What are the advantages and disadvantages of on-demand four-wheel drive on snowy and icy roads?
3 Answers
On-demand four-wheel drive has the following advantages and disadvantages when driving on snowy and icy roads: 1. Advantages: On-demand four-wheel drive provides better traction at high speeds, with less tire slippage under high torque. The four-wheel drive system also helps to some extent in suppressing side slips on slippery roads and improving vehicle tracking. 2. Disadvantages: Most on-demand four-wheel drive systems are limited by structural flaws when transferring power between the front and rear axles, unable to deliver more than 50% of the power to the rear axle, resulting in incomplete power utilization. Comparatively, the active safety of on-demand four-wheel drive vehicles is not as high as that of full-time four-wheel drive vehicles.
I'm a driver who frequently drives in northern regions, especially having tested various four-wheel-drive systems on snow and ice-covered roads for years. The on-demand AWD performs quite well under these conditions, with advantages including automatic switching to 4WD mode, aiding in anti-skid and improving traction, making turns and starts smoother. For instance, when I drive my urban SUV on icy roads, it hardly ever skids or loses control. Plus, it only activates when needed, saving a lot on fuel. However, the downsides can be nerve-wracking, such as sensors sometimes responding a beat too slow, unstable control in deep snow or during sharp turns, which can easily lead to accidents. Also, the maintenance costs aren't low, requiring regular checks on the electronic control unit. Overall, it's suitable for most daily snowy and icy conditions, but in a blizzard, I'd opt for full-time AWD for more reliability—safety first, after all, and pairing it with good snow tires is a must.
As an ordinary office worker commuting daily by car, I rely on my all-wheel-drive vehicle during heavy winter snow. It has many advantages: fuel efficiency is the top priority since it only engages four-wheel drive when slipping, saving a lot on gas; traction on icy roads improves significantly, allowing me to easily navigate small snow-covered slopes, making the car feel more responsive. However, there are downsides: the delayed response often causes anxiety—like two years ago when I nearly hit a guardrail on a slippery road because the system took a few seconds to kick in; it may malfunction in extreme cold, and the extra maintenance costs are not trivial. My advice is to maintain moderate speeds while driving, not to rely too heavily on it, and to carry snow chains for added security. Overall, it's decent, but minor risks should be considered.
