Do you really need all-wheel drive? | Consumer Reports 

Why didn't they compare the AWD CR-V with a FWD CR-V rather than a FWD Toyota Camry? Wouldn't that be a more valid comparison?

Here in Finland you're required by law to use winter tyres from the first of December to the end of February. 🇫🇮

The problem is also that a lot of people don't know how to drive (in the winter especially)...

When a large amount of snow hits, the first cars I usually see in the ditch or off the road first are AWD SUVs/Crossovers. Guessing it's because the drivers are overconfident and think just because it's AWD that it can go through snow easily.

I have lived in a wintery part of Canada my whole life and my family always changed to winter tires in winter. There are people here who haven't ever equipped their vehicles with winter tires for winter road conditions, but I have heard people say they were surprised how big of a difference it made when they finally gave it a try. When I was younger and poorer I just drove year-round on winter tires, I didn't drive my car enough for it to really wear my tires out prematurely.

Of course winter tires important. same car with same winter tires FWD vs AWD. Now that would be a relevant test.

I live in Calgary and have a 4motion passat with studded winter tires. The traction of AWD is great on steep icey hills, and deep snow. I've been in several situations where most cars would get high centred or bogged down in deep snow. The tires help with off the line traction, braking and cornering. The only issue that has come to my attention that your tires are only as good as the person behind you.

Ask towing companies what type of vehicle that they most often tow out of the ditch in winter it is awd and 4x4`s.The extra traction doesn`t compensate for stupid.

I have to agree with most of the posts, that the driver's knowledge & skills determines how they fair in snow/ice conditions. Regardless of 4x4, AWD or 2WD, knowing your limits, knowing what your vehicle is limited to, makes all the difference in bad weather. Speed is the Achilles Heel in bad weather. Not giving enough space to stop the other. Weight over both axles is overlooked. Engine weight over FWD gives it traction. RWD needs weight in the boot/trunk to press down on those tires/tyres giving needed grip. I am old enough to be a grandparent and drove on glass belt tires/tyres before steel belt tires/tyres, which are rigid in cold weather...had a flat spot until it warmed. Easy start off and easy approach. I like to say drive as if you had a horse/stock trailer with scrambling load. Be smooth with all movements steering and braking. Do practice on a vacant lot. Each storm is different, e.g. ice under snow, ice over snow, etc. AWD, IMHO can snatch a bit as one grips as the other slips. I highly recommend drivers wear yellow lenses for glasses. Slip on or clip, it reduces glare at night and in snow. Nowadays with better weather radar, which I didn't have early in my life, its a heads up and stock up if bad weather. Best place to be in a storm is home or shelter in place. Its the other drivers who make it dangerous. Being arrogant about weather is a mistake. Again, its it's my opinions based on life's experience and driving multiple types of vehicle and drive trains...and, yes tires/tyres.

As a Canadian with a lot of experience on ice and snow, I can say two things. No fucking shit you need winter tires. If you try to come up to Canada without winter tires, you've got a 90% chance of crashing your car. Consumer Reports basically took the essay topic, then wrote a narrative story. Secondly, AWD does help in winter significantly. As Consumer Reports said, it helps tremendously with acceleration on icy and loose surfaces, but it also helps with cornering a lot more than they report. When you're coming around on a highway on ramp and lose traction and start oversteering, a FWD car has a much lower chance of regaining traction than an AWD car does simply due to the fact that there's no power being sent to the rear tires to 'push' you out of the spin. This applies to pretty much any scenario where losing traction applies. An AWD car will always find traction earlier than a FWD or RWD car will. Feel free to debate on these subjects if you feel I'm wrong, as I'm always keen to learn new things that will keep me from crashing my car into a tree :)

