I'm sure everyone but you understand these nuances, and show a modded Atlas as the proof of performance.
Why are there so many AWD cars now?
- Thread starter Elkins45
- Start date
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Maybe, I mean there is a point in video where H&R spring detached itself, went behind and pushed vehicle.
Again, your address is Motor Trend. Their Atlas had 0.9” more clearance than regular one.
I know for the midwest where I am it used to be even when BMW was the popular choice, most here were buying Audis because of AWD. Now it's mostly Teslas in AWD trims. Sometimes our weather is so bad that you can't get around without it. Deep snow and unplowed roads, especially for me since I work on call all the time. Kind of a problem some days with my FWD turbo hatch. 
That's any FWD vehicle I've driven, lol!
I have. Actually in the same vehicle. My 2015 CX5 had the rear diff go out because I flooded it and didn't know. The solenoid stopped actuating. So literally the SAME vehicle, just FWD only. It was total crap. Spinning the tires like crazy. With AWD, it was GLUED down. I haven't owned a non-AWD vehicle since 2014, and absolutely never will again. That's like choosing to be an amputee.
On flat ground, sure, he's right. You don't NEED a vehicle that's capable. but when you throw in inclines, etc. having a vehicle that's capable sure is necessary. It's hilarious watching FWD vehicles unable to go up even city streets here when it snows. Unless you're stuck behind the poor fools who drive them, and then it is a real hazard.
If the VW 4Motion is 3 light years ahead, then which Atlas or Tiguan can I buy that has a mechanically torque vectoring rear axle for the AWD system?
I can buy a RAV4 or Highlander with the gasoline-only powertrain in the higher trims to get Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD.
Most of the 4x4's sold are also open diff, so with that logic, have terrible traction.
Even the 4Runner has open diffs front and rear, but has an aggressive traction control system A-TRAC that aggressively clamps down on the wheel(s) without traction to transfer power to the wheel(s) with grip, and the TRD-Pro has CRAWL control, which is a low speed "cruise control" that is used with the Multi-terrain Management System
And? Those lower-priced FWD versions of cars and crossovers generally have neither the ability to transfer power to the rear nor good traction control. My point is simply that a FWD version of a Chevy Equinox is not the benchmark for 2WD ability - it is designed so you buy the AWD version. The details are important as you point out here. A RWD 911, for example, can be very good in the snow and Tesla's dual motor AWD + traction control puts most other systems to shame.
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
They can call it Starship/star wars dynamic torque vectoring, it ain't that good.
You can buy ANY Tiguan or Atlas.
Problem is not AWD, problem is that I would be afraid to break Highlander there, considering their "gentle" build.
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
They do have all that. It is 2023, and the economy of scale is working. Honda Pilot can transfer 70% to the rear and 100% of that to one wheel.
There are a lot of small AWD that actually can do a lot. There are some that absolutely stink. And it is not bcs. they cannot make it but choose not to. Still, ANY AWD in the Rockies here will take you with good snow tires without any drama to ski in blizzard, and return you back.
My SIenna had blah AWD, but with snow tires did its job in super nasty snow storms. Bigger issue were absolutely horrible two candles in front that Toyota designate as lights.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Nah, I was climbing some forest "roads" and went through the actual forest without roads in some FWD cars where some "4WD" could not make it.
I grew up in the city that gets a lot of snow, and it is in a valley surrounded by mountains. Bunch of neighborhoods are actually having small streets built during Austro-Hungarian period with a grade at least 14%, and temperature can drop sometimes to -30c. And yet, at that time, almost no one had 4WD or AWD. They were actually climbing in BMW E34, Volvo 740/760, or various VW's etc. But all had snow tires (no studs).
I have limited slip with electronic torque sensing and the slightest incline with snow takes me out.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
What? On what tires?
All seasons. It's getting snow tires next time. The car is just too light to do anything without snow tires.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
GTI is pretty heavy where it matters for snow driving, plus you have vectoring differential. I was climbing with VW CC Hoosier, Loveland, Berthoud Passes during some of the worst snow storms. I had Blizzak LM60 snow tires. CC will actually do worse than GTI in that weather. So, I would say whatever is going on with those tires, it is culprit.
I noticed AWD optioned vehicles have higher tow ratings, like double.
I don't know if it's the low end torque or what, but no matter how careful I am with it's current tires it just instantly spins. Love the car, but it's probably the worst vehicle I've owned for winter driving.
Since the new MK8 Golf R has torque vectoring rear awd diff I wonder if that has trickled to the Atlas?