All-wheel drive or front-wheel drive for a crossover, which is better?

When you come to the cardealer and say that you want to buy a crossover, one of the first questions that you will be asked is: "Full or front-wheel drive?", so what's the answer?

Initially, we are talking about the passability of the car. A rear-wheel drive (seldom and only on old car models), which has more disadvantages and has appeared the first, then the front-end drive goes, which is much better, and the last is all-wheel drive(4WD), whose task is to improve the passing ability to the maximum.

Four-wheel drive is a common thing for large cars, where it can have permanent connection and, as well it is common for economy class automobiles (category C and D), where the connection, can be rigid too (only when the front wheels spin), but in both cases, all-wheel drive is necessary to improve the passability.

Forward connection for today is simple, versatile and durable. There is no need in the great number of transmission fluids. Checking and replacing the anther front-wheel drive requires after 80 000 km, and the crossover high and premium 150 000-200 000 mileage.

So the first difference is the setup, which for cars with all-wheel drive is much more difficult, cause it includes a greater number of repair parts. And therefore, these details need to monitor, diagnose and repair complicated. In addition, the car gains in its weight.

Whether, 4WD is necessary on crossovers? For the most part, the answer would be - yes. The crossovers should easily overcome any kind of road On the other hand, it could be said that the space under the car, in this case, is a significant advantage and the more complex and bigger drive system is — the less is ground clearance.

As it was mentioned in the beginning, the crossovers have a rigid connection (via a viskodrive or electromagnetic clutch), which means that rear drive will be connected only when the car trying hard to pull away from a stationary position. In brief, the disk drive requires attention, oil changes and regular checks for leaks. The electromagnetic clutch overheats quickly and has the risk of shutting down.

Their passability is certainly better than in usual cars, thanks to the power, the height of the car bottom, the wheels themselves and much more. Crossovers with four-wheel drive may be suitable for snow-covered cities, or areas where the weather is contrary. Such crossover can also be suitable for the full of obstacles "fun-riding" through the forest, through huge winter snowdrifts or in the desert - in two words for extreme driving, however, the SUV would be better for such purpose.

Simply put, crossover with a plug-in 4WD is not so necessary for the city, because cleaning equipment works there, and you can remove snow from under wheels of the car. Crossover with front-wheel drive will be cheaper for you, and you will need less cost to care for such a car.

If you live in the country, in the village, or like to ride on the forest hills and pits after a heavy rain, or in the middle of winter, the crossover with all-wheel-drive has a great chance to manage, but the guarantee that it will always be so, can not be given. In this case, it is better to spend money and buy a full SUV (sports utility vehicle).

Crossover is a hybrid of passenger cars and SUVs. And therefore, if your initial goal is to overcome the difficult terrain on the ground, then buy an SUV. If your goal is a car with excellent cross-country, mainly for the city and trips out of town on the moving paths, the crossover with front-wheel drive and experience in driving - you will be enough.