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Dodge Journey

Most luxury cars these days come standard with advanced all-wheel-drive (AWD) technology. Yep, AWD now comes standard or as an option in more and more affordable cars, CUVs and SUVs.

There are actually several reasons to consider AWD in your next new car purchase. Generally, AWD vehicles give you better safety and handling as well as the ability to drive in more inclement weather situations.

And, if you can afford AWD as well as advanced braking systems like electronic stability control (ESC), you should consider it. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates ESC will reduce crashes by as much as 34% (59% for SUVs with a great reduction in rollovers), saving between 5,000-9,000 lives and prevent around 200,000 injuries (once all light vehicles on the road are equipped with ESC).

Some car companies like Subaru are known for putting its super advanced AWD on all models. In fact, AWD has been a standard feature on American-made Subaru vehicles since 1996. Perhaps that is why Subaru is the top-selling car brand in the state of Alaska and some Alaskans are known to be die-hard Subaru enthusiasts.

So, what really is AWD and why do you need it? With his technology, all four wheels receive torque from the engine simultaneously, allowing each tire to rotate at different speeds. Independent tire rotation improves a vehicle’s overall handling and stability, making it useful in rain, snow and dry pavement.

AWD is not 4WD and it is not advised to take AWD vehicles out on unpaved roads, in mud or in deep snow. AWD systems are also not always in full AWD mode. In fact, AWD vehicles drive most of the time just as any front-wheel-drive car. With advanced AWD technology, however, engine power automatically goes to the rear wheels when the front wheels begin to slip.

The least expensive AWD vehicle in the U.S. car market today is the five-seat hatchback Suzuki SX4 Crossover. Priced at around $16,000, the Suzuki SX4 Crossover comes standard with a three-mode AWD system. What does this mean? The drive can choose between 2WD, 4WD Lock or 4WD Auto. In 4WD lock mode, the wheel lock together for low gear driving in snow, ice, sand and mud). The 4WD Auto mode is more versatile, allowing the driver to push power to all four wheels for extra safety and performance.

AWD comes standard or as an option on most luxury models from Audi, Volvo, Acura, Lexus, BMW, Lincoln, Infiniti, Cadillac, Porsche, VW and Mercedes-Benz.

Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Read more from Sheryll Alexander at Driving Smart.

From the “you knew this was coming” tales, Chrysler Group LLC has announced that for all 2010 model year vehicles, it will eliminate bulky owner’s manuals made out of paper and replace them with a more earth-friendly (and glove box friendly) digital version stored on a DVD. Chrysler says this move will save 930 tons of paper (the equivalent of 20,000 trees) each year, but we think it will also help free up some valuable storage space normally taken up by the bulky paper manuals. We could also argue that with no hybrids in its current lineup, this latest step is about the extent of the green technology available at Chrysler.

On even the most basic car available on the market, an owner’s manual can easily push 500 pages, but on some of the models we’ve seen equipped with rear seat entertainment systems, navigation systems or hands-free voice-recognition systems, the page count can easily surpass 1,000 in multiple books. As pictured above in the 2009 Dodge Journey SXT we reviewed earlier this year, the owner’s manual packet takes up most of the space in the lower glove box. An added benefit to the digital manuals is the fact that the DVDs will also offer video tutorials on certain models with more complex features such as the Jeep Wrangler soft top or the rear seat entertainment system on the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. The switch from paper to plastic will not only help save trees and space, but it will also make finding specific information much easier by allowing for a centralized search tool instead of having to flip though the multiple manuals and their table of contents.

"As vehicles have increased in complexity, so has the size of traditional owners' manuals," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO – Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. "With this new approach, we are making it much more convenient for customers to find the information they seek."

Despite the DVD, Chrysler will not totally abandon all paper consumption as it will offer a smaller (60-80 page) manual for tasks that must be searched quickly without having to head to a computer and pop in a DVD. The supplemental manual will give owners a quick reference for emergency situations such as jump starting a dead battery or changing a tire, but it will also provide instructions for operating basic vehicle functions such as windshield wipers, power seat adjustments and the climate control and navigation systems.

The new DVD owner’s manual will be standard on all 2010 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles starting next month. For those who still fear technology, or would just like to have a paper owner’s manual for some reason, Chrysler will still make a traditional manual available by request through a dealership or their toll-free customer service center.

Select photos by Jeffrey N. Ross