Last year (January 2018) I started my search for a new vehicle. I spoke with friends and co-workers to get their opinions of different vehicles along with reading the various reviews and test reports. I determined the CR-V fit my requirements but I was unsure which model I wanted. The issue was whether I wanted to spend the extra money for AWD. This seems to be a fairly common dilemma for people interested in the CR-V, FWD or AWD? In my mind, I was focused on FWD. I've owned FWD vehicles in the past, and I've never really had an issue getting stuck in snow or inclement weather. The benefits of FWD over AWD are:
1. Lower cost
2. Better fuel mileage
3. Lighter vehicle
4. Less complicated maintenance (no rear differential)
Speaking with my brother, he convinced me to go with AWD. He said the differences in MPG is minor, changing the rear differential fluid isn't a big deal and the benefit of having AWD will come in handy when you need it. He said you'll find AWD handy since you enjoy different outdoor activities, both winter and summer.
Fast forward to the US holiday weekend of January 19, 2019. It's a three day weekend and I made plans to go backpacking with a friend up in the Catskills Mountains of NY. Weekend weather was predicted to be a blizzard and both my friend and myself were looking forward to hiking in those conditions. The plan was to drive on up to the Catskill Saturday afternoon, and hike in to a local Lean-to and camp out. The next morning we rise up early, and head on over to Hunter Mountain were the adventure would start.
We each drove our own cars to the trail head, me in my 2018 AWD CR-V, my friend in his 2015 FWD Ford Escape.
We met at the trail head, hiked in, camped out and hiked out the next morning. It was cold and snowy. When we got back to the cars, they were snowed in, My AWD CR-V had no trouble getting out of the deep snow, but my friends FWD Ford Escape was just spinning his front wheels. Since the weather for this weekend was predicted to be a blizzard, I knew to keep a snow shovel in the car. I was able to shovel my friend out, and off we went.
We both knew what type of weather to expect and packed for those conditions, but even so, my friend was very cold and didn't want to continue on and backpack up on Hunter Mountain. My friend went home in his car, but stupid me, headed on over to the mountain by myself. Got a late start, hiked up only a short distance and setup my tent since it was already dark. I estimate temperature was at least -20 degrees F. Next morning hike back down to my snowed in car. Thankfully car starts and temperature gauge in car shows -4 degrees F. Let car warm-up around (5) minutes to defog windows and clear off ice. Coolant temperature gauge shows no indicator.
I leave the parking area and again, the AWD CR-V has no trouble traveling through the deep snow. Even traveling on secondary roads that weren't thoroughly plowed was no problem. Unfortunately I was so cold I didn't think to time when the coolant temperature gauge began to show some heat, but I'd guess it was close to 10 minutes of driving at 20 to 25 mph.
Could I have traversed these same roads if I only had FWD? Possibly. But it was sure nice having AWD at my disposal.
Edit to post: additional information
1. The front of the vehicle was caked in snow and ice. All the various Honda sensing features were disabled. Dash was lit up with orange warnings.
2. While driving, I heard what sounded like something knocking or hitting the exhaust system. Turned out that the drive-line was caked in ice. I eventually heard the ice fall off the drive-line and the knocking sound stopped.
1. Lower cost
2. Better fuel mileage
3. Lighter vehicle
4. Less complicated maintenance (no rear differential)
Speaking with my brother, he convinced me to go with AWD. He said the differences in MPG is minor, changing the rear differential fluid isn't a big deal and the benefit of having AWD will come in handy when you need it. He said you'll find AWD handy since you enjoy different outdoor activities, both winter and summer.
Fast forward to the US holiday weekend of January 19, 2019. It's a three day weekend and I made plans to go backpacking with a friend up in the Catskills Mountains of NY. Weekend weather was predicted to be a blizzard and both my friend and myself were looking forward to hiking in those conditions. The plan was to drive on up to the Catskill Saturday afternoon, and hike in to a local Lean-to and camp out. The next morning we rise up early, and head on over to Hunter Mountain were the adventure would start.
We each drove our own cars to the trail head, me in my 2018 AWD CR-V, my friend in his 2015 FWD Ford Escape.
We met at the trail head, hiked in, camped out and hiked out the next morning. It was cold and snowy. When we got back to the cars, they were snowed in, My AWD CR-V had no trouble getting out of the deep snow, but my friends FWD Ford Escape was just spinning his front wheels. Since the weather for this weekend was predicted to be a blizzard, I knew to keep a snow shovel in the car. I was able to shovel my friend out, and off we went.
We both knew what type of weather to expect and packed for those conditions, but even so, my friend was very cold and didn't want to continue on and backpack up on Hunter Mountain. My friend went home in his car, but stupid me, headed on over to the mountain by myself. Got a late start, hiked up only a short distance and setup my tent since it was already dark. I estimate temperature was at least -20 degrees F. Next morning hike back down to my snowed in car. Thankfully car starts and temperature gauge in car shows -4 degrees F. Let car warm-up around (5) minutes to defog windows and clear off ice. Coolant temperature gauge shows no indicator.
I leave the parking area and again, the AWD CR-V has no trouble traveling through the deep snow. Even traveling on secondary roads that weren't thoroughly plowed was no problem. Unfortunately I was so cold I didn't think to time when the coolant temperature gauge began to show some heat, but I'd guess it was close to 10 minutes of driving at 20 to 25 mph.
Could I have traversed these same roads if I only had FWD? Possibly. But it was sure nice having AWD at my disposal.
Edit to post: additional information
1. The front of the vehicle was caked in snow and ice. All the various Honda sensing features were disabled. Dash was lit up with orange warnings.
2. While driving, I heard what sounded like something knocking or hitting the exhaust system. Turned out that the drive-line was caked in ice. I eventually heard the ice fall off the drive-line and the knocking sound stopped.