All wheel drive. Anyone notice a difference?

[Rob]

How is the all wheel drive supposed to feel when I'm driving. I tried it out, but it didn't feel any different then regular driving. Is it only noticeable when driving in under snowy conditions? Or is it good to have on when its raining? I hear everyone raving about how great it is to have, but really couldn't find much to rave about.

[Hawkzilla]

It's good to have on all of the time, but you won't realize it unless you have it turned off when you needed it. The point of AWD is that you don't ever notice anything, since your car is handling properly. But if it makes you feel better, turn it off and power through a corner... then go back through that same corner and power through with AWD on. You should notice a difference.

[gaww]

It's good to have on all of the time, but you won't realize it unless you have it turned off when you needed it. The point of AWD is that you don't ever notice anything, since your car is handling properly. But if it makes you feel better, turn it off and power through a corner... then go back through that same corner and power through with AWD on. You should notice a difference.

Ditto - just leave it on all the time. I tried it on and off to see if it really affected fuel mileage - it did not. Note - it is always om to some degree even if you select off.

The traction control system is supposed to be optimized for it in AWD, so that means you will be safer overall if you leave it on - especially in the rain (and snow of course).

[Senegal]

as it was explained to me once.....the "AWD" button will put the car primarily into a 50/50 distribution.


The AWD Kizashi's always have the AWD on (even with AWD button off), and if needed traction control will use it to distribute power to the rear or back to the front.

Even if you push the button for "AWD" and put the car into 50/50, if the car senses stable traction for a given distance/speed..it will switch back to it's "regular" distribution to save gas.

we should wait for the snow season to test out these theories.

[tigerbangs54]

All I can tell you is that, after the worst January snowfall in Massachusetts history, My Kizashi SE AWD has proved to be a lifesaver. It is as surefooted as a Tibetan Yak. Where the snow is piled up 5' high on the roadsides, and the roads appear only about half as wide as they normally are, my Kizashi has taken the terror out of driving on unplowed urban streets. It's tidy size and accurate, positive steering make weaving through the maze snowbanks almost a pleasure.

[Blackbelt]

as it was explained to me once.....the "AWD" button will put the car primarily into a 50/50 distribution.


The AWD Kizashi's always have the AWD on (even with AWD button off), and if needed traction control will use it to distribute power to the rear or back to the front.

Even if you push the button for "AWD" and put the car into 50/50, if the car senses stable traction for a given distance/speed..it will switch back to it's "regular" distribution to save gas.

we should wait for the snow season to test out these theories.

When the AWD button is off, it is FWD only. I tried to climb my steep snow covered driveway with it off, and i got halfway up and front tires were spinning like mad and couldn't move. I pushed the AWD button and drove right up with no wheelspin at all.

[RjKizashi]

Feels the same on as it does off under dry pavement driving conditions. Not sure what you think you should feel under those conditions.

[TheHolyGhost]

It is as surefooted as a Tibetan Yak.

Great analogy!

[oboedeb]

Yes, loved the Yak!

[Ronzuki]

nifty article and vid on AWD terminology that someone posted On the ClubSX4 forum...

http://www.rubicon-trail.com/4WD101/dif ... D_awd.html