Experts tested three popular compact SUVs—Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4—on snow-covered tracks. Here’s how they performed:
Test Parameters
- Activities: Straight-line acceleration, braking, hill climbing, and handling on unplowed roads.
- Tires: Standard all-season tires.
- Focus: Vehicle responsiveness, AWD systems, stability control, and overall confidence in snowy conditions.
Results and Rankings
1. Subaru Forester
- Performance:
- Best overall handling, acceleration, and hill-climbing ability.
- AWD system intelligently distributes power to all four wheels, maintaining momentum and control.
- Stability control allows mid-corner adjustments without being overly intrusive.
- Driving Feel: Well-balanced, confidence-inspiring.
- Verdict: The top performer, providing superior snow-handling capabilities.
2. Honda CR-V
- Performance:
- Felt more like a front-wheel-drive vehicle in snow.
- Required more driver input to maintain control, especially in curves.
- Stability control prevented spinning but reduced driver confidence.
- Driving Feel: Decent but less intuitive and predictable.
- Verdict: Adequate for snow but lacks the agility and control of the Forester.
3. Toyota RAV4
- Performance:
- AWD system struggled with responsiveness during steering and throttle inputs.
- AWD Lock feature helps temporarily but disengages at 25 mph.
- Required slowing to a crawl to handle curves safely.
- Driving Feel: Least confidence-inspiring; more prone to understeering.
- Verdict: Subpar in unplowed or challenging snow conditions.
Summing it up
Tires Matter Most: Even with AWD, using all-season tires limits performance. Winter tires significantly improve traction, braking, and cornering in snow.
AWD Systems Are Not Equal: Subaru’s AWD system stood out for its ability to adapt and maintain traction, while Honda and Toyota systems required more cautious driving.
Braking Distances: With standard tires, all three SUVs tripled their braking distance compared to dry pavement.
Advertising vs. Reality
- Subaru Commercial: Shows AWD’s strength in getting moving from a stop—accurate.
- Audi Commercial: Features spiked snow tires and additional aids not present in real-life scenarios.
- Dodge Commercial: Highlights AWD but ignores the critical role of winter tires.
Final Recommendation
For snowy conditions, the Subaru Forester is the clear winner among these SUVs, offering superior traction, stability, and overall control. However, equipping any SUV with winter tires is essential for safe driving in snow and ice.
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