Living in Massachusetts and West Virginia; throughout every bad snow storm, blizzard and so on. The vehicles I see most in ditches, on the side of highways, turned over, in accidents are SUVs and cars with AWD. So many people believe that if a vehicle has AWD/4WD that it prevents them from slipping and sliding in icy/snowy conditions and often I see them drive fast in such conditions. I've always had FWD drive cars since I started driving. The cars that I've owned that handled the best in snow with good all season tires were cars you wouldn't expect to do well in New England and West Virginia blizzard conditions. Best: 2013 Prius V (wagon) I'm thinking because of the higher ground clearance than the standard Prius, plus the added extra weight of the body, plus weight of the battery pack in the rear. I've driven through two bad snow storms, cut through 7 inches of snow and cleared small snow banks without losing traction. 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais. This little car was a beast in the snow. I driven this little car through countless blizzards , snow storms, northeasters, cut through a foot of snow and never once did I get stuck. The car was small and light, and the ground clearance was nearly 6 inches. 2008 Scion XB. Like the Oldsmobile, I've driven through countless blizzards, snow storms, northeasters both in Massachusetts and West Virginia. Even though it had low ground clearance, it cut through the snow like butter, even on all season tires. Only got stuck once trying to make it up a mountain road that was layered in ice. Worst: 1989 Chrysler New Yorker. Car was big, heavy and was crap in the snow. Great car when there isn't snow and I actually enjoyed owning it, but it wasn't a good winter car. 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass I had didn't last long enough to make it winter. Bought has a cheap clunker to get to work. Lasted a few months.

A mechanic told me that any car with winter tires is better than every car without them.

People, keep in mind that this video is meant to help show you that just because you have AWD capabilities on your vehicle, it doesn't automatically make it safer to drive in snowy conditions. Driving slower, and using winter tires makes a HUGE difference, even if you're just driving a FWD car. Tirerack also has lots of side by side comparison videos where they show you a car using all-seasons, summer tires, and winter tires on a hockey rink to show you how all those tires work when the weather is cold and you have icy roads to deal with. Snow tires can be pricey, but it'll be cheaper than having to file an insurance claim if you hit the median or another vehicle due to not being able to stop in time. Not to mention the time you wasted, and the embarrassment of having to get a tow truck to pull your vehicle out of the ditch/snow bank.

Until I got some Blizzaks I was ignorant to the difference winter vs All Seasons. I was lucky to find a set of (discontinued) DMZ2's for $30 a pop. That was 8 years ago, now days I throw on my Nokian Hakkas (I swear by them) at the first forecast of snow. As a NE Skier I seek out snow and will drive through a storm to get first tracks in the morning. The right set of tires could be the best bang for your buck upgrade you can for your car. NEVER go cheap on tires, they are the only part of the car that touches the ground, well if you are driving it right...

AWD or not, if you get alot of snow, get WINTER TIRES.

Thanks for the realistic scenarios presented in this video! People with AWD and 4WD think they are invincible and thus don't need winter tires. During a recent snowstorm here in northern Utah, many of those people learned their lesson the hard way. The roads were so slick with black ice that the max speed at times was 45mph. And nearly every one of the dozens of wrecks I saw on my 35 mile commute involved an SUV or a pickup truck, no doubt many of them were equipped with either 4WD or AWD. I was pleasantly surprised that my RWD Hyundai Genesis equipped with Pirrelli Sottozeros gave me better traction and braking ability. That's proof enough for me that tires matter the most.

25 years of driving in snow and ice in the winters up here in Alaska i can say i dont need awd, its nice to have but when it comes down t it stopping is more important then going, a dedicated set of winter wheels are by far the 1 one choice in winter. it already started snowing last week here :(

I wonder what percentage of that 41% wrecks in snow, sleet, ice and slush can be attributed to morons looking down at their phone instead of paying attention to the road?

Only problem I have with this test, is if you have to climb a steep mountain (in CT), just having snow tires is not enough. Cars get stuck all the time every winter on my "small" 650 foot mountain with FWD and snow tires. They traction control tries as best as it can, but it usually conks out on the steepest part of the climb and the car slides backward. In this rare case, you need at least AWD and "All Weather" or snow tires - or you are walking home. Trust me, I have done it - and I don't live all that far from CRs testing facility (about 90 minutes away).

I've gone through many northeastern snow storms and only ever had all-terrain tires on. Never spun out once in my 2012 Outback Limited. It's all about how fast you go and if you take corners at speed. It also matters if it's icy out or if it's just fresh snow too. I also go to Upstate NY and ski and they get incredible amounts of snow, but my car keeps me steady on the road. I know I don't use AWD every day, but when it matters, I'm happy I have it. Unfortunately, it also means I have no excuse to miss work since I won't be stuck and unable to make it!

