That is both a great explanation of all the different AWD systems offered by Honda and Acrua, as well as an outstanding video showing how the gen5 CRV AWD is different than prior generation CRV AWD.

We have a number of members here that refuse to check into and understand how the gen5 CRV AWD is different than their perceptions ... particularly their insistent denial of how the gen5 actually applies active traction on all 4 wheels most of the time ... even on dry improved road surfaces. The video does a good job of showing the functional differences.. so I am relinking the actual video here.

 

Rxcel

excellent illustration! Love my 2017 CRV, non turbo AWD!

 

I have not owned a Gen2 CR-V but I have had the 1st Gen HR-V (identical AWD to the Gen1 CR-V, fully hydro-mechanical). This was awesome. Usable offroad and ice-snow, possible to force into action to poweslide through bends in snow, lot's of fun. Gen3 was sort of okay but the stability control and automatic braking in AWD action was slowing the underpowered car down and allowed you get stuck somewhere a RWD car would have performed fine. The Gen4 AWD is useless, I have no idea what it's doing but I know it's not helping. Like you see in the video above.

 

Toyota has a commercial on TV that I've seen recently that shows a comparison between the AWD in a new Rav4 and a new CRV. It shows the CRV struggling to get up a snowy hill, while the Rav4 just walks right up it with no problem.

I have found the new CRV's AWD system to be really good and was surprised to see this commercial where Toyota makes it look so bad compared to theirs. I don't know if it was because of better tires on the Toyota, or if it had something to do with the traction control kicking in and causing the Honda to have problems or what the deal was.

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? I just tried to find the commercial on youtube and google, but I couldn't find it. Hmmmmm?

 

I saw the

I found the commercial I was talking about earlier where the Rav4 can make it up a snowy hill but the CRV can not...

Toyota RAV4 TV Spot, 'Sorry Not Sorry' [T1]

Penning an open letter to its road rivals, the Toyota RAV4 explains that it's a stickler for traction, which is why it won't be giving up its first place award for its ability to navigate snow-covered hills any time soon. It explains that in AMCI testing, the 2019 RAV4 Adventure was certified to...

ispot.tv

I saw that one too. Looked up the stock tires for the RAV4 on tirerack.com and they had much better ratings than the crappy CR-Vs.

 

I came across a review of the AWD of the new Rav4 and they surmised that with all the settings and dual motor and stuff, it is just marginally better or equal than the CRV's awd system. (the old rav4 awd system was a joke...) in short, all those "technology" are just more stuff to break and no measurable advantage (marketing hype).

 

Consumer reports comparison of Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forrester in snow.

Can a small, all-wheel drive SUV handle the worst of what winter can dish out? CR evaluates three top-selling crossovers to see which one drives the best in snow and slush.

The Subaru came out on top.

About 3:08 talking about cornering in the snow. "...the CR-V inspired less confidence than the Forrester. The Toyota was by far the least able in snow corners..."

 

Consumer reports comparison of Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forrester in snow.



The Subaru came out on top.

About 3:08 talking about cornering in the snow. "...the CR-V inspired less confidence than the Forrester. The Toyota was by far the least able in snow corners..."

Actually I agree completely, Sub is better with AWD. But my original post was about the advancement (albeit so little) within Honda. Buy the way (let's go off topic again) how does Consumer Reports compare the Forester with the CR-V in cargo space, my most important need (I am not even going to mention acceleration and CR's reliability record between the two).

