OWN THE ROAD WITH AUTOTRADER, EPISODE 9: IS AWD REALLY NECESSARY?

EV Channels Review

In Episode 9 of AutoTrader's 'Own the Road,' hosts Dan and Jodi delve into the nuances of all-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4x4) systems, particularly for Canadian drivers. They strongly advocate that AWD is not a mandatory prerequisite for winter driving, emphasizing that good winter tires are far more crucial for stopping power and overall safety than AWD for acceleration. The hosts differentiate AWD as an automatic, often imperceptible system, from 4x4 as an engageable system typically found on trucks and off-road vehicles, highlighting the specific use cases for each. They also discuss the added cost and potential fuel economy penalty of AWD, and how it impacts EV range. The episode also touches on tire types, including all-weather tires as a viable option for low-mileage drivers. The review concludes that while AWD offers some benefits, particularly in specific off-road or extreme conditions, its necessity for everyday Canadian winter driving is often overstated, with winter tires being the paramount safety feature.