I cover 9 states in the Midwest for my sales job. I drive a FWD Toyota Corolla. Some people in my company (who don't live in areas where snow and ice are common in winter) can't believe I don't drive an AWD or 4WD car or SUV. I tell them that I would much rather have a lightweight, maneuverable car with winter tires that will out accelerate, out stop, and out steer a bigger, heavier AWD or 4WD car with all season tires in the ice and snow. Most people underestimate the abilities of a FWD car with snow tires. They can be amazing if driven properly. Good winter tires provide the stopping and steering traction that AWD or 4WD can't. And once you learn how to use your left foot for braking, you can induce some oversteer in tight corners or just to drift a bit for fun. Before the Corolla, I bought into the notion of AWD and had a Subaru Forrester for a while. While it was a good car, it couldn't match the stopping or steering of the Corolla in slick conditions (with all season tires). What would the Forrester have been like with winter tires? Probably amazing, but I'll never know. What I do know is that a FWD car with winter tires is WAY better than an AWD car with all season tires. I agree that for most drivers, AWD and 4WD is just an expensive gimmick that adds cost and reduces fuel efficiency. You need to be in snow deeper than your floorboards before AWD or 4WD has any significant advantage. And then you still run the risk of getting hung up in the snow with none of your wheels getting any traction. If that happens, FWD, AWD, and 4WD are all equally worthless.

Thanks for the reminder about the importance of snow tires. I think this report may have understated the case for all wheel drive since most incarnations of this system have traction and/or stability control built in which sends power to the wheel that slips thereby giving a significant advantage under average winter slip conditions. This is only enhanced on real roads with non-professional drivers.

318,247 miles on my 79 Jeep Wagoneer it is equipped with quadra-trac has gotten me through snow storms since 1979 I really love it. Knowing your limitations is very essential.

for me personally, I never had much issue with steering in snow with all-season tires. Stopping normally wouldn't have been so bad but my old FWD car had a terrible balance of stopping power. What I had the most trouble with was getting stuck and driving up hills. I have some decent techniques for that but sometimes 2WD just can't get you out.

The verdict? Buying Winter Snow tires is 3 times more important than getting AWD. A FWD car with winter tires is far superior to any AWD with all season tires

I live in Quebec where we get lots of snow. I'm with you that AWD doesn't make a difference when braking, but it makes ALL the difference when accelerating. I never buy a 2wd in Quebec. It's a matter of safety, because when you need to accelerate to avoid being hit by a truck or other moving object, with AWD, you can do so even in the harshest conditions! So yes, yes and yes, it is a safety feature in the countries where there is a lot of snow!

Even with all wheel drive or 4wd you still need to drive like grandma in the snow.

I drive an all wheel drive tahoe. I live in Idaho and have never had a problem with all season tires in the snow or ice. It comes down to driving at a reasonable speed. Very simple people. Awd has saved my life so I will always drive an awd vehicle. Such great machines.

Next week on consumer reports: do you really need a car?

Said in a way even stupid people can understand: If it snows, you need winter tires. If it snows a lot you need AWD AND winter tires. Winter tires allow for better grip not only in snow, but in cold weather in general. The compound is softer, designed to offer maximum traction at lower temperatures. AWD is a type of drivetrain. Power goes to all the wheels. But that's not enough! I've had people say to me: "I'll buy an suv and I'm good for any winter..." No! Having power to all four wheels is good and all, but the tires are the ones giving you traction. For example: An AWD vehicle on summer tires would perform worse than my RWD Mercedes on winter tires! Now, if both cars have winter tires, the AWD vehicle would have an advantage. 2 more drive wheels. Said simple: Winter tires + winter = good... Winter tires + AWD + winter = better!

In 17 years of winter driving in my 4WD Suburban I have never been stuck in snow. Not even once. I would park it where no car dared. I had General Grabbers AT or Michelin AT. And I never had problems stopping either. Drive slower than normal and slow down earlier. No problems.

winter tires aren't just for snow. When it's cold their rubber is far superior, even on dry tarmac. That's why they are mandatory in Austria.

