1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Four wheel drive??

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Carol DiPirro, Mar 23, 2015.

  1. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2006
    365
    93
    0
    Location:
    Wales, WI
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    AWD is coming because I asked for it.
     
  2. cmth

    cmth Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2009
    279
    142
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Agree totally. AWD will add a whole new customer base to Prius especially if they don't sacrifice other good traits and price.
     
  3. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,979
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Well, an AWD Prius might start off selling like hotcakes, but after one winter with the low ground clearance allowing the ice and snow on the road to tear out all underbody plastic, I don't think the enthusiasm would continue. I suspect the new Hybrid RAV4 will suffer from the same problem. Most car manufacturers have to lower their vehicles to improve mileage, and they have to improve mileage by Govt. mandate.

    Invest in the company making the underbody plastic bits!
     
  4. cmth

    cmth Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2009
    279
    142
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    AWD means different things to different people. Compared to Gen 3, if Gen 4 gets AWD that will give an edge in wet cold weather handling on frozen and icy roads. Whether it has the ground clearance to go on deep snow is another issue.
     
  5. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2014
    1,584
    257
    0
    Location:
    Ocala, FL
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Maybe. Often I have thought that 4WD/AWD really isn't a good thing for most average drivers.......when it starts to snow or ice over and the 4WD SUVs are the first ones to run off the road into the ditch..........because they can go faster but stopping really isn't any better.
    OVERCONFIDENT.
     
    drash likes this.
  6. drash

    drash Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2005
    2,439
    1,216
    0
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Even as much snow as we get from lake effect here, the roads are usually plowed. Not always clear, usually slush or ice is still on the road and this past winter a lot of incomplete thawing, but mostly plowed by the time I go to work. The AWD will help with ice and slush, particularly with uphill climbs and frozen over intersections. Since the cutoff speed for the rumored AWD is 35mph it won't be an issue with using it for higher speed driving. It'll help with low speed control more than anything.
     
  7. bigcwill

    bigcwill Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2009
    56
    20
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II

    Nice work bro!
     
    krmcg likes this.
  8. Carol DiPirro

    Carol DiPirro Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2012
    24
    47
    0
    Location:
    New Hampshire
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I'll be curious to see what they come out with. I emailed them years ago.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there are detailed threads here, and independent testing videos.
     
  10. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,014
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It was revealed at the LA Auto Show last month.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.