Ask any Subaru dealer why their customers keep coming back for one Subaru after another, and you’ll hear one answer above all others: symmetrical all-wheel drive. Subaru’s take on AWD has given drivers confidence and performance on the road for decades. But how does it actually work?
1. It’s Not Like The Other Guys’
Subaru’s SAWD technology holds one key difference from most other companies’ All-Wheel Drive (AWD) offerings: symmetry. Some “all-wheel drive” offerings on the market are actually front-wheel drive vehicles most of the time. Their “all-wheel drive” mode only activates once the vehicle detects one wheel starting to lose traction.
By contrast, Subaru’s all-wheel drive is symmetrical, meaning that all four wheels are engaged, all the time. This gives significant advantages in stability, traction, and cornering. It also means there’s no lag waiting for the system to engage.
2. It’s Not Just for Bad Weather
Sure, Subaru’s SAWD technology rightfully makes the brand a legend in places with difficult climates and tough terrain because of the obvious advantages in traction on icy, slippery, or rainy roads. But the use of SAWD technology provides benefits even when the road is bone-dry.
Traction loss is a fundamental cause of two common cornering problems: oversteer, where the nose of the car veers too far into a turn, or understeer, in which the nose doesn’t turn far enough into a curve. SAWD instantly transfers power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip, helping to minimize and even correct both oversteer and understeer. That translates into more precise turns, higher driver confidence, and a better connection between the driver and the road.
3. X-Mode Takes it To Another Level
When the going gets tough, the tough engage X-Mode. X-Mode is an electronic system on most Subaru models designed for situations where more torque and power might be needed, like descending a steep and icy hill, driving on an unploughed highway, or trying to get going on a muddy and unpaved road. X-Mode uses the same sensors as the AWD system, but impacts more than just power distribution.
When engaged, X-Mode helps ensure the engine delivers torque gradually rather than suddenly to prevent wheel spin on slippery surfaces. On descents, X-Mode forces the transmission to remain in lower gear to prevent over-acceleration. It also enhances Limited-Slip Differential control, meaning that braking is applied much faster and only to the wheels that need it most.
Come in for a test drive at Sunset Hills Subaru in Sunset Hills, MO and experience SAWD for yourself.
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