So you are planning to buy a new SUV, watching several reviews on YouTube, you may have shortlisted few SUVs offering all-wheel drive (AWD) or 4 Wheel drive (4WD) powertrain. No doubt AWD or 4WD are highly engineered vehicles loaded with great features like multiple driving modes.
If you love off-roading adventures, climbing a steep hill or you stay in a place where you have to face snow, sand and mud daily; you should definitely pick 4WD/AWD SUV but what about other buyers? Do they really need it? Let’s understand why they should avoid buying AWD or 4WD SUV.
Aesthetic
Though SUVs come with all size and shapes but they all look the same. They are bulky box shaped wagons with rear door like a hatchback car, big wheels and big front profile. They don’t have too many colour choices; they are mostly offered in Black, Silver and White. Though manufactures tried to offer facelift version with occasional fresh designs, colour and dimension but still SUVs’ designs are boring. A big Black SUV with 22-inch alloy wheels will never beat elegant or stylist of pure Grand Turismo coupe or a luxury sedan. 4WD/AWD comes with only one or maximum two variants so there are not many options available in market.
Worse Fuel Economy
AWD & 4WD cars are bulky and hence heavier compared to 2WD driver cars. Curb weight of Toyota Fortuner is more than 2 MT where as curb weight of Skoda Octavia is close to 1.5 MT that extra mass ultimately results in poor fuel economy. Not only that AWD/4WD SUVs have to send power to all four wheels which means SUV need extra power that consumed more fuel than simple 2WD (2 Wheel Drive) Cars. Simple Powertrain of 2WD cars offer better fuel economy. AWD/4WD SUVs are complex vehicles. AWD/4WD are less fuel efficient than their 2WD counterparts as extra power and weight of AWD/4WD systems consume more fuel.
They are expensive
AWD & 4WD cars are bulky and hence heavier compared to 2WD driver cars. Curb weight of Toyota Fortuner is more than 2 MT where as curb weight of Skoda Octavia is close to 1.5 MT that extra mass ultimately results in poor fuel economy. Not only that AWD/4WD SUVs have to send power to all four wheels which means SUV need extra power that consumed more fuel than simple 2WD (2 Wheel Drive) Cars. Simple Powertrain of 2WD cars offer better fuel economy. AWD/4WD SUVs are complex vehicles. AWD/4WD are less fuel efficient than their 2WD counterparts as extra power and weight of AWD/4WD systems consume more fuel.
High maintenance
As your SUV gets old it will demand more maintenance compared to simple front wheel or rear wheel drive cars. Brand new car buyers can definitely opt for AWD/4WD SUVs with extended warranties but those who are considering used cars should keep in mind that complex system demands high maintenance cost in future. 4WD/AWD tyres wear faster compared to 2WD.
Safety
People thinks that big bulky cars mean safer cars which is understandable to some extent. Unless SUV is crashed with micro car or hatchback, SUVs are safe however unsafe part is its higher ground clearance which make SUVs more vulnerable to rollovers. Though SUVs have ESC (Electronic Stability Control) but electronic systems have their own limitation and no system can beat simple physics.
Before you put any comment, lets us clarify that extra mass of SUVs is great in passive safety but braking distance to make a complete stop increases due to that extra weight. Lighter vehicles can stop faster than bulky SUVs.
High seating position of SUVs provide good visibility over the long hood but at same time small objects, kids and pedestrians directly in front of SUVs are not visible and creates big visibility problem. Larger, higher and bulkier vehicles could trap pedestrian underneath bonnet or rear boot instead of pushing them over the hood.
Culture
SUVs were initially offered to army to drive through rough terrain and jungles. They used to offer without any luxuries but with powerful engines and rugged AWD/4WD systems. In India; we don’t have culture of off-roading, nobody takes their 4WD SUVs to off-roading. Today we have same brand and offering same SUV for completely different purpose. Modern SUVs have become family cars. In India SUVs are bought purely for show off. Daily commuting in an AWD/4WD in city is not practical. In fact, driving an 4WD/AWD SUV in traffic is cumbersome.
AWD/4WD may cause overconfidence in drivers that leads to more dangerous situation. SUVs are killing passenger car market industry by killing diversity of modern car market.
Environment
AWD/4WD SUVs are fuel thirsty vehicles. They have huge engines and these big engines requires higher fuel consumption that ultimately equals higher air pollution. AWD/4WD SUVs have lowest fuel economy among all car classes which makes them real enemy of environment.
Our advice to new cars buyers’ is always understand you needs of everyday life and also understand budget and then shortlist the cars. You should pick AWD/4WD features only if it is at most required in everyday life.