[Roadwork]

In chossing my winter car, a very important criteria is AWD. I'll need it in the cold winters in Montreal and the occaisonal drive up North in ski areas, don't really need off road etc...


As I am really keen on the HR-V vs others out there, does anyone have first hand knowledge or experience with Honda's AWD that they can share PLEASE !

Thanks.

 

[pawlusho]

It would make sense for Honda to make the HR-V have an AWD option just like the CR-V. has. The Subaru XV Crosstrek is a built on the Impreza platform, but it has full-time AWD. Honda has to consider the clientele and the market it is entering when it decides which options to offer. I don't believe the Magic Seats and the Earth Dreams V-tec technology will be enough to sway people who want to downsize from a compact SUV like the CR-V and are in a similar situation as Roadwork.
How appropriate is your username, Roadwork, especially this summer when everywhere you go in Montreal and up north on the Autoroute 15 they are working on the infrastructure!!!

 

[Roadwork]

It would make sense for Honda to make the HR-V have an AWD option just like the CR-V. has. The Subaru XV Crosstrek is a built on the Impreza platform, but it has full-time AWD. Honda has to consider the clientele and the market it is entering when it decides which options to offer. I don't believe the Magic Seats and the Earth Dreams V-tec technology will be enough to sway people who want to downsize from a compact SUV like the CR-V and are in a similar situation as Roadwork.
How appropriate is your username, Roadwork, especially this summer when everywhere you go in Montreal and up north on the Autoroute 15 they are working on the infrastructure!!!

Thank you,

I heard Subaru has a good AWd system but I crossed them off my list. I am "considering" the Mitsubishi RVR and hear it's a good 4x4 system as well from people that own one.

So in terms of my question, has anyone any experience with Honda's AWD.

Thank you

 

[hondaguy]

I have and it wasn't too bad, felt a bit front wheel biased but still good to me, I haven't driven many AWD vehicles so I may not be the best to have a say in this.

 

[Roadwork]

I have and it wasn't too bad, felt a bit front wheel biased but still good to me, I haven't driven many AWD vehicles so I may not be the best to have a say in this.

Thanks !

 

[TrueNorth]

I think that it would be a good idea for Honda to make a video that shows the HR-V testing in a harsh weather environment. Just showing that in a video could really go a long way in making people feel more confident in their purchase. People don't want to have to do the testing themselves. Is the AWD system the same as the one in any other Honda vehicles?

 

[vtec]

I have seen winter testing video's before and there's not much to get from them.

It will be better that Honda shows it going through winter driving courses to show how capable it is.

 

[matthew]

I have been very impressed with the AWD on my 2008 CR-V. After driving it around New England for 6 winters now, I can confidently state that it is a well-enganging system. Great for getting around town during a storm, but also easily climbs up my steep driveway in the mountains of New Hampshire after many inches of overnight snowfall.

The CR-V is nearly always just a front wheel drive vehicle, and the all-wheel drive engages automatically when needed. If they've made improvements on the AWD system since 2008, I can only imagine the HR-V will have no issues at all getting around in all types of weather.

 

[Red]

@Roadwork, hopefully this may smooth some of your concerns

 

[Roadwork]

@Roadwork, hopefully this may smooth some of your concerns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6O85Bm62Cw

Thanks, and I know, the type of tire (and driver) helps. Here in Quebec, by law, we have to have snow tires, in the video, they appear to be 4 season tires.

 

[TrueNorth]

Well if the 4 season tires work well in the snow on the CR-V, I think that we should be in the clear if we put snow tires on the HR-V.

Does anyone have any concerns that the HR-V won't hold up to the winter weather?

 

[hondaguy]

They will be good to an extent.
The problem with them is that if where you live gets really cold, your softer compound all seasons will freeze up and won't have as much traction as it could.

 

[Red]

Well if the 4 season tires work well in the snow on the CR-V, I think that we should be in the clear if we put snow tires on the HR-V.

Does anyone have any concerns that the HR-V won't hold up to the winter weather?

Well no its not so cut and dry. A poor driver with winter tires is still a poor driver just with winter tires. Not to mention most people use up their advantages. See someone will put winter tires on their vehicle and then feel invincible, upping their appetite for risk, once that happens the safety advantage they had from the snow tires is erased and replaced with a much greater risk than previously existed...

 

[EricMartin]

I heard Subaru has a good AWd system but I crossed them off my list. I am "considering" the Mitsubishi RVR and hear it's a good 4x4 system as well from people that own one.

Why did you cross Subaru off your list ?

 

[Roadwork]

Why did you cross Subaru off your list ?

Well, the main reason was the class action regarding oil consumprtion, it was institued in the USA July of this year.
http://www.chimicles.com/subaru-oil-consumption-class-action-lawsuit

A friend of mine is going through "****" with his Forrester and the dealer keeps "testing" and is not admitting the problem, exactly what the laawsuit mentions. I don't want to deal with a company like that should I have problems with my car.

Then I hear of premature rusting of exterior parts underneath the car (Crosstrek) suggesting poor quality there. This was broadcasted on a car review show locally in Montreal, the car they tested was a few months old.

All of this is public information.

 

[EricMartin]

Well, the main reason was the class action (against Subaru) regarding oil consumprtion, it was institued in the USA July of this year.

I am aware of this suit. These kinds of problems are the main reason I would prefer the HR-V. However, I am concerned that the HR-V might be delayed to next spring or come out without AWD or with a ridiculously weak engine (1.5l). The 2015 Fit forums report some fit and finish problems out of the Celaya plant that are unusual for Honda's - will they affect the HR-V? So I am also looking for alternatives.

The German's small SUVs have too many reliability issues for their high price. I do not like the seat access of the small Korean's. I am concerned about some Mitsubishi RVR poor reviews and the company might not be in business for long (may be I should reconsider them).

For now the Subaru Crosstrek is my second choice. I think Subaru's are inconsistent. Some last for 300,000