Why get AWD?

The couple snows we get here in Portland is enough to justify AWD. They do not plow or salt and the side streets can have snow for a few days more after the main roads get clear. I live on a hill and even with chains it would be nice to spread the torque around to avoid wheel spin. This is the climb up the hill to my house last winter during one of our 4 or 5 good snow falls in my 2012 Mazda 3 and it is 16% grade in some spots.
https://youtu.be/w0cbNQUAzz8
 
Very Clevelandesque. Same here. 4 or 5 major snowfalls. I live in a side street that rareky gets plowed. My street ends onto a main Street and there's often a nice mound of snow blocking it. That was no problem in my all seasons and added ground clearance this past year. Of course, last year was real mild. Only had 2 major events. Expecting this year to be horrific aka normal.
 
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