more capable than that Rav4, save the lower HP engine.
JHZR2
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Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Jeep Wrangler and maybe the Toyota 4 Runner, but they're not really "small" SUVs. Most "SUVs" these days are glorified minivans unless you go with an Expedition or Suburban.
+1 on glorified minivans. But people are so easily duped...
4Runner is decent quality and smallish, but expensive and not all that great at anything, expensive and somewhat small for what it is.
Jeep Wrangler and maybe the Toyota 4 Runner, but they're not really "small" SUVs. Most "SUVs" these days are glorified minivans unless you go with an Expedition or Suburban.
+1 on glorified minivans. But people are so easily duped...
4Runner is decent quality and smallish, but expensive and not all that great at anything, expensive and somewhat small for what it is.
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Hopefully we'll get the South American Trailblazer soon. GM is considering selling it here.
I think the Xterra was body-on-frame. They just stopped selling them, but you can still get a low-mileage CPO 2015 Xterra
Might....not sure they will pull the trigger though....
Xterras are popular around here..
Hopefully we'll get the South American Trailblazer soon. GM is considering selling it here.
I think the Xterra was body-on-frame. They just stopped selling them, but you can still get a low-mileage CPO 2015 Xterra
Might....not sure they will pull the trigger though....
Xterras are popular around here..
Originally Posted By: ejes
We have a '07 Rav4 V6 with the AWD and the transfer case "4x4" low. It was my wife's car before the Cherokee and then we gave it to my daughter last year for college. I liked it for my wife because it was simple (just push the button for 4x4 low) and it automatically turned off once you hit 20mph or so. Basically simple enough of a feature that it might prevent me from having to come push her out of a ditch or snow bank if she ended up there and I didn't have to worry about her ruining anything with having to manipulate 4x4. However, in all the years we've had it in pretty good KS winter snows, we never had to use it. The AWD system is so good you really had to screw up to get it stuck. I drove it down in a ditch with a foot of snow one time just to try to get it stuck; the crazy little thing was like a billy goat and crawled right up and out of it; no 4x4 low needed. The Rav also had hill descent; never used it either except going though some steep paved twisties in the Rockies one time. It, too, worked like a charm. I would think the Renegade would be even more capable than that Rav4, save the lower HP engine.
AFAIK RAV4 never had 4Lo. The switch on the dashboard just "locks" what would be in common parlance the center differential, changing from a heavy front-bias to a 50/50 split. AFAIK the button is 4Lock or Lock.
[Reality is that the RAV4 lacks a center differential / transfer case altogether--it runs the rear drive shaft just like the missing front drive shaft (it's a traverse engine setup, so no front driveshaft, but you get the idea). Inside the rear diff is a clutch which engages the rear axle. Hitting the button--or if commanded by traction control--operates the clutch.]
We have a '07 Rav4 V6 with the AWD and the transfer case "4x4" low. It was my wife's car before the Cherokee and then we gave it to my daughter last year for college. I liked it for my wife because it was simple (just push the button for 4x4 low) and it automatically turned off once you hit 20mph or so. Basically simple enough of a feature that it might prevent me from having to come push her out of a ditch or snow bank if she ended up there and I didn't have to worry about her ruining anything with having to manipulate 4x4. However, in all the years we've had it in pretty good KS winter snows, we never had to use it. The AWD system is so good you really had to screw up to get it stuck. I drove it down in a ditch with a foot of snow one time just to try to get it stuck; the crazy little thing was like a billy goat and crawled right up and out of it; no 4x4 low needed. The Rav also had hill descent; never used it either except going though some steep paved twisties in the Rockies one time. It, too, worked like a charm. I would think the Renegade would be even more capable than that Rav4, save the lower HP engine.
AFAIK RAV4 never had 4Lo. The switch on the dashboard just "locks" what would be in common parlance the center differential, changing from a heavy front-bias to a 50/50 split. AFAIK the button is 4Lock or Lock.