This was just a series of "no shit"s.

In Minnesota this February we had the most snow fall for the month of February. My Subaru Forester gets around great!

My 2016 Subaru Impreza does just fine with AWD. I get much better grip on the road in icy conditions during a winter storm than in any FWD car I've owned. The key is to be careful especially when taking corners and to not drive like an asshole. So far, I have never been stuck in the snow with this car. I am very happy I bought it.

I have a awd car for one reason, my driveway. I live in boston where the roads are all plowed well the day after a storm, but to get up my steep driveway after a recent snow storm, awd is a necessity, fwd even with snow tires wont cut it.I was disappointed that they didn't go into the differences between awd systems. Some like the Honda CR-v and RAv-4 use all open differentials, while Audi uses Torsen diff's on most of their cars, that makes a big difference when traveling at speed in snow.

Without proper tires, all wheel drive just gets you stuck further away from help.

When you get off work after midnight and have to drive 30 miles home in a blizzard and the snow is already 5 inches deep you'll be glad you bought that awd/4wd.

In Florida we have torrential down pour‘s and some very poor road conditions resulting in hydroplaning, This test did an excellent job dealing with the snow & ice conditions. It did not speak to all other conditions and all four-wheel-drive’s are not created equal. Personal experience my Subaru outback has a far superior all-wheel-drive than my BMW X5. Consumer report needs to consider these two points and do a second RU-vid.

We are on our third Forester. I also drove an Impreza for awhile. All these vehicles work great. I drove in snow for 30 years and wish I had a Subaru plenty of times. Unfortunately it was a rear wheel work van or a four wheel drive truck. I know that now that I am back in Florida the Subaru AWD is great. Big rain, good tires, hit the large puddle of water on the road, and these cars pull straight through.

Your best piece of safety equipment is your brain. Use it. If it's that bad out. If Front WD might not make it. You should think long and hard whether you should even go out.

Here in Quebec, Canada, it is mandatory to have winter tires from December 15 to March 15... And please, the next time you do a test like this use true AWD vehicules! The CRV is a FWD only vehicule at speed over 80 km/h... Use a Subaru or Quattro, even a Jeep and now let's talk about the real benefits of having AWD!

It depends where you live....I've lived in New York, Colorado, and now 45 miles North of Boston in New Hampshire. As was said in this video, tires make the most difference in handling and stopping. But depending on where you live....Snow Tires AND AWD/4WD can be the difference between getting to your destination and getting stuck in the middle of no where. So yes snow tires make the biggest difference when it comes to winter driving, and yes AWD/4WD by itself..does not improve your stopping distance. But for those who need it...AWD/4WD is also very beneficial to have...

Car Zastava Skala 65 1986. Front wheel drive. 870 Kg, Year 2016 so it is 30 year old car. Tyres Tigar Winter1 Snow condition approximate ~20 Cm snow on road. I was able to pull wolksvagen Jeta diesel. Car with driver at least 1000 Kg. I was able to pull out and to gain enough pull to start frozen diesel on push. In six years never was stuck. And a lot of time I was in Mud/snow/ice/sand. So think again when you think front wheel are not capable.

i live in nyc pretty much if i need awd and winter tire is when the city is paralyzed school and work are closed. then no reason to even get up in the morning.

I really don't get the point of this video. Without a doubt, AWD/4WD (especially with snow tires) makes a huge difference over 2WD in snow. What you are basically trying to say in the video (without actually saying it) is that AWD/4WD is all about grip under acceleration but to the morons out there that think they can drive around like they are at a race track in bad weather, don't expect much. No AWD/4WD will stop on a dime in snow, on ice or corner like a boss in snow either. It's a combination of good driver skills/manners coupled with a good AWD/4WD system and appropriate tires ( ideally, snow tires in snow) that will reap the many benefits of driving an AWD/4WD vehicle. Know your vehicle limits along with what I previously mentioned and you'll be the one towing morons out of ditches. It's too bad auto manufactures don't teach people how to drive in bad weather but rather give the impression that once behind the wheel of our AWD, you're unstoppable no matter how dumb of a driver you are. Anyone that has had the benefit of AWD during a particularly snowy winter season knows it's a Godsend and not just the "meh" you make it seem.

