AwD or FWD

[blitt]

Well....I will NEVER buy another FWD vehicle.....AWD simply adds another level to performance and safety no matter where you live! That said....I have owned many AWD's over the years and honestly....this Telly , with all of its "intelligent capability" has been the absolutely the best!!!

 

[2020Telly]

The marketing is clearly working as everyone who is touting AWD is giving it way too much credit. The Telluride is a FWD vehicle with an AWD option. AWD is a traction performance enhancement. An enhancement is assuming you have something to make better. Another way to get traction is to buy and maintain better tires which might be why the AWD comes with different tires from the FWD. If you bought AWD then you got pretty decent Michelin tires. But when it comes time to replace them, don’t go cheap assuming AWD will make average tires better. Other than drive mode for under 25mph and very specific conditions that the AWD adds to the experience, nearly all the other capabilities and safety features are also present on the FWD which is also a very capable vehicle. Consider that the motor and radiator cooling is the same so horsepower and torque are the same on a vehicle with less weight and a different center of gravity. That could also prove an advantage in some conditions. Nothing against AWD, I just think you have to look at what you bought and consider ALL the features. At a minimum read the owners manual and look at the pages and pages of cautions, guidance, disclaimers and warnings for driving an AWD vehicle so you don’t become a statistic assuming your AWD implementation in the Telluride is the same as some other AWD system you are use to. There are a few instances on this forum where people were giving AWD credit for better cornering but the TVCC system in the Telluride is brake based and also present on the FWD, the manual even warns about not cornering too hard in an AWD. AWDs are really hot right now because every manufacturer is suggesting everyone needs it and that means there are other drivers in other cars that are over confident and making foolish decisions in bad weather thinking their AWD is superior. In a modern car with standard features comparing FWD to AWD is not as cut and dry as some people are suggesting.

I’m not going to say I’ll never buy AWD, FWD or RWD ever again because the truth is every car is different and engineered differently for center of gravity, drive height, power, performance, safety and stability and within the next 10 years we will be talking about 4WD vs 2WD in terms of number of motors and battery capacity. Performance acceleration gains in a gas powered AWD will look antique compared to the instant torque you get from an electric motor.

 

[blitt]

The marketing is clearly working as everyone who is touting AWD is giving it way too much credit. The Telluride is a FWD vehicle with an AWD option. AWD is a traction performance enhancement. An enhancement is assuming you have something to make better. Another way to get traction is to buy and maintain better tires which might be why the AWD comes with different tires from the FWD. If you bought AWD then you got pretty decent Michelin tires. But when it comes time to replace them, don’t go cheap assuming AWD will make average tires better. Other than drive mode for under 25mph and very specific conditions that the AWD adds to the experience, nearly all the other capabilities and safety features are also present on the FWD which is also a very capable vehicle. Consider that the motor and radiator cooling is the same so horsepower and torque are the same on a vehicle with less weight and a different center of gravity. That could also prove an advantage in some conditions. Nothing against AWD, I just think you have to look at what you bought and consider ALL the features. At a minimum read the owners manual and look at the pages and pages of cautions, guidance, disclaimers and warnings for driving an AWD vehicle so you don’t become a statistic. AWDs are really hot right now because every manufacturer is suggesting everyone needs it and that means there are other drivers in other cars that are over confident and making foolish decisions in bad weather thinking their AWD is superior. In a modern car with standard features comparing FWD to AWD is not as cut and dry as some people are suggesting.

I’m not going to say I’ll never buy AWD, FWD or RWD ever again because the truth is every car is different and engineered differently for center of gravity, power, performance, safety and stability and in the next 10 years we will be talking about 4WD vs 2WD in terms of number of motors and battery capacity.

NO.....AWD is better than 2 wheel drive ( front or rear) in that it provides one more level of potential "keep me moving, life saving maneuverability". YES, I agree..."don't go cheap on tires"....get the best you can afford and it WILL always make a difference! I have had 34 new cars in the past 52 years of driving.....many two wheel rear drive and the first 66 Olds Toronado FWD ( which was phenomenal compared to 2wd rear ) and many 4 wheel or AWD drive vehicles there after and I will never go back to 2WD. Even on roads in Florida....AWD still provides a "controlled acceleration function" that can be very helpful......That said, it is probably not a noticeable necessity, BUTTTTTT.....anywhere else where winter is a possibility or weather conditions are "unpredictable" , then why not max our and go with AWD?

 

[2020Telly]

I like the way the writer of this article puts it. If you know why you need AWD then you probably need it. If you aren’t sure then you probably don’t need it.

