The Benefits of All Wheel Drive (AWD)

You've heard the saying "Power is nothing without control." This is true for cars, SUV's, CUV's and trucks. We'll stick with cars for now. More specifically compact cars. I will refer to cars such as the Subaru WRX/STI and the Mitsubishi EVO/Ralliart.
Both the WRX/STI and the EVO/Ralliart employ AWD as their method of transferring power to the road from the engine. Why? Both manufactures use high horsepower (HP) turbo charged engines that are developed for Rally style racing. In Rally racing, grip is very important. Rally cars typically have 300hp and are AWD. Races are run on dirt roads, tarmac and roads covered in snow and/or ice at speeds of up to 120mph! Tell me you would want anything other than AWD in those conditions?
AWD lets you attain levels of grip most Front Wheel Drive (FWD) and Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) cars cannot match. AWD lets the power shift to the front wheels, rear wheels, left wheels or right wheels or all of the wheels when needed. FWD only drives the front wheels and most FWD cars do not have a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) to control the power. The same goes for RWD. LSD's are usually reserved for sports cars or luxury cars. The typical Honda Civic or Toyota Camry does not have a LSD. Cars such as the Honda S2000 or BMW M3 will have them, but they are specialized cars that are marketed to enthusiasts.
Cars such as the Subaru WRX/STI, Legacy GT/Outback and the Mitsubishi EVO/Ralliart come standard with AWD that employ 3 differentials! One each in the front, middle and rear for superior control in normal highway driving or driving on a race track to driving in the snow or off road. These cars are known for their performance and economical price points, even when equipped with the AWD system.
Most of the time you will not need AWD unless, you live in a rural area or an area that experiences a lot of rain or snow. Once you experience the feel and control of AWD at a time you need it you will never want to drive any other type of car again. If you are thinking about replacing your FWD or RWD car take a look at the Subaru line up. They have compact cars, family sedans and CUV's all with standard Symmetrical AWD. Mitsubishi has the Lancer EVO and the Ralliart for compact sedans and the Outlander for small 7 passenger SUV needs.