Mazda AWD is it real AWD or just sales marketing?

[RomanKuzmik]

Take a look at 'Subaru AWD vs Competition' Video at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162

It is very interesting to hear any thoughts about Mazda AWD. Will it stuck just like Murano in similar situation?

Here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=786139873491896591&q=mazda+CX-7 you can see some interesting info about CX-7 original AWD.

[Shaz]

Great videos you provided there. Makes me feel good about purchasing the car. So who's ready to race me? LOL

[Killer]

FWD biased AWD

[Nutari]

it honestly seems like a biased study.

[Nutari]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1208694462303314473

that truly impresses me. Being able to turn your car into either FWD, AWD or RWD. DAMN!

[~JoJo~]

damn...i cute blonde that can drive....damn....

[Infymus]

I've had EIGHT Subarus since 1992, and their AWD system is teh fuxxor. In my 1994 Subaru, I had two wheels in mud, and two wheels on dirt. The two wheels in mud spun out and I had to rock back and forth to get out.

My 2002 WRX, two wheels on dry pavement, two on ice. The two on ice sat and spun until I had to back up off the driveway.

My 2004 Outback VDC - top of the line with "VDC has AWD, traction control, vehicle skid control, variable torque distribution" did the same thing. Two wheels on pavement, two in snow, the two in snow spun out and I had to spin and spin until one of the two in snow finally hit pavement.

My 2005 Legacy GT Wagon, same damn thing.

Subaru lies, their AWD is wheels that GRIP to the wheels that SLIP.

I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.

[chuyler1]

Those are some interesting tests. How is it that the other manufacturers never tried it with their AWD systems? The Nissan with the CVT was shocking. However, the fact that this is a Subaru promotional video makes me skeptical.

[koala]

I've had EIGHT Subarus since 1992, and their AWD system is teh fuxxor..

Why have you owned eight subaru's if their AWD system was crap? You'd think you would have learned after two or three of them (thumb)

[dracore]

What do you guys think about the SH-AWD on the acura rdx/mdx?

they really push that in a lot of their marketing material

[AWmustang]

I've had EIGHT Subarus since 1992, and their AWD system is teh fuxxor. In my 1994 Subaru, I had two wheels in mud, and two wheels on dirt. The two wheels in mud spun out and I had to rock back and forth to get out.

My 2002 WRX, two wheels on dry pavement, two on ice. The two on ice sat and spun until I had to back up off the driveway.

My 2004 Outback VDC - top of the line with "VDC has AWD, traction control, vehicle skid control, variable torque distribution" did the same thing. Two wheels on pavement, two in snow, the two in snow spun out and I had to spin and spin until one of the two in snow finally hit pavement.

My 2005 Legacy GT Wagon, same damn thing.

Subaru lies, their AWD is wheels that GRIP to the wheels that SLIP.

I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.

The traction control system is designed to prevent wheel slip. In some cases there isn't enough traction to move the vehicle without a little (or a lot) of wheel slip. That's why there is an off button for the traction control. Just don't spin the wheels too fast. At 20 MPH (approx) the Traction control automatically turns back on.

[Mazda3]

I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.

This is because of the crap tires the CX-7 comes with. I have Nokian WR tires on mine and I would have no problem climbing your driveway. Also try turning the traction control off.

Check my post half way down this page for info on the AWD system.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123660927&page=2

[Brian MP5T]

Good Vids..

[chuyler1]

All I know is that I was able to blow away a FWD toyota camry and keep up with a Nissan Xterra in my Mazdaspeed6. It was sleeting out and there was about 3" of slippery sloppy slush on the ground and we were heading up a steep incline. It was enough to induce 4 wheel slippage (running on stock tires which aren't even designed for snow). The back end got a little squirrelly but the speed6 made the grade. I left the camry and several other cars in the dust. By the time I reached the top of the hill they hadn't moved 100ft.

So if the CX-7 AWD is anything like the MS6 AWD I would say it works just fine.

[Xenon Expert]

The traction control system is designed to prevent wheel slip. In some cases there isn't enough traction to move the vehicle without a little (or a lot) of wheel slip. That's why there is an off button for the traction control. Just don't spin the wheels too fast. At 20 MPH (approx) the Traction control automatically turns back on.


Absolutely correct.

[Xenon Expert]

Those are some interesting tests. How is it that the other manufacturers never tried it with their AWD systems? The Nissan with the CVT was shocking. However, the fact that this is a Subaru promotional video makes me skeptical.


That video http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162 was actually used with their sales reps. It was financed and made for Subaru. Of course it will say that Subaru has the best system.

[Antonio DiMarco]

...I don't know where to start.

A couple of observations:

You can't trust the voice over. Note that "he" leads many of the comparisons. Stating that one driver had more trouble with one car over the other is subjective since none of us are sitting with the driver to assess difficulty or if the driver is drving the competitive car as well as the Subaru.

Tires. All wheel drive is a nice feature, but if the tires are crap then AWD is useless. For example we don't know if the Sub's had more aggressive tread then the competition: i.e. did the Volvo loose control because of bad engineering or shitty tires?

If you look closely the sub had issues with the uphill roller test. The announcer covers it up by leading the audience with a "positve outcome."

Personally that voice over drove me crazy. (bang) I wanted to strangle him(dark)

Moral of the story. Never trust Marketing :-)


Take a look at 'Subaru AWD vs Competition' Video at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162

It is very interesting to hear any thoughts about Mazda AWD. Will it stuck just like Murano in similar situation?

