[Polymetal Gray]

For me AWD was the only way to go. If you have never had AWD you don't know what you are missing. I have had RWD, FWD and have seen many people get stuck in infront of their house or getting in our out their driveway. Also going up a slippery incline. Yes winter tires makes a huge difference but does not turn FWD into AWD.

 

[TunaFresh]

I do agree. It's also great in the rain too.

 

[Glenlivet]

For me AWD was the only way to go. If you have never had AWD you don't know what you are missing. I have had RWD, FWD and have seen many people get stuck in infront of their house or getting in our out their driveway. Also going up a slippery incline. Yes winter tires makes a huge difference but does not turn FWD into AWD.

Living in northern Vermont I feel the same way. If we never had to deal with hills and lived in the flatlands I might get by with a FWD car fitted with snow tires, but hills and late season slush wreak havoc with many. And considering how many tourists we have coming up from Boston and NYC with their all season tires, having AWD has enabled me to avoid their sliding into my lane without losing control of my own vehicle. AWD is not a 100 percent solution, but it provides an extra safety cushion when dealing with the nuts behind the wheel of other cars.

 

[dctokyo]

FWD is significantly faster than a AWD due to less weight, that's important to me. Also I understand you'd have to replace all four tires at once on the AWD. Here's why, replacing just one or two tires on an AWD vehicle could cause unnecessary wear and tear on your drive-train, or confuse the traction control system to think that you are frequently losing traction. Mismatched tires are often a primary factor in drive-train damage with AWD.

 

[TunaFresh]

The I-active AWD will run at near 100% FWD when cruising at certain speeds. Once you're over 65-70 or so, Mazda found that kicking some power to the rear helps stabilize the car. So it's a very efficient AWD system and comparatively speaking, inexpensive at $1,700. Torque split on the system is all over place depending on the conditions.

 

[R-Brown]

The I-active AWD will run at near 100% FWD when cruising at certain speeds. Once you're over 65-70 or so, Mazda found that kicking some power to the rear helps stabilize the car. So it's a very efficient AWD system and comparatively speaking, inexpensive at $1,700. Torque split on the system is all over place depending on the conditions.

To add on to that, this is a snippet from Mazda's website on the AWD system.

Using a wide range of sensors to paint a highly accurate picture of the overall driving scene, including road conditions and the driver’s intentions, i-ACTIV continuously calculates and adjusts the amount of torque sent to the rear wheels. This enables secure take-off, acceleration, cornering and braking, without letting the tires slip in any direction—forward, backwards or sideways. The system minimizes torque sent to the rear wheels when on dry road surfaces with good traction. In this state, the car is working almost like a front-wheel-drive vehicle, which contributes to great fuel economy.

MAZDA: i-ACTIV AWD | Active Safety Technology

i-ACTIV AWD. With the aim of achieving an accident-free automotive society, Mazda is advancing safety initiatives in three areas; vehicles, people, and roads and infrastructure. [MAZDA Official Web Site]

www.mazda.com

 

[TunaFresh]

AWD systems keep getting better and better. For a long time it was primarily just Subaru and Audi. Now there are quite a few good ones. BMW and Honda also have a good system.