10 Reasons to Buy a 2WD SUV Instead of a 4WD or AWD SUV

AWD and 4WD sound great in theory, but do you really need more than 2 driven wheels?

www.topspeed.com

I can drive everywhere I need to go safely and reliably in my FWD so I don’t need any of the enhancements from AWD, they become liabilities to me.

______________________________

 

[Wiluride]

I don't need heated seats. I don't need a sun roof. I don't need push button start. I don't need 20" wheels.

Lots of stuff on modern vehicles that I don't need. Probably 50% or more of a vehicles features aren't absolutely necessary and may not actually make sense financially . Ultimately we all pick or vehicles based on desires for things beyond basic transportation.

AWD is worth much more to me than things like dark colored trim, or heads up display, rear heated seats, auto folding mirrors the list could go on, and on...

 

[Tortuga07]

I like the way the writer of this article puts it. If you know why you need AWD then you probably need it. If you aren’t sure then you probably don’t need it.

10 Reasons to Buy a 2WD SUV Instead of a 4WD or AWD SUV

AWD and 4WD sound great in theory, but do you really need more than 2 driven wheels?

www.topspeed.com

I can drive everywhere I need to go safely and reliably in my FWD so I don’t need any of the enhancements from AWD, they become liabilities to me.

The writer also makes this good point.

"As always, choose your car according to your needs. Buying an AWD SUV in areas with light snow, occasional rain, and mostly straight roads does not have any justification. On the opposite scale, AWD is preferable."

Raise your hand if you are in an area meeting all three of those conditions. Not many fit that description. AWD is not beneficial for everyone. But it surely is for us up in the northern Midwest.

"don’t become a statistic"

I have never seen any statistics showing that AWD is less safe than FWD. False confidence or otherwise. You're the only one I've even seen suggest it.

 

[Tellthemride]

@2020Telly has a very strong/consistent view of FWD benefits over AWD. Not worth getting into these same debates for every thread people.

https://tellurideforum.org/search/137839/?q=awd&c%5Busers%5D=2020Telly&o=date

Just post a personal opinion/suggestion for the OP and move on.

 

[2020Telly]

@2020Telly has a very strong/consistent view of FWD benefits over AWD. Not worth getting into these same debates for every thread people.

https://tellurideforum.org/search/137839/?q=awd&c%5Busers%5D=2020Telly&o=date

Just post a personal opinion/suggestion for the OP and move on.

I appreciate the mention but that’s not exactly been my point. AWD is an option. Adding AWD is a choice that can add a benefit. That true benefit isn’t clearly understood by most buyers. But it is clear that many say it makes me feel more confident in questionable road conditions. I’m just making the point that we have been told for decades that AWD is necessary for safety and while the manufacturers are backing away quickly from that message, AWD sales are skyrocketing because people still believe this in blind confidence without full context. If you look back on some of the posts the frustrated buyers were the guy who bought AWD and still got stuck in his driveway and needed better tires or the self proclaimed soccer mom that was upsold AWD by the sales person because they needed it in New Jersey but made no mention of tires and she was coming to this forum for advice still trying to understand if this was correct information. My personal experience is the many I have spoken to who live in an area that gets over 100" of snowfall a year and bought a Subaru with all seasons tires, willing to spend the extra for the AWD and the nameplate but not convinced they need to spend extra on winter tires.

Considering the importance of tires, learning how your car drives and common sense are all free and frankly could save lives. I don’t want to convince people to not buy AWD, I’m just suggesting to become more informed buyers rather than believe what we were taught to believe by marketing that just wants to take your money.

This is the statistic I’m referencing:
“Forty-one percent of all weather-related car crashes on U.S. roads are due to conditions involving snow, sleet, ice, and slush. That’s pretty sobering when you consider that those conditions usually exist during just a few months of the year. Accidents caused by winter weather result in 150,000 injuries and 2,000 deaths each year, on average, according to a study by the Federal Highway Administration.” (Reference)

I would rather be stuck in an AWD or FWD on the side of the road or my driveway over caught in an accident with serious injury because I thought I could venture out and my vehicle could protect me. Yes when you purchase AWD and know how to drive it and take all the necessary precautions it will help you accelerate out of tricky situations and that can be great. But it’s not a silver bullet. It won’t protect you from other drivers or bad conditions.

______________________________

 

[Wiluride]

I haven't been stuck , in the ditch, nor in a significant accident while driving in over 35 years. I've owned 4x4 or AWD at least 25 of those. If your more likely to drive beyond your abilities or your vehicles abilities because you chose AWD over FWD, please stay off the road.

 

[2020Telly]

Everyone's needs are different.