That's an excellent point. You usually don't see that kind of embarrassing performance in the snow with the Subaru Symmetrical AWD systems or the (older) Audi Quattros, although the new Quattro systems are markedly different from before....torque only on demand.

 

I've gotten stuck with my 2011 RX. Only the front wheels spun so I started to wonder if the dealer sold me a front wheel drive version instead.

 

Easy way to tell. If you have a differential lock then you have an AWD version. If its a blank then you have FWD. (Next to traction off button)

 

depending on what you need them for, they work fine. Even in Hybrids, which have really only small e-power in the rear, you can go through normal winter problems.
But if you live in area where you have to climb some snow banks like they do in testing, obviously these cheap cuvs with part time wont do well.

Heck I was fine on my IS220d RWD this winter on a mountain, even with some uncleared roads, it required some managment on the uphill but nothing out of ordinary.

 

Or, just simply look under the car and see if there is a fore/aft driveshaft and rear-differential going to the rear wheels. That's the most foolproof way of all, though stooping or bending down that low can be difficult for some people.

 

lmao yeah ok tell that to the poor old lady who has to get down on her hands and feet to look at the undercarriage and has no clue what she's looking at, when one could simply peer though the window or open the door to see if the car has the locking diff. (applicable to the Lexus RX we're talking about)

 

Well, that's why I said it would be difficult for some people. I wasn't implying that an 80-year old woman should do it....in fact, most of the time, I'm glad to help out older people myself, even though I'm no spring chicken.

But you also have a flaw in your argument. An old person with bad eyesight and/or limited auto-knowledge is not likely to know what a differential-lock switch or drive-mode **** is, either.

 

Which is why I said it was applicable to the RX and the member who asked about it

 

I know I was just pointing out how useless these supposed AWD systems are.

 

I agree, mixed in with the prior gen's front end.

 

 

That looks slick.

 

The back reminds me of the Rogue.

 

Doesn't it look like the production version of the FT-AC concept which i thought is going to be an all new vehicle positioned between the Rav4 and Highlander / 4runner ?

If this how the new Rav4 ends up looking i will be impressed !

 

Shove the V6 back in there!!!!!! This being quite a few hundred pounds lighter than the Highlander, it will totally rock!