 

Top New SUV Reviews | Best New SUV – Consumer Reports

Shopping for the best new car? Consumer Reports tests, evaluates, and compares the latest new cars

www.consumerreports.org

#2 2020 Subaru Forester ($24,495 - $34,595) score: 84
cargo space rating 3 of 5, cargo space 35.42 ft³, 76.1 ft³ with rear seat down
#3 2020 Honda CR-V ($25,050 - $34,750) score: 77
cargo space rating 3 of 5, cargo space 39.2 ft³, 75.8 ft³ with rear seat down
#7 2020 Toyota RAV4 ($25,950 - $36,880) score: 72
cargo space rating 2 of 5, cargo space 37.6 ft³, 69.8 ft³ with rear seat down

 

Racoon, I tried to send you a PM but I could not find how to do that on this Forum. I want to apologize for my rather curt response to you in the AWD thread that I started. That is usually not my style (I believe it was that second glass of wine). Anyway, take care. Acadia

 

If they did the comparisons with whatever tires the manufacturer had installed, then equipping them all with premium snow tires wouldn't have changed the results much.
Yes, they'd all perform better in the snow with better tires, but I suspect the rankings/ratings would still have put the Subaru first, CR-V second, and RAV4 third.

 

In all my years of driving I’ve never encountered a set of rollers on the road.

I’ve also driven all of these vehicles in snow. They do feel different, but everyone of them got me to where I was going uneventfully.

And tires make a huge difference, each of them went from being just okay in the snow with regular tires, to feeling unstoppable after putting winter tires on them.

 

In all my years of driving I’ve never encountered a set of rollers on the road.

Like I said,to repeat myself, many would find this test defective but I still found it interesting: I need more education to make my next vehicle purchase decision.

 

When you start adding in X-mode on the Subaru and Hill Descent Control, not to mention the better overall AWD system, it performs much much better than the CRV.

Even the gf acknowledges this now and asks me to drive her places instead of taking her CRV. The Forester is a joy in snow. Very controllable.

 

When you start adding in X-mode on the Subaru and Hill Descent Control, not to mention the better overall AWD system, it performs much much better than the CRV.

Even the gf acknowledges this now and asks me to drive her places instead of taking her CRV. The Forester is a joy in snow. Very controllable.

There is no question that Subaru's are superior in AWD compared to their competitors. Their symetrical AWD system is more nuanced in how it controls each wheel.. allowing each one to operate essentially independently of the others. It is one of the brands strongest selling points. As I recall, it is also full time AWD in the Subaru.

If you are going to be on rough and unimproved roads, or in snow and ice with a compact CUV... you would pick a Subaru first.

For most other road conditions, most drivers probably won't notice much difference between brands. That said.. most drivers will notice that each handles a bit differently, and that could boil down to preference and confidence.

Audi is probably the only brand with a superior system.. but I doubt it is worth the extra cost much less the maintenance expenses.

 

Gen 5's AWD is fine in my experience but Subaru's system is the best out there. I did want to get a Subraru but the wife said if I did she'd shave her head, get a bunch of tattoos, and make me listen to KD Lang nonstop. So I backed down.

 

I’m with the thinking of your wife. I can’t do a Subaru, no matter how good their AWD is. I think I can’t get past the opposed horizontal boxer engine with the upside down oil filter, or the granola stereotype.
As A teenager I owned a fwd Subaru. Biggest piece of crap merchandise I ever bought.. cars or anything. Maybe that’s the underlying reason ?

 

deleted

 

I found the commercial I was talking about earlier where the Rav4 can make it up a snowy hill but the CRV can not...

Toyota RAV4 TV Spot, 'Sorry Not Sorry' [T1]

Penning an open letter to its road rivals, the Toyota RAV4 explains that it's a stickler for traction, which is why it won't be giving up its first place award for its ability to navigate snow-covered hills any time soon. It explains that in AMCI testing, the 2019 RAV4 Adventure was certified to...

ispot.tv

 

Cool ad and at least a bit more real world than the Range Rover ad where someone’s driving their RR around Moab...

 

The Toyota video is a little misleading because they are testing with their adventure package. This package has it's own unique AWD system with various modes and a better torque vectoring system when compared to the standard RAV4 AWD.
The more realistic test would be a comparison between the CRV and RAV4 without the adventure package.

 

This site does a diagonal test and I think the CR-V and Subaru were both great.