4runners 4wd system vs Subaru:)

bigbwb

bigbwb

Member
Hey guys,
I ran across some interesting videos over in another car forum I visit often. Anyway, they show some interesting takes on how the various manufactures 4WD or AWD systems functions. Granted, some of these are for advertising puproses no doubt:)

Being a longtime 4runner owner myself I imagine when one either locks the center diff(I have a 2011 LE) or engages A-Trac, the 4runner would perform just as well. Obviously excluding folks with the Trail Ed that have the locking rear diff(I had a 2010 with it).

Subaru AWD Uphill Comparison Test - Best All Wheel Drive Vehicle - YouTube
2010 Acura Winter Test Experience - YouTube
Subaru AWD vs. competitors - YouTube




Thoughts?
 
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Owned a 2008 3.0 Outback, The best car I've ever owned for new england winters, much more capable than the 2002 LandCruiser I traded in for the Outback. They are very capable.
 
Those videos are all horse hockey, you can go search the same test with different manufactures and the results would be different.
 
I was surprised myself with how well the Subaru system worked. I do understand car companies stage these types of "tests" to show off their particular advantages, but like anything, you take it with a grain of salt.

Besides the Subaru, I have also heard very good things about Acura's Sh-AWD system. Not only does it shift actual power to the wheel with traction but it helps on dry pavement as well by transferring torque to individual wheels around turns to help handling.

Its always nice to know how things work......
 
Read some mag reviews on the Acuras with SH-AWD and they were always commenting on the sure footedness of all the Acura lineup with this setup. One of the best in the business according to them.

Subaru's are amazing. I had the first year ( 1977 1/2) Subaru wagon "4WD" and I used to take it up to the motorcycle climbs in the San Fernando valley. That thing was a mountain goat.

That said, I don't think any 5th gen would have a problem climbing that incline. Well, maybe a few.......:)
 
I call BS on this too. Subaru's seem like great vehicles, but the RAV4 test is bull! I drove an '05 for a year with the full time 4WD and that thing performed amazingly in snow and even mud too. I did a little light off roading, going up steeper inclines than that hill and had to stop on the hill like they did in that video. Obviously, a RAV4 is not an off road vehicle but I'm just sharing my experiences.
 
I know the Subaru is supposed to be great in the snow but I can tell you that my wife & I owned a 2010 TL SH-AWD and I had Blizzaks on the car for the winters and that thing was like a tank in the snow. To bad the car was not comfortable to ride in so we decided to get rid of it. Now we have a 2012 Maxima SV. Bet the Max isn't going to be as good in the snow?
 
jspagna1 said:
I know the Subaru is supposed to be great in the snow but I can tell you that my wife & I owned a 2010 TL SH-AWD and I had Blizzaks on the car for the winters and that thing was like a tank in the snow. To bad the car was not comfortable to ride in so we decided to get rid of it. Now we have a 2012 Maxima SV. Bet the Max isn't going to be as good in the snow?
Click to expand...

The new ones don't have limited slip diffs, but I am sure the traction control systems are much better, so while it's more dependent on driver skill, it won't be "bad." My '01 Maxima SE 20th Anniversary Edition had no trouble with > 5" of snow across the cascade mountain range in BC, and the record snow storms of '06 in Vancouver and Seattle. Repeatedly. With (Nokian WR2, but still) all-seasons no less.
 
I put Blizzaks on my wife's CRV in the winter, and unless you high-center it, it's unstoppable. I tried.
 
My WRX only got stuck in the snow when it high centered. Even then it was pretty easy to get out by rocking the car a bit. There was one time I had to dig out from underneath the car, but that was only because the snow had a hard crust on top of it. I've really only had it "stuck" 2 or 3 times. Most of the time it just powered through. I never even had to buy snow tires. Just ran all-seasons.

My mother-in-law has a steep driveway (though not as steep as that hill in the first video) that is difficult to get up when covered in snow & ice in a normal car. They usually have to get a run for it and hope that the momentum will get them up it. In my WRX, I can stop in the middle of it and take off again with minimal wheel spin.

It really is a great car and I still have it (though I want to sell it), but I like my 4Runner so much more. Can't wait to test it out this winter!
 
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bigbwb said:
Hey guys,
I ran across some interesting videos over in another car forum I visit often. Anyway, they show some interesting takes on how the various manufactures 4WD or AWD systems functions. Granted, some of these are for advertising puproses no doubt:)

Being a longtime 4runner owner myself I imagine when one either locks the center diff(I have a 2011 LE) or engages A-Trac, the 4runner would perform just as well. Obviously excluding folks with the Trail Ed that have the locking rear diff(I had a 2010 with it).

Subaru AWD Uphill Comparison Test - Best All Wheel Drive Vehicle - YouTube
2010 Acura Winter Test Experience - YouTube
Subaru AWD vs. competitors - YouTube




Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Notice how in the Subaru UPHILL test, the camera lens is clear for the first Subaru test, then starts getting progressively more water droplets on it as they test the other makes, and then miraculously is dry again when they test the other Subaru model? I'm not calling BS on the "test" but I'm betting they did both Subarus with dry conditions, then the other makes after it started to rain. Would it change the outcome if it hadn't rained? We don't know, but I wouldn't call it a scientific test by any means.
 
My past/current experience;

2007 - FJ Cruiser (A-Trac 6MT) w/ 285 BFG AT - I could tow a Avenger uphill in the snow! nuff sed

2010 Subaru Legacy GT w/ Blizzak LM60 - Very capable in the ice and snow. traction control stepped in when sensed any slipping. I've driven over the WA passes in the winter without any problems.
 
mikeinmass said:
Owned a 2008 3.0 Outback, The best car I've ever owned for new england winters, much more capable than the 2002 LandCruiser I traded in for the Outback. They are very capable.
Click to expand...

With good tires and only a few inches of snow maybe. Any more than that and I wouldn't consider taking my Subaru out in the snow over my Land Cruiser. Only time I got the LC stuck to the point assistance was needed was when it got partially buried by an avalanche.

IMG_0023.jpg
 
homeyclaus said:
The new ones don't have limited slip diffs, but I am sure the traction control systems are much better, so while it's more dependent on driver skill, it won't be "bad." My '01 Maxima SE 20th Anniversary Edition had no trouble with > 5" of snow across the cascade mountain range in BC, and the record snow storms of '06 in Vancouver and Seattle. Repeatedly. With (Nokian WR2, but still) all-seasons no less.
Click to expand...

That's good to know.

Thx
 
I had a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT before the T4R and the experience is different.

I haven't had this particular T4R in the snow but both with my dad's sequoia and my brother's 5th Gen I noticed that the suspensions are more geared towards hugging the road and keeping wheels on the ground at all time to deal with all of the countours and take control of whatever you are driving over.

Where on my Subaru it was a very rigid system where all 4 wheels chugged hard all the time to get you through things but I just felt the Subaru was just a car in which all 4 wheels spun all the time and was not near as confident a feeling. The rest aren't terribly different either b/c they're all Legacy or Impreza based with varying ground clearances.
 
I think that AWD crossovers will do no worse that 4Runner in not very deep show. At least my old Ford Escape did wery well in up to foot of fresh show on few occassions. And in that video I think they forgot to turn off traction/stability contol at least on Ford Edge, I got similar in my Escape when it didn't go up the slippery hill unless I turned traction control off.
 
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