I should have separated the two comments. No, the subaru will not push through deep snow any better than a similarly equipped truck.
But, a subaru will still make a truck look useless in the snow when you compare
Plus, having a viscous center differential is far more elegant than the locked transfer case when you go between different types of road surfaces, which happens quite a bit around here
+1 Just get the right tool for the job. I don't autocross the Rover, I don't off road my Miata...well only occasionally on track days.
I've had a string of Audi Quattros for the last 10 years. They're awesome in the snow.
njansenv wrote: Maybe, depending on rubber, and what truck. But saying: ....will make any truck look like a... well.... something completely useless in the snow.My bone stock impreza with 50% worn 175 width cheap snows would drive through 18" of standing powder from a stop without much fuss at all. ?So will a 4WD truck? I just get tired of hearing "my Hakka equipped AWD X is infinitely better than 4WD trucks on summer tires" and then saying it's all the car. I know everyone likes to pick on SUV's in snow, but that isn't the technologies fault but rather DA owners on inappropriate rubber forgetting to respect physics. We used a 2002 Dakota in the snow a few times, frankly it was much better in deep snow than the Subaru...not to say that the Subaru wasn't shockingly good.
Insanely long SORRY!!! Well the subie and the quattro have far superior 4wd/awd systems to the lever actuated truck 4wd. the truck for all intensive purposes goes from one wheel drive (2wd with an open rear diff) to two wheel drive (4wd with a transfer case and two open diff's) the subaru uses open diff and viscous couplings so in reality it is not alot better than a truck save for the driving dynamics etc. A 1988 or newer audi quattro uses a combination of TORSEN diff's Self locking mechanical diff, made in rochester NY) and a optional locking rear differential to achieve near sno cat like ability in the snow. No it wont go through three + feet of snow but I have driven my old 1988 80q in about 26" of snow in upstate new york and I was fine unless I stopped. As quattro has gone thru it different iterations Q1=1981-1987 driver lockable center and rear diff 50/50% torque split. Q2=1988-1992/3 driver lockable rear diff with a TORSEN center diff 65/35% torque split. Q3 =1990-1995 Driver lockable rear diff or torsen rear diff (V8 quattro) with torsen center diff 65/35% torque split . and driver controllable ABS (switch to disengage). Q4= 1996-2000 torsen center diff with open rear diff and no more ABS control63/37% torque split with automatic trans. Q5 Audi TT (similar to subaru's system) using a Haldex center/rear diff combo with about a 80/20 torque split. Q6 = TORSEN center diff open front and rear diff's no driver controls except ESP switch which is stability programming thru the ABS computer which acts as an electronic version of a locking diff. by braking the spinning wheel in a forward motion and act as stability control in a turn/slide 200-2011. addendum to Q6 is the sport rear diff available on S4 which essentially powers the outside rear wheel faster than the inside wheel helping to turn/point the car into a corner.
That is why a quattro in all but the deepest snow will slaughter a "lever on the floor bog standard 4WD truck" (which is probably about 99.8%) of what is on the road today. sans an actual H1 or a new dodge power wagon or a modified truck with locking diff's. Incidentally audi does not own the patents to a TORSEN diff and anyone can use one ( I am looking at you BMW and Mercedes and Volvo and Saab) but they all choose not to because it is about 2-2.5K$ for the center diff unit brand new. So they all choose cheaper less efficient versions of AWD to power their cars. H1 is the only other vehicle I know of that uses TORSEN diff's.
That being said there are some AWD trucks that do well: quadratrac cherokee's ( I think thats what they call it) Landcruisers the 80 series or newer (1991 or newer)
Yes a 4wd truck is an eyeopener coming from a rwd no doubt but believe me when I tell you that you have just seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what 4wd/AWD system can do!
just remember tires are like shoes for your car. You would not wear your running shoes to go and shovel snow would you? Snow tires actual real snow tires with the snowflake and the mountain imprinted on the sidewall will let you do thing previously thought impossible in the snow.
And no an all terrain tire is not a snow tire (compounding and tread design are not up to full snow capabilities)
and all terrain is like an all season "decent in almost all situations, but it excel's @ none of them" so if you really have to get to where you are going get the correct tire to do it
I miss my 1G DSM turbo every time it snows. Oh the joys of spinning super fast donuts in the parking lot ...
Ditto on the trucks vs. cars thing. Except for really deep snow, AWD cars are generally much better than selectable, lever on the floor trucks. Smarter AWD systems, lower COG, less weight, better maneuverability.
when I bought my 4wd MPV, the previous owner mentioned it did much better in deep snow than his son's Cherokee. Its been on Michelin LTX MS tires its whole life.
I havent had to use it in really deep stuff yet, only had it a year, but on icy roads it does do really well. Seating position is as high as a full size SUV, and just visually it seems to have more ground clearance than most SUV's too...
failboat wrote: when I bought my 4wd MPV, the previous owner mentioned it did much better in deep snow than his son's Cherokee. Its been on Michelin LTX MS tires its whole life. I havent had to use it in really deep stuff yet, only had it a year, but on icy roads it does do really well. Seating position is as high as a full size SUV, and just visually it seems to have more ground clearance than most SUV's too...
HERESY! YOU CAN'T DIS THE CHEROKEE ON THIS FORUM 
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