All wheel drive helps to provide extra traction. That’s why it’s called all wheel drive and not all wheel stop. The stopping power of any type of Drive train is determined by the friction the tires have against the type of surface they are on. A studded tire will provide the most friction on ice. A tire with deep wide spread cleats will bite into loose snow. I live in a cold winter climate. I use the engine and transmission as a brake on my 4 wheel drive Jeep equipped with studded snow tires all round. Hill decent in low range with this set up provides optimum power.

AWD on My Honda Elements does help me get over the mound of snow the the plows leave in front of my driveway. It's not a perfect system. The AWD only activates when the front wheels slip so it is Front wheel drive most of the time.

Thank you for this video! Best breakdown in the AWD/FWD/Snow tire debate I've ever seen.

Great video, very informative. Some AWD system result in a slight difference in handling but the biggest improvement is using snow tires. Also, no one buys snow tires because they're cheapskates that don't want to pay the extra $ for safety.

I have a range rover sport and always fit Continental Full Winter Tyres every year, it is astounding how well this car drives in bad conditions, I have yet to find any condition that can prevent me from moving ! :-) As a wise man once told me, all cars have four wheel STOP ! so the tyres are the key

I have had my Subaru "Impreza" for almost 10 years1998 and in MontreL I would NEVER be without it. our last dumping was in Feb and it had to be 3 feet in drifts and my car NEVER faltered for those years in ANY drifts. a little heavier on gas but for someone retired and despises driving it's perfect. I only drive about 50 km a Month

Awd is not for stopping distance. CASE CLOSED.

A 4 wheel drive like a WRX will help you control the car better through turns, but a CRV uses 4 wheel drive only when it detects slippage from the front wheels which only helps from a stop. So it is important to determine what type of four wheel drive system your vehicle has

I run a Subaru Legacy with all-seasons in Wisconsin. Works fine for me. While I agree that new winter tires have a bigger effect overall than AWD, I think the AWD helps more overall in the second half of the life of winter tires. And I don't need to buy a new AWD system every 4 years or so. If I lived in a snowier area, I'd get winters for my Legacy too, but there's only a few times a year I need to drive on bad roads.

lived in sudden valley washington in 2018/19 winter and we got over 50 inches in 2 weeks. almost everyone even their precious subarus and trucks...all which were 4 wheel drive wrecked or got stuck at the bottom of the hills. my 2 wd kia soul had no problem going up them hills with my winter tires on all 4 wheels.

I lived in a state with significant winter snow (Kansas) for the first 37 years of my life. Used to pass people with AWD who had run in the ditch because they thought AWD meant they could drive as if it were July instead of January. Unless you're going offroad, you don't need AWD. You need winter tires and you need to learn how to drive (carefully, attentively) in snowy/icy conditions.

why didn't you compare an awd crv with a fwd crv

An Awesome tire that does very well on dry, wet, snowy roads is Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires. My wife’s Outback did a good job on the factory tires, even with our very snowy roads and highways. I had Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires on a Subaru Forester Touring and we liked the tires so much that when the factory tires wore out, we had the Cross Climate 2 tires installed on her Outback. My brother who he and his wife and family live in LibTard Portland, OR and they love the Cross Climate 2 tires on their Outback as well. We told my brothers and sisters in law about the Cross Climate 2 tires and both of them put them on their Outback’s as well. They live in Montana, get Lots of snow and they too love the tires.

I had a 79 Lincoln, I put a set of studded snow tires on the rear. not to mention the thing had more ground clearance than most SUVs today. It gave me all the traction I needed.

"our eveluations... show that snow tires are more effective in stopping and cornering." Well yea. AWD isn't for stopping and cornering. It's like saying airbags aren't important because seatbelts are more effective at restraining passengers. 4WD/AWD is intended to make you go FORWARD in a low traction situation. Nothing more. Don't criticize it for its inability to do something it isn't intended to do. If you are disappointed with the stopping and cornering ability of 4WD vs 2WD, that is *your* fault for misunderstanding its purpose.

