Traditional four-wheel drive vehicles have been with us for decades. Usually in SUV (sport utility vehicle) form, they have proved to be the mainstay for adventure driving as much as for agriculture. They are still available to buyers today in much more sophisticated forms and are purchased by people from all walks of life: But is that much traction really necessary?
Full Time 4x4
Japanese-built Subaru cars, for example, offer superb four-wheel drive traction from a tried and tested mechanical system. It works well and they are fine cars to drive. Very old models are still motoring around the roads of the world indicating that they are built to last. Other brands follow suit but while a modest increase in weight and thus fuel economy would be acceptable for owners needing to use vehicles on often difficult rural roads or off-road terrain, for many drivers, certainly in urban or suburban areas, the might of four-wheel traction might be unnecessary. That’s why car makers around the world came up with the idea of on-demand all-wheel drive and Japanese brands are leaders in this automotive field.
All-Wheel Drive
Despite appearances the two types of drive are not the same. Permanent four-by-four is just that; it operates all the time at each corner, variably distributing grip to suit.
All-wheel drive (AWD) differs in that for most of the time the vehicles are driven solely via the front wheels. Some models, like Germany’s BMW saloons, provide drive to the rear wheels, but this is much less common. When called upon either by the driver (not all models have this option) or when the going gets a little more difficult, all-wheel drive automatically shifts power between the front and rear wheels to maintain traction, and it’s usually adequate for lighter-duty winter driving and light off-road use. Short-term, it will provide power to all four wheels at once, also automatically.
AWD systems like this are found across the automotive spectrum: cars, car-based SUVs or crossovers, minivans and the like. The thing to remember is that usually AWD isn’t an automatic solution to low-traction driving but it is an extra safety feature in winter conditions and on loose surfaces when the wheels could slip. The system senses any traction issues and sends power to other wheels to pull the car forward. It works and for the most part it can be left to the vehicle to sort it out.
Japanese Brands
As world leaders in automotive technology, all Japanese car makers have 4x4 or AWD models in their vehicle ranges. Mainstream cars and SUV’s from the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Honda and premium badges like Lexus all have drive choices. Some models, the Nissan Qashqai for example, can be purchased with AWD or straightforward front-wheel drive only, making consumer choice more varied. Suzuki too offer the best of both worlds; even the recently revived diminutive Ignis model has AWD available in the top-of-the-range model.
AWD is the answer in variable weather conditions and the sort of surfaces most of us drive on; so if the extra security of all-wheel or four-wheel drive appeals then please check out our website or Get in touch with us here at MHH Japanese Cars for more details.
