I'm flabbergasted. I drove my RX G3 through the last winter in Saskatchewan with the stock tires that had 30% tread life left and it performed like a champ. Crunchy 4 inch high snow was no issue. Iced highways were no issue. I drove it through 80 kilometers of a highway that was about to be closed due to road ice and slush and it held up. Sorry to bump an old thread, this thread was a search result from a search for diff locks and I thought I'd chime in with my experience.

 

 

Once you know how the power is distributed in a vehicle, one can design a test to hi light the weakness.

I would say understand the limitation of your vehicle and do not put yourself and your passengers in a risky situation where you will be stranded. In all honesty, expect that there will be other on the street who may think that they are in an invisible vehicle ... so be safe and stay at home in adverse conditions.

Salim

 

Well golly, those traction test videos are a bit disappointing to see!
It recently started snowing in my area. My 13 RX350 is my first AWD car. All of my prior experience with 4wd has been traditional 4x4 systems, like longitudinal drivetrain, manual hubs or center disconnect front axles. I thought RX handled the snow and ice extremely well compared to my old 4x4 vehicles.

 

My 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6R is the best snow vehicle we have ever owned (we have been driving since 1969). It runs circles around my wife's two previous AWD Lexus vehicles (a 2000 RX300 and a 2004 RX330). No point to even trying to compare it to her current 2015 RX350 FWD. That vehicle stays home when the snow flies while the Outback handles anything the weather can throw at it.

 

We also have a outback and it great at climbing because it was designed AROUND the AWD drivetrain. Most AWD vehicles like the RX is mostly FWD and the AWD system was added later and thus loses power through the drivetrain. It also does not have a center differential that can distribute power efficiently to all four wheels like the GX and other systems like Audi quattro.

With that said, the true AWD system like the Subaru will be good at climbing hills and such like in this test. But the most important element of driving in the snow is not go but stopping and cornering capabilities. This will be accomplished through good tires. True snow tires such as the blizzak and x-ice. It is the most important investment in winter safety. We have nokian wrg3 on the outback which can stay on 12 months of the year. They are a little louder when they wear but keep them rotated and is a good compromise.

For those of you hunting for better winter performance out of your RX and IF you want maximum safety and it snows a lot in the winter where you live, invest in an extra set of Rims and get snow tires. They will last 4-5 seasons and it is a night and day difference in handling and stopping in the snow. Trust me it will be a lot cheaper to invest in rims and tires than to sell the RX and buy a GX or X5. The RX will handle better in the snow with winter tires than an X5 with stock all seasons or an GX for that matter. Purchase a set of WS-80's on your RX for those of you wanting better snow performance and report back. You will be amazed at the difference.

 

I was very pleased with the winter performance of my RX350. Last winter, we experienced lake effect snow storms and the polar vortex.
I never got stuck, the car never hesitated. I use all season tires but I enable the "snow mode" when there is snow on the ground.

 

This. +100

 

How does AWD differ in the 450h compared to the 350?

 

The 450h rear wheels are powered exclusively by a tractive motor. There is no mechanical connection to the engine. As far as how it actually operates from a driving standpoint, I don't have enough practical experience to comment.

Jeff

 

when I go up to the mountains (with snow and mud and stuff), I take my 250K miles old Gen 1 AWD RX with a real transfer case and center diff. (the test below is from a Gen 4 hybrid but the traction motor size and battery size are same or similar, I heard)

 

if it were the tires, wouldn't the rear wheels have also spun ?

 

curious. would not gradually applying the brakes cause a tractive effort pushed to the non-spinning wheel(s) ?

 

Anyone complaining about the snow capability either doesn't know how to drive in the snow or are on summer or all season tires.

I have good winter tires on my RX450h 2011. and I also live in the snowiest town in Canada. I currently have 4 feet sitting in my backyard. The roads in town in winter are usually ice, slush, compact snow, fresh snow and / or a mix . I have no problem getting around town even up n down hills. Meanwhile watching 2 cars on my street spinning out in ice and a tour bus downtown spinning out. I use snow mode and manual CVT 2-4

We also have some of the most hellish mountain passes to content with if you want to leave town.

 

some of us have a more basic issue . . . some wheels spinning while others do not. THAT is not a rubber issue.