This is one of the oldest questions when it comes to buying a SUV. Some people believe that AWD is the best way to go and others lean more towards FWD. In most areas, your normal FWD feature will get you most everywhere you need to go if you live in town and have a pretty flat short distance to go, or minor hills. If you live out in the country or travel up large hills or mountains like we have in our area, then the AWD feature might make a difference.
One of the most asked questions people have is do you get better fuel economy with a FWD over the AWD? Nowadays, the auto maker’s are making AWD and FWD systems to where they are very close in their over all mpg. Take for instance the 2010 Honda CR-V FWD, it gets a city rating of 21, 28 highway, with a combined mpg of 24. The 2010 CR-V 4WD, gets a city rating of 21, a highway rating of 28, and a combined rating of 23. So one would wonder, “Well if you’re getting the same fuel mileage either way, why not go for the 4WD feature just in case”.
Now, when making this decision, it is always best to look at what you are going to spend over the life time of the car. If you sit down and look at both cars and their maintenance schedule and what has to be done after the warranty expires, the AWD ends up costing you $500 more and that’s quite a difference. Some people might say that’s a small amount compared to the peace of mind you will have. This may be true but if you live in and work in downtown Huntington or downtown Ashland then you probably will never have to worry about getting stuck going up a hill or mountain. The weight that these vehicles’ possess over the two front wheels often gives you more then enough traction in the snow that we receive during the winter. Now, if you live on a large hill or maybe you live in Wayne County and have some pretty dangerous country roads that may not get plowed or salted, then you may need the added protection that the AWD feature allows you.
No matter if you have 2WD, 4WD, AWD, or FWD, nothing moves on ice. Keep this in the back of your mind when shopping for a new car or SUV, however in this day and age when we wake up and the roads have already been plowed and salted or you just work two miles down the road on the flat city streets, why not keep that extra $500 in your pocket for a rainy day, but if you’re an avid hunter or you live on a large hill or commute daily up hills and country roads, then the AWD system is best for you. You know your driving conditions the best, so helpfully this will help you make an educated decision when you are next in the market for a new vehicle.
Until next time happy holidays and a happy new year.
