Tangerine

Are they the same? As in the speed they stop working, their bias, their torque transfer etc.

I'm looking at the Matrix, Highlander, Rav4, RX330, RX350, GS300, GS350. If anyone has input on those please feel free

Och

iTrader: (3)

They are all different, GS/IS are rwd biased, and vice versa for the rest.

Don't hold me to it, but I believe all of them are open diffs front and back.

Then you have LC/LX/GX/4runner, which are truck chassis, I believe they all let you lock the center diff, have LSD in the rear and open front. I also believe older versions of these let you lock rear as well, but not anymore.

And of course you also have the hybrids which are a whole different setup, depending on the models. Some wheels are powered by gas engine, some by electric motors. I'm not sure whether electric motors power the wheels directly or if its still done through the transmission. Hope that helps.

RXSF

I dont really have much to add.

I only know that on the old RX models, it was full time awd, but on the new one (and the Rav4 and highlander), they rear wheels do not kick in until the front tires slip.

As for the hybrids, its goes the same way except they are powered by the 3rd electric motor so there is no actual linkage between engine and rear wheels

Och

iTrader: (3)

So the electric motors drive the wheels directly? I wonder how they react to speed differences during turns, slippage, etc. It's all gotta be computer controlled, and I don't know if I trust these as much as a mechanical differential.

Tangerine

Thanks for the infos.

I found out that the IS/GS are 40:60 (front:rear). And that the RX330/350 are 100% front wheel drive until slip is detected. Wasn't able to find the amount of torque bias though. If anyone has any more information in particular to the Rav4, RX330/350 or the Highlander let me know.

LexFather

Funny drove the 400h AWD today for the first time in bad conditions, she drove well, AWD kicked in quite a few times. It did feel "electronic".

IS/GS are actually 30/70 until slippage is detected.

lucasb7

You are mostly correct on the RX lineup.

The 04-09 RX employes a more full time AWD solution, with some power going to all wheels at all times. There was a change in differential in 2006-7 when they moved to the 3.5 liter. I was never able to get a real answer about the differences between those differentials. From what I can tell, the 04-06 uses a more open diff and traction control brakes individual wheels to push power to the wheels with traction while the 07-09 uses a more mechanical solution.

The 2010-present RX350 (and most recent RAV4) employes their "active torque control" AWD that maintains 100:0 unless it senses slip or instability. It can then transfer anywhere from 0-50% of the power to the rear. It also has a button that allows you to lock it to 50:50 split at speeds under 25mph.

Tangerine

Ah, thanks for the info. Would you happen to have any more info regarding the 2nd generation RX? Like the torque transfer, what speed AWD stops/starts working etc

lucasb7

I was never able to gather more information than what I already posted. I will say that the 07-09 should show an improvement from what I've read. The AWD on my 05 works pretty well in the snow and on gravel though. I did get it stuck to an extent where traction control wasn't braking the proper wheel and I had to throw some sticks and rocks under my slipping tire but that was all!

To my knowledge there is some power going to all the wheels at all times. There is no speed based switchover. I don't know torque split.