4wd is it worth it?

eric2flat said:

Hi
I'm about to make decision how to configure my HL. I just have doubts about 4wd, is it worth it without having differential lock? I've seen this video recently
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7dVFY5CxT0
scroll to the last scene, 4wd hlander can't approach muddy hill, front wheels are spinning and rear stay dead. I know it's a job for 4runner and I'm not going to use my highlander for that. I live in the area of long and snowy winter and I was wondering how HL handles tons of snow on flat road or light hills.
Please don't mention other vehicles, I'm solid for HL, just want to know 4wd experience from HL drivers

Thanks

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2003 hIGHLANDER all wheel drive. See my snow photo's posting.

In one word as to whether it is worth it. YES.

In snow or ice, when you start from a stop, nobody can approache you during your acceleration ! Just for that it worths the money....

A 35% is a very steep slope. Because of its extreme angle its stressing the slip of the AWD. Subaru must have something in their AWD to address this, they also pick the high angle that their cars still look good going over. I wouldn't worry about it, every AWD vehicle I have drive in snow has been vast improvement over it 2wd models.

^ what he said is correct about 4wd still better than 2wd in terms of traction. As for mileage, I would go for the 2wd version. I think most, if not all 4wd owner gets decent but not great mileage from their vehicle. I'm in SoCal so basically 4wd is not needed here but went for it because of visiting remote areas.

kamrhee

Read all the comments about the YouTube post. If you are set on an HL your choice is 2WD or 4WD, not what Subaru states or claims it can do.

If driving in tons of snow on public roads a full time 4WD will be just fine.

dude get the 4wd version.
you barely loose gas mileage because its not full time 4wd...its activated automatically when needed. good to have just in case, but you wont see your gas mileage affected with normal driving.

my family regrets not getting the 4wd.

For 2007, thought the hybrid had the intelligent 4WD system. The straight gas engine appears to be full time 4WD with a traction control system.

nodrogkam said:

dude get the 4wd version.
you barely loose gas mileage because its not full time 4wd...its activated automatically when needed. good to have just in case, but you wont see your gas mileage affected with normal driving.

my family regrets not getting the 4wd.

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I don't know where you took that information, but my 2001 is full time AWD (50% front 50% rear). I don't think that this has changed within the years, except that they add the stability and traction control to it.

It's not an Honda CRV like AWD system, it's like Subaru or Audi's system....well, almost !

oh really...well when we bought our 05 we were told it was more like a CRV system where it kicks in when needed.

we...well more like I didnt think about how useful it would be, so we decided against it. If it has changed throughout the years or if i was given the wrong information is beyond me...but i'd still rather have the 4wd and loose that 1mpg (if it were full time).

It is really a permanent AWD 50/50. If you ever drove a CRV, you'll ear the hydraulic transfering from the front to the rear when the front wheel starts to spin. On the Highlander, start with full throttle from an icy surface and you'll hear nothing: il might slip from forward, maybe from the back but there is no transfer at all.

I think that this is the main difference between the Highlander and the Subaru and Audi system. All three systems are roughly 50/50 permanent systme (I think that Subaru is 40/60, whatever). But the highlander system will remain 50/50 whatever happens (maybe one or both wheels can stop spinning with the traction control), but on Audi and Subaru system, the power can be distributed to another wheels with traction.

Actualy, we could say that the CRV, Audi and Subaru system acts similary, but the Honda remain front wheel drive when it'S not slipping, and the other two stays 50/50 when it's not slipping...

hm alright, i learned something new today.

what about the current rav4? is it also full time 4wd?

New RAV4

nodrogkam said:

hm alright, i learned something new today.

what about the current rav4? is it also full time 4wd?

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Unfortunately I believe the new RAV4 is built along the lines of the CR-V. Normal driving is front wheel drive only with AWD kicking in when required. I assume the U.S. models are the same. Personally I prefer the full time AWD of the Highlander. I was told by a salesman that the new '08 HL, if and when it comes out, will be available with AWD but I can't tell you if it is full or part time.

Peter

thanks mate. i'd prefer auto 4wd.

The new RAV4 is in the same way as the CRV, but little more modern. It caan swwitch from side ti side as well as front to rear. Unfortunately it use to stay most of the time front wheel drive like the CRV. The advantage of this setup si a better gas milleage.

Otherwise if you loose traction in a curve, with this sytem, by the time that the traction is sent to the rear, you're already off the road ! That why the Audi Quattro and Subaru systems are among the best ans the safest system available on the market today.

They stay 50/50 all the time in normal driving condition.

So then is the 2007 HL more of a full time AWD system or a part time 4WD/AWD system?

I plan on purchasing one soon, but I want to make sure that I'm definitely making the right decision about going with FWD vs 4WD.

4wd

I really don't think the HL is running 50-50 all the time, guys. By full-time, they mean that it's always "on", meaning that there's no switch to turn it on, it just relies on the computer to engage. I still maintain that the HL is a FRONT WHEEL DRIVE vehicle until slippage is detected in the front, and THEN, some traction is directed to the rear. What the ratio is between front and rear I don't know. It could be 50%, but it might also be less. When I considered buying a Subaru, they tried to promote their product as being better in low traction condition because the Subies always have some 4wd engaged. The salesman downrated the Highlander because it is NOT the same as the Subie. I bought a 4WD HL anyway (2005 V6) and am very satisfied with the 4wd performance in Northeast snowfalls.

4wd

I really don't think the HL is running 50-50 all the time, guys. By full-time, they mean that it's always "on", meaning that there's no switch to turn it on, it just relies on the computer to engage. I still maintain that the HL is a FRONT WHEEL DRIVE vehicle until slippage is detected in the front, and THEN, some traction is directed to the rear. What the ratio is between front and rear I don't know. It could be 50%, but it might also be less. When I considered buying a Subaru, they tried to promote their product as being better in low traction condition because the Subies always have some 4wd engaged. The salesman downrated the Highlander because it is NOT the same as the Subie and mentioned that it's basically a front-driver. I bought a 4WD HL anyway (2005 V6) and am very satisfied with the 4wd performance in Northeast snowfalls.