Here
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=786139873491896591&q=mazda+CX-7 you can see some interesting info about CX-7 original AWD.

[Infymus]

Why have you owned eight subaru's if their AWD system was crap? You'd think you would have learned after two or three of them (thumb)

Because I like pain? Subaru makes great cars, and for the most part, getting through the snow and rain it works very well. Plus if I hadn't, you wouldn't have been able to make your comment.

[lllateralus]

I have played with our CX-7s AWD on a dirt hill. (just for curiositys sake)

We did get the rear wheels to spin trying to climb a semi-sideways off camber hill. There is deff. power going to the rear wheels, as I saw sticking my head out the open door looking at the left rear wheel spin when I nailed it.

[SuperStretch18]

...I don't know where to start.

A couple of observations:

You can't trust the voice over. Note that "he" leads many of the comparisons. Stating that one driver had more trouble with one car over the other is subjective since none of us are sitting with the driver to assess difficulty or if the driver is drving the competitive car as well as the Subaru.

Tires. All wheel drive is a nice feature, but if the tires are crap then AWD is useless. For example we don't know if the Sub's had more aggressive tread then the competition: i.e. did the Volvo loose control because of bad engineering or shitty tires?

If you look closely the sub had issues with the uphill roller test. The announcer covers it up by leading the audience with a "positve outcome."

Personally that voice over drove me crazy. (bang) I wanted to strangle him(dark)

Moral of the story. Never trust Marketing :-)

Nice points Antonio! I especially agree with your point about the tires. I think in general, most people underestimate the impact that tires have on any car's performance (braking, acceleration, maneuvering, all of the above)! It cracks me up to see people putting money into tower and sway bars, only to throw no name rims and tires on!

Being in advertising though, I disagree with your point on Marketing and pass the blame onto sales. (drinks)

[lllateralus]

Just be careful with subaru trannies......

http://www.lovehorsepower.com/Videos/STiBroke.wmv

[Antonio DiMarco]

Nice points Antonio! I especially agree with your point about the tires. I think in general, most people underestimate the impact that tires have on any car's performance (braking, acceleration, maneuvering, all of the above)! It cracks me up to see people putting money into tower and sway bars, only to throw no name rims and tires on!

Being in advertising though, I disagree with your point on Marketing and pass the blame onto sales. (drinks)

Funny I got the same reaction from a gentlamn at work the other day when I made a similar comment (not auto related). I'm on the engineering side so you'll have to forgive my shortsightedness :-)

It is so true though. You got these guys going out and spending a ton on horsepower and extra suspension bits and then they go any buy cheap CAST22 inch alloys with the cheapest "high performance" tire around.

I remember many years ago my Mazda dealer at the time told me about this kid who had a protege and spent about $3000 on tires and rims (20 inch if I remember with a 40 series profile. The kids was drag racing down a secondary road and hit one of those 2 inch steel plates they put over construstion "holes" in the road. He blew out all 4 tires and bent 3 out of the 4 rims. I thought it was funny as hell.

[Dalton]

[QUOTE=RomanKuzmik]Take a look at 'Subaru AWD vs Competition' Video at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162

I mean the phrase "with little effort" subary clears the ramp - sounded way too optimistic.
Both subarus did struggle almost the same as Volvo and Passat. (scratch)

I do agree that Subaru makes the best AWD systems - but i do no not agree that those other contenders looked so bad on those tests - in some occaisons it seemed that other cars where driven diffently - 5:45 volvo for example etc. etc.

Also at 8:00 - the phrase "but the Volvo certainly needs to work harder" sound stupid? (kissass)

[tiwing]

plus you can clearly see in climbing that ramp that the subarus both have the rear wheels on the solid part when they first start moving, giving some momentum to the whole trial. On the wet course the driver obviously pushed the competitors cars harder and with a scandanavian flick style manoeuver caused theback end to come out, especially in the volvo wagon... and even during the hillclimb the voiceover said "of course, the drivers are subaru sales people..."

interesting video for sure. but totally biased.

[almightybmw]

no rear lsd, no front lsd, only a center. 2 wheel spin. junk. my 90 4wd protege does better. never been inpressed with subs awd, over hyped.

[chuyler1]

Are you talking about the CX-7 almightybmw?

Well, at least the MS6 has a rear LSD and will max out at 50% front and 50% rear. So if you get a single front tire to slip at least each of your rear tires will eventually get 25% of the power to keep you moving.

[AWmustang]

I think he was talking about Subaru's system.

According to edmunds the CX-7 also has the rear LSD

[dmitrik4]

I haven't been able to do the same test with my CX7 yet, but once the snow flies again here, I will if I can. The only thing I have noticed is when the driveway (and my driveway is a serious % grade), is when I went up it with at least six inches of snow, the CX7 bogged down in all four wheels slipping, the slip "light" came on, and it wouldn't go forward anymore. I'm pushing the gas, but the car won't go forward like it knows it can't. So I had to back up, and gun it up the hill and then I made it.

Once I can clear half the driveway off and try it, I'll see how the AWD stands up.

as others have mentioned, that's strictly a tire issue.

i was impressed w/ the AWD's work in the snow; for what it's really meant to do (provide all-weather traction, not mud rallying), it's fine.