[Reality is that the RAV4 lacks a center differential / transfer case altogether--it runs the rear drive shaft just like the missing front drive shaft (it's a traverse engine setup, so no front driveshaft, but you get the idea). Inside the rear diff is a clutch which engages the rear axle. Hitting the button--or if commanded by traction control--operates the clutch.]
Like a couple people have mentioned the Jeep Renegade or Jeep Cherokee may be good options. I did alot of research before getting my Grand Cherokee, and both of those have the option for a more selectable awd, with the option for a true 4x4 low. The Trailhawk versions of each actually give you a decent amount of features for the money in their respective segments, including a locking rear diff.
Obviously wranglers are still an option, beyond that not too many. I would also say that many of the SUV's with "AWD" as opposed to "4x4" probably perform just as well, if not better in anything other than actual offroading. I'd probably prefer an AWD system like the current fords have to a basic 4x4 system in something like snow.
Obviously wranglers are still an option, beyond that not too many. I would also say that many of the SUV's with "AWD" as opposed to "4x4" probably perform just as well, if not better in anything other than actual offroading. I'd probably prefer an AWD system like the current fords have to a basic 4x4 system in something like snow.
Originally Posted By: Padawan
This is one of the reasons I loved the Geo Tracker and Suzuki Sidekick. They were true "mini" trucks with ladder frames and proper 2-speed transfer cases.
Unfortunately, there really isn't anything on the market like them anymore.
I owned a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara from 2001 - 2010. Great little truck!
Manual Transmission, RWD, 2H, 4H and 4L
I beat the snot out of this little guy and it just kept on going.
You are correct, true "mini" trucks with ladder frames and proper 2-speed transfer cases.
Not much on the market is like this today.
This is one of the reasons I loved the Geo Tracker and Suzuki Sidekick. They were true "mini" trucks with ladder frames and proper 2-speed transfer cases.
Unfortunately, there really isn't anything on the market like them anymore.
I owned a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara from 2001 - 2010. Great little truck!
Manual Transmission, RWD, 2H, 4H and 4L
I beat the snot out of this little guy and it just kept on going.
You are correct, true "mini" trucks with ladder frames and proper 2-speed transfer cases.
Not much on the market is like this today.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: spasm3
It seems more small suvs are awd, are there any that are selectable 4wd? We used the have an 01 escape v-6 that had a switch for 2w or 4wd. I really liked that.
If we're talking front wheel drive based SUVs like an Escape, many have a 4x4 "lock" button, where both axles are locked in until a certain speed is achieved like said above. Most don't have a way to disable AWD by push button though. My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe was like that.
I don't know of a single FWD based SUV these days that stays FWD only until you activate "4x4".
It seems more small suvs are awd, are there any that are selectable 4wd? We used the have an 01 escape v-6 that had a switch for 2w or 4wd. I really liked that.
If we're talking front wheel drive based SUVs like an Escape, many have a 4x4 "lock" button, where both axles are locked in until a certain speed is achieved like said above. Most don't have a way to disable AWD by push button though. My 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe was like that.
I don't know of a single FWD based SUV these days that stays FWD only until you activate "4x4".
4WD
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Are you asking if any currently go from Front Wheel Drive to 4x4?
My Explorer works that way while my GMC is old school the other way ...
My Explorer works that way while my GMC is old school the other way ...
Originally Posted By: spasm3
It seems more small suvs are awd, are there any that are selectable 4wd? We used the have an 01 escape v-6 that had a switch for 2w or 4wd. I really liked that.
why did you like it? 4wd has little advantage on road except very deep snow and other edge case driving conditions you likely should not be in .
It seems more small suvs are awd, are there any that are selectable 4wd? We used the have an 01 escape v-6 that had a switch for 2w or 4wd. I really liked that.
why did you like it? 4wd has little advantage on road except very deep snow and other edge case driving conditions you likely should not be in .
Mitsubishi has full lock as well, button select-able.
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