AWD and the BRAKES have nothing to do with each other..

in all but extreme snow areas all season tires work fine- AWD is a must in the norhteset

I have a 2004 highlander awd.Ive been in severe conditions of north Dakota for a while now.I had to park in a foot of frozen hard snow over night at -30 degrees. When I got up the next morning it backed out of that spot effortlessly almost frozen to the ground,I could never imagine a fwd car doing the same.

Shouldn't this fall into the category of "tell me something I don't know"? Sure, AWD or 4x4 isn't going to keep you from sliding into the ditch if you're going too fast around a corner, but I believe MOST people want AWD or 4x4 to be able to GO somewhere. I have hills along my drive to work and in some places (hill with stop sign at top), if I have to stop at a stop sign with snow on the ground, I'm not going to be able to get going again with just FWD or RWD. Also, another benefit is if you need to make an emergency move to avoid hitting someone and you need to move into the unplowed part of the road or shoulder, in many cases you'd be stuck with just FWD once you get into the deeper snow or off the road a little. Inertia and centrifugal force are your enemy when driving on snow and ice. If you remember that, you'll be ok (and not drive yourself into the ditch). Also, STAY OFF of the slush between the lanes. I've seen so many spun out cars as a result of them drifting into the thick slush between lanes or on the edge of the road. Anyway...it's very easy to drive with a few inches of snow on the ground in any car, but if you have hills and the snow plows don't clear your road quickly...you pretty much need AWD or 4x4 unless you plan on staying in your house every time it snows.

If you know how to drive? No. If you don't? It doesn't matter. I have passed so many trucks and SUVs on the side of the road during snowy weather with my FWD cars. Most people are simply bad at driving no matter the circumstances.

I live in Utah and, for most places in the valley, it doesn't make sense to buy snow tires for only a few times that you might have to drive on snow packed roads. Snow tires are worse on wet and dry roads, so all season tires would actually perform better on wet plowed roads. I drive a newer front wheel drive car and my wife drives a recent BMW X3 and there's no question that all wheel drive performs better all around in winter. Learning to slow down and drive properly in winter is even more important. I wish CR would do testing on plowed and wet roads to quantify the differences.

i drive an all wheel drive toyota 4runner with studded duratrac tires and it is absolutely unstoppable in the snow. in some parts of canada (quebec) its actually illegal to drive in the winter months without snow tires.

Snow tires are great. I throw them on my car for the winter months and never worry about what the weather is going to do. If I for some reason don't have them on and a big storm hits, im stressing. My choice and favorite is Michelin X-Ice Xi3's

Subaru has the best all wheel drive system design

I have winter tyres and awd. I can honestly say that unless you live in a country with "subaru" weather it is worth it otherwise everything is more expensive not sure it is worth it but those 2 days a year you need it you are glad you have it.

Yes you do. While people with their front wheel as well as their back wheels are spinning and going nowhere up a hill my 4 wheel goes up effortlessly. I drove all 3 and as long as I live in a state that snows all wheel drive only! I am done getting stuck and struggling with 2 wheel drive cars.

Listen. An Audi in the snow is phenomenal. Put snow tires on an Audi and it seems almost unstoppable. Audis handle excellent in the snow. My 2001 cherokee will spin out even costing down hill in 2wd. In AWD with the center diff locked it is insanely stable in the snow. The main thing in the snow is you have to slow down and take slow deliberate moves wile leaving plenty of room between you and the car in front of you.

Groundbreaking stuff this... AWD will help you pull away in low traction and winter tires are good for stopping in snow... How exactly did anyone expect an AWD vehicle to stop better jut because it has AWD?

Last year at work over night we got hit hard with an intense blizzard leaving behind 5-6 inches of snow on the highway. Luckily I had taken my Gmc Sierra to work that day, I ended up leading a caravan of about 10+ cars on fresh untouched snow, with the storm still raging full force. Along the way on the opposite lane saw several fwd cars stuck, some even with chains. After a slow tedious drive topping out at about 30mph got into town. It was madness fwd cars stuck all over the place. Based of that can guarantee you that damn snow tires and chains won’t make a difference on fwd cars in heavy snow. 4x4 and awd does not mean you can fly in the snow but when it comes down to it does come of great aid.

Rented a Nissan Altima with winter tires in Banff Canada in January. Lots of snow. The little front wheel drive car handled just fine.

When did they do this testing? Last year???

Get winter tires and a rally car.

My front wheel drive 2007.honda civic with winter tires is a beast I'm the snow.

Would make sense if consumers get some incentive from the government or the insurance companies if you have the winter tires for 4-6 months of winter time. As it is it’s quite expensive to buy the tire/wheel and then pay for swapping assuming you are a senior citizen. Recommendation is good but it also must be affordable.

In conclusion: a good set of winter tires is more important than AWD

I live in CT, where the hell is this test center at.

I live in Northern Ontario, Canada, and commute 225 km a day on some pretty tough roads. If you think winter tires make a difference try studded winters. Driving my VW Tiguan with studded winter tires I toodle along past cars & trucks, and make big 4x4s look ridiculous. The only thing that slows me down is bad visibility.

I would agree. I stayed with friends in Pittsburgh one winter long ago, and that is one hilly city to get around in. The couple agreed that four winter tires were the only way to go. Much cheaper than auto body repair, and accident medical costs, too.

So not sure if these people went to school or what not but the test is obviously unfair and therefore invalid. The cars tested were different in shape and weight and therefore had different driving dynamics such as body roll and stopping distances. I'd suggest taking a class on scientific testing principles, even an intro would do which covers the basic proper set ups and ethic of balancing measurement techniques.

owning fwd, rwd and awd. I'll never go back to fwd or rwd in the winter again

I have a set of Toyo Celsius on my 2022 Highlander awd. For all seasons, they have very good performance in winter conditions.

I've lived in central and western NY all my live. Driven in Buffalo and Rochester snow. There are 2 major driving conditions: 99.9% of the time driving is dangerous for numerous reasons---other drivers, weather, etc. .1% of the time driving is impossible (or shouldn't be attempted.) I've never experienced any issues driving through blizzards with front wheel drive with really good all weather tires. Never been stuck. Stopped and helped several people in AWD vehicles get unstuck.

1:57, I didn't know we can compare a 3260 Camry to 3529 CR-V.

This report fails to inform the MOST important factor. Your driving skills! All these tyres and AWD won't save you from a crash if you drive like a maniac.

From an experienced, aggressive winter driver.... Haldex AWD system is the best w/ winter tires (General Altimax or Bridgestone Blizzak) in a car designed for winter environment (ie. Volvo) and you will be unstoppable.

I live down valley from Aspen, CO (yes, yes, land of the Subie), and winters here can hit us hard. I spent the past two winters in my '01 Forester with only all-seasons on and I did fine. The AWD really helps to push through heavy patches of snow, but doesn't do much for stopping distance. It comes down to how you drive over what you drive. Of course the best option in any car would be studded snows for the winter. But I've seen plenty of idiots end up in the median or sucked into a ditch because they get cocky. If you keep enough distance around you, anticipate the possibility of red lights, and continually drive cautiously you are already ahead of the game. I was more worried about other drivers hitting ME... Some people don't have the patience to drive in snow.

So this video is nothing to do with AWD but it is in fact an advert for purchasing winter tyres, bit of a misleading title really. I agree with what it's saying though... of course Winter tyres are better in winter conditions....

what bout dem chains?

I GOT A 2016 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY AND ITS THE BEST VEHICLE I'VE EVER HAD! THE AWD IS UNREAL!! DRIVING IN RAIN IS LIKE NO OTHER!

I missed changing to my winter tyres in Nov. then a storm hit. My 2 wheel drive car couldn't get up my driveway. With winter tyres I have to get a good run at it my wife won't even try. On our Awd car with winter ice tyre I can stop on the slope and start going again locking the differentials first.

I only put the best of winter ❄️ & best of all season tires on my 4matic. ..Nokian 👍

Why was Subaru not included in this report?

In my country Costa Rica of course because is very rainy , very montainous with so much roads in this mountains and bad condition

that's great but here in nebraska over the last 3 years we have had weeks with consistent temps in the mid 70s. dec-march shoot we have even had 90 degree days in December. it gets down below 0 too and we get snow. you just can't drive winter tires when one week it's blown snow and the next it's like spring.