Top 10 AWD CUVs for Summer and Winter Road Trips
Ratings and reviews on the top 10 AWD CUVs for summer and winter road trips. Reliable information to help you get the best deal on the vehicle you want in 2009.
All-wheel-drive (AWD) crossover utility vehicles or CUVs may be the best road trip vehicles for both summer and winter driving. Why? AWD performance gives the CUV a distinct safety advantage on summer’s windy, hot and loose highways as well as winter’s slick, slushy and icy roads.
Unfortunately, AWD vehicles are usually more expensive as they are only available on higher trim levels. Some car companies like Subaru, however, are known for putting AWD on all models. In fact, AWD has been a standard feature on American-made Subaru vehicles since 1996. Suzuki’s SX4 Crossover also comes with standard AWD.
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.
A recent study by Harris Interactive’s AutoTECHCAST found “one-third of adult vehicle owners would consider purchasing all-wheel drive (AWD) technology on their next vehicle.” This ranks AWD second in consideration among 67 unique technologies, so says the 2009 AutoTECHCAST study.
It seems American consumers are getting savvy about AWD technology as the study shows a 10 percent increase in AWD purchasers since the last AutoTECHCAST study in November 2006. In fact, 68 percent of this study’s respondents would add AWD to their new car purchase if the technology added no additional cost.
Basically, AWD technology can help you reduce the risk of car-related injuries and accidents as well as giving you better overall driving dynamics. So, are you ready to trade in your old sedan or way-too-big SUV for a fuel efficient and fun-to-drive AWD CUV?
Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Read more by Sheryll Alexander at Driving Smart.
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