The way I understand this.. [all wheel drive]

I always thought that 4wd was more robust than awd. 4wd is better on the rough stuff. Here in the northwest Indiana the roads are often icy or snowy in spots and awd is better because it comes on when needed on the paved roads we have. 4wd is not a bad thing to have on snowy roads but it has to be turned off and on too much unless there is a couple of inches on the pavement. I turn to the Murano more in winter.

 

I had a wrx (all wheel drive) and now have a tacoma or (2h/4h/4l). I live in Connecticut and we see a lot of crappy weather including plenty of black ice. It really comes down to personal preference on drive type but neither is immune to black ice. Best bet for your situation might be studded tires on that Lexus for the season.

 

How do you classify a 4 Wheel Dr. sprinter? It has part time all wheel drive with a center differential ( Nonlocking, viscous coupling) With an optional low range transfer case. It is also not shift on the fly.

 

I think the most basic definition is: if it doesn’t require any driver intervention it is AWD; if it offers any type of interface it is 4WD.

 

Sounds like a variation on full time 4wd

 

Then there is also the "Subaru Symetric System" -that is if you do not class them with one of your three. I own a 15 Outback -- trust me these are great especially with the "X-mode"

 

Most AWD vehicles automatically turn into a FWD vehicle at speeds around 25-35 mph. Subaru keeps driving all 4 wheels all the time -under ideal conditions 60/40 split at highway speeds. I think the 19 RAV4 on the sport model and optional on the limited is using a "Subaru like" system for its drive.

 

Subaru's awd is still awd. I used to drive a STI for a while. I think the X mode is a more sophisticated computer controlled awd. My sti didnt have that, it had a selectable center diff kind of where you could split the lockup more favorable to the front or the rear. Subarus are pretty neat little cars

 

Actually you need to read up on Subaru's "X-mode" -- I really think Toyota's "crawl control" was modeled after the X-mode . You take your foot off the brake and the accelerator and the car will walk you down a steep slick hill -- all the driver does is steer. BTW Toyota owns 16% of Subaru, which probably explains why there are so many similarities between the two.
We had a CRV in 08 and believe me the Subie would blow the CRV away in a traction competition -- so the Subie system IS vastly Different -- do your research -you'll see.

 

Isnt that just downhill assist? Toyota built crawl control loosly based on Marlin Crawlers dual transfer case set up. thats where the name crawl control came from.


It looks like X mode is a combination of things its a delayed throttle, with computer controlled transmission shifting, front bias of the center diff, torque vectoring, and downhill assist.


My sti had the torque vectoring (used for high speed instead of low speed), and full driver selection of bias of the center diff from front to rear... but everyone in a sti puts the bias in the rear because its fun. It didnt have the computer controlled transmission stuff because of the manual


Its a neat system for sure. Still AWD though

 

I loved the transfer case on my old Jeep Grand Cherokee. It had full time 4x4, part time 4x4, and 4low. My Tahoe has the same set up. It is the best of all worlds. Especially in the situations like you described with intermittently covered roads, if find in the tacoma I end up switching in and out of 4x4 often so I am not turning on dryish pavement. For example at my work there is a incline with a badge reader that I have to stop at. Then in the garage it is a hard right or left. In the Jeep I can pull up, badge in and go in full time. In the tacoma I can't move in 2 wheel drive, and it is hard to time in perfectly to drive forward, switch to 2 wheel drive before turning and binding on the drive inside pavement.

Also, for the wife who no matter how many times I explain the differences, the auto or full time 4x4 on her tahoe is the best!

 

I’d consider it a pickup, but not a truck. A pickup car, perhaps?

 

I should have worded that better.

 

The 2nd gen Sequoia comes with the ability to run in any of the modes previously discussed.

Having swapped a Land Cruiser AWD case into my old 2008 Tundra, I can say w/o a doubt, my Taco will be receiving a similar upgrade. Price and mileage concerns (minimal on a stock truck) are likely the reasons behind the lack of offerings. The increased in ability on multiple fronts, from the OP's point of safety, to successfully backing a trailer up a grassy hill, never mind the fun factor... it simply needs to be.

 

Haha the irony here is that lots of people, myself included wanted to or have done part time swaps on 80 series cruisers. I never got around to doing it personally, but I know a few people that did it. Different strokes haha

 

No, as you can read in the attached article, it is for both uphill and downhill situations. And trust me if you have never used it -you will be impressed when you activate the system.
https://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebPageID=20185

 

Im sure its great, in the context of this thread though. Still classifies as awd. Ill take this any day over a computer controlled program.

 

fwd is superior in winter conditions and ice btw, awd can kick out your rear end, if that's really what your worried about. or just man up and get the truck? black ice really isn't that hard to counter in rwd awd or fwd.

 

You are probably correct as to what the "industry" classifies as AWD . The main point I am trying to make with the "classification" in mind , is that not all "AWD's" are created (and perform) equally. Ask any person that really know and understand how different AWD systems work, and they will know that most of them shut down the drive to the rear wheels at a speed around 20-30 MPH. Subaru's system does not. Most people don't know this -- including myself.
For this reason alone - I feel a whole lot better when my wife is driving the Subaru vs say our old (gone now) CRV. BTW we are septuagenarians.

 

What this whole conversation is about is awd/part time/full time systems. The Subaru system is an awd system. All of the different models use AWD. The x mode you are talking about is a software inside the ecu and is not a direct part of the drivetrain. Just like my STI had a driver controlled center differential, it was still an AWD vehicle. My buddies Forester is still AWD and his wifes outback is also AWD. Lots of other companies use different types of AWD. Subaru isnt the only company with awd operating at normal highway speeds. AWD systems just like 4wd systems use differentials to determine wheel slip and apply power accordingly. Your forester I believe uses a clutch back in the center. Engineering explained has a great video on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=173&v=WBQlK89PyxQ

AWD systems are generally front biased, but do not just randomly shut power to the rear unless there is wheel spin or loss of traction. These splits vary from manufacturer and im sure older systems are different. Kind of arguing semantics at this point... but if you watch the video you can get a loose idea on how awd systems work.You can argue that the x drive and subaru system is a different type of awd but its like making the argument that Navy blue is not blue, its a different type of blue.