We are in the process of getting a new car. Right now, my wife drives a Jeep Cherokee. We are planning on trading it in on an AWD car. We are looking for something that she can get around in during the winter that gets better gas mileage than this Jeep. I have been looking around and the only AWD cars I have found are made by Subaru, VW, and Audi. Am I missing any cars here? There don't seem to be a big selection of AWD cars. Do any of you recommend any? Thanks in advance.

 

There aren't any other than what you mention. Well, BMW & Mercedes both make AWD cars, I should mention.

If you're looking for a recommendation, the subarus are MUCH better, hold their value better, and you get way more bang for your buck with them then the VW or the Audi.

As far as reliability, the VWs and the Audis are very hit and miss. One car will be super reliable and run to 300k miles. The next one will be nothing but problems. I've been lucky with VWs over the years, many others have not.

The subarus are far better, IMO.

 

IIRC the new Ford 500 has available awd.

Why buy into the myth you need 4 driving wheels in the snow. Ice is the great equalizer. Doesn't matter how many wheels are driving, your slippin' anyway. I've been driving a front-engine rear wheel drive in the snow ever since I've started driving. Passed many many awd/4X4 vehicles slid off in the ditch. I just make sure my tires are good, take my time and stay at home if possible. The storm usually passes (hasn't failed to pass yet!).

 

Well, there is the Ford Five Hundred and the Ford Freestyle.

 

Yes, the Ford 500 is available in AWD form. And the running gear is all taken from their partner Volvo's XC90 AWD SUV. To me this is a great deal on some good equipment. You might want to check it out.

 

Well, the reason we need AWD is because we live out in BFE where the roads never get plowed. I can't even get around in my truck unless I lock it in 4 High.
Plus, my wife will be driving it to work. She has a job where she has to go around to her clients' houses, so she needs to get up and down long driveways covered in snow, etc.

 

Sounds like maybe an SUV would suit you better. Because without ground clearance 4wd is useless in deep snow. The front end of the car will act like a snowplow and stick you every time. There are some smaller SUV's that get carlike gas mileage that would do better in the snow than a car. The escape comes to mind.

 

That's right - I forgot about the 500.

Armorer's right about ground clearance, too. If you're driving through deep snow, an AWD car will get stuck.

 

When we were kids all our parents had were RWD, and they got around OK. The problem today is:

1) We've all forgotten about something called "snow tires." All-season tires do work well in the snow when they're brand-new, but get a few miles on 'em and you're all over the road.

2) Today's tires are much wider and a much lower profile than just a few years ago. 50-series tires are great for dry-weather handling, but forget about it in the winter. Those skinny 78-series would cut through snow like crazy.

Just like the manufacturers don't give us decent ventilation systems anymore, forcing us to get air-conditioning, these performance tires force us into AWD vehicles.

 

My 2c: driven the Boston area for > 20 yrs. Drove a mod '85 Mustang GT as a daily driver for yrs, with 'skinny' studded snows during the winter (and throwin' some mean sparks on the tar whenever you wanted!); never got stuck, but I wouldn't want my wife driving a RWD during or after a Boston snow storm. The parents had RWD, including the '73 Chevy wagon - yeah, we 'got around', but they didn't in the conditions we do (they'd stay home - we can't), or have nearly as far of a commute. I bought an AWD Jag for the wife & gettin' time for a replacement (probably after this winter), and it will very likely be AWD again (don't know which yet). Can't say I'd agree that its a 'myth' that AWD is superior to RWD, FWD, or 4WD - in my opinion, and I've drove them all, the AWD is clearly superior in snowy conditions. With a set of Blizzaks (we've kept the AS tires as they work darn well) you'd drive over just about anything, including ice (which does certainly reduce the difference quite a bit). For me, its the way to go.

 

Check out the Subaru Forester. Not the best looking vehicle, but it's a cross of a car and suv. Better mileage than an SUV, better ground clearance than a car. Most people seem to say they get better mileage than the EPA figures with them.

 

The Ford 500 is available with AWD and is a pretty sweet car.
Octane

 

My mother just bought a Forester in January. On a highway trip this summer, I got 32 mpg out of it - not bad, I don't think. It is roomy, well-equipped even for the base model, and pretty comfortable to drive long distances (I drove it about 500 mi one day with no discomfort). I haven't driven it in deep snow, but it does very well on snowy roads, and in up to 6 inches of fresh powder (deepest I have driven it in) and the ABS works MUCH better than in her old Explorer (I even like it, in the Forester).

 

Here's a list of cars with AWD, that I know of...

Mitsubishi makes AWD, but only on their cars with the "VR4" badge. Also, their VR4s are turbo charged, which makes them fun!

Any Subaru, but not all of them are AWD, so be careful.

Lexus makes a bunch of AWD sports sedans.

Ford Escort Sierra Cosworth (my personal favorite).

Another thing you could do if you're not dealing with heavy snow, just light snow, and a bunch of ice is getting traction control. Because the vehicle is 2wd it will get slightly better gas mileage, but the traction control works very well.

 

Well, the one thing I am looking for especially is the full-time AWD. I don't want the type that kicks in when the car starts losing traction.