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Chevrolet Equinox AWD in snow?
I just bought a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox AWD. Can anyone tell how well these vehicles travel in snow?
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I'm really happy with how the Equinox handled the snow and ICE. It was very sure footed. Note that you still have to use caution when driving, but not once in all of that snow did the Equinox ever go sideways. When pulling out from a stop sign (where the street had snow covered ice) the front wheels initially slipped but the car didn't go sideways. It was at first strange, because when the front initially spun I expected the car to go sideways. But with the AWD the Equinox's back end just pushed it straight.
Corning in snow the Equinox very sure footed. With the AWD and higher ground clearance, the Equinox is a very good SUV for snow. Even in an ICE storm, I felt comfortable driving it; the 07's also have stability control standard which helps. The four wheel disk and anti-lock breaks (standard in 07) are also a huge plus on snow and ICE.
The Equinox is the best winter car (?) that I've ever had; it's also my first SUV. Over all, because of the price, interior space, performance and snow characteristics, the Equinox is one of the best cars (?) that I've ever owned (The other being an '84 Honda Prelude - which may seem strange at first. But both cars(?) performed exactly as I wanted them to)
4WD is where the front and rear axles are directly connected through the transfer case all of the time mechanically. Usually believe it or not with a chain in the transfer case. True 4WD systems cannot be operated in 4WD on hard surfaces. Having both axles physically joined together on hard surfaces is no bueno. It causes a lot of stress on the transfer case and differentials. I have personally seen transfer cases fail in less than 100 miles of being operated on paved surfaces. That is why there is a lever on the floor of pickups or some SUV's to manually engage the transfer case.
What about the new pickups and SUV's that have push button selection of AWD, 4WD, Center Differential Lock or 4WD Low? In normal mode AWD it's just like the Equinox, ready to split power to whichever axle needs it. In 4WD & 4WD Low it physically connects the two axles together to provide you with constant power to both axles providing the maximum amount of traction and control.
Which is better? From a pure technical standpoint true 4WD is always better than AWD. Your front and rear axles are physically connected but you can't operate on hard surfaces. So although this doesn't apply to the Equinox because you don't have a choice if you have a vehicle that allows you to select your drive mode leave it in AWD until the road becomes snow, ice, mud etc.. covered then select 4WD or Center Differential Lock. This will give you the maximum amount of traction available.
Sorry this is so verbose, but there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there.