Isn’t AWD The Answer?
We are often asked whether all-wheel-drive is a necessity in Quebec in winter.
To begin at the beginning, what do we mean by “all-wheel-drive”? An AWD vehicle is one in which the power produced by the engine is applied to the road by all four wheels. In other words, when the driver accelerates, all four wheels are pushing.
The other possibilities are rear-wheel- drive (RWD) and front-wheel-drive (FWD).
What does winter have to with all this? The fact is that all systems are not equal. While RWD vehicles are considered sportier, FWD vehicles are considered safer when the weather turns ugly. It’s a matter of physics; if FWD cars have a weakness, it’s that they tend to understeer – or plough straight ahead – in an emergency, while RWD vehicles are more likely to go into a spin.
Vehicles with four driven wheels do not have these weaknesses. They are usually more stable, and under acceleration there is less wheelspin.
In snowy conditions, yes, this is definitely helpful. AWD vehicles do indeed accelerate better in snow, and are more stable in a straight line.
After all, though, our parents and their parents survived countless winters driving large RWD vehicles with no electronic aids at all. AWD is nice to have in winter, but it’s not indispensable. It makes life easier, but will never replace vigilance, caution and good driving skills.