Do I Really Need All Wheel Drive in Colorado Springs?

Because of Colorado Springs large military population, we have a consistently high rate of new families setting in our beautiful, but sometimes weather-challenged city.  This is why we get asked many times per year, “I just moved to Colorado Springs and I want to know, do I really NEED Four (4×4 or 4wd) or All Wheel Drive (AWD)?

In a word, YES.  Our typical response is, it’s like asking if you need air conditioning in Southern Arizona, New Mexico, or Texas.  You can survive without it, but it is sure nice to have.  The thing is, a vehicle buyer must be at least somewhat conscious of their car’s wet, ice and snow handling capabilities are.  A rear-wheel drive car or truck with snow tires and a sandbag or two in the back can actually be surprisingly effective.  A front-wheel drive with snow tires, is even better. 

But Four and All Wheel Drive is most often a GIANT step up in ice and snow handling abilities, over rear and front wheel drive.  Powering all four wheels is a huge advantage in winter driving conditions.  Plus, must modern AWD cars also come with very sophisticated power distribution systems with very fast computers that sense wheel slip and send power only to the wheels with grip.

Briefly, the difference between AWD and 4wd is that AWD is usually ALWAYS in a computer controlled 4 wheel drive mode. A 4wd or 4×4 can generally be shifted in and out of 2 or 4 wheel drive modes. 4wd and 4×4’s also typically offer a 4wd LO selection for deep snow, sand or mud.  Both systems are in that top tier of snow driving ability. 

PROS AND CONS
A 4wd, 4×4 or AWD vehicle generally costs more upfront simply because they are in greater demand, and have more working parts.  This upfront cost represents an investment, however, that typically yields very good return on resale on trade-in value when you are finished with the vehicle.  In other words, you’ll most likely recover that extra initial cost when you sell or trade the vehicle. 

Another possible knock against AWD or 4wd is that these cars generally get less miles per gallon than their 2 Wheel Drive counterparts.  This is generally true because a 4×4 or AWD has more working, rotating parts for the engine to power.  It is a little less true for cars and trucks that can be shifted in and out of 4 or All Wheel Drive because the extra parts are not in constant engagement and/or rotation.  However, many feel the safety, confidence, and capability alone is worth the price difference.  Vehicle manufacturers like Suzuki have taken many engineering steps to minimize the difference in fuel economy.  Plus, many 4×4 and AWD owners find that they do not have to have snow tires on their AWD cars to navigate inclement conditions effectively, and can instead do fine with a good all-season tire.  This alone represents a time, hassle, and cost savings.

CONSIDER A SUZUKI
Joe McCloskey has decades of personal experience in driving, selling and servicing AWD’s and 4×4’s right here in Colorado Springs.  This experience led Joe to choose Suzuki as his only new car franchise, for their full line of Colorado-ready 4×4 and AWD cars and trucks.  Suzuki has 40 years of engineering experience in building these vehicles and today’s lineup everything from the entry level SX4 AWD (America’sMost Affordable All Wheel Drive) to the Equator 4×4 Pickup, the Kizashi AWD sports sedan, and theRockyMountain mastering Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV.  Click here to view our entire inventory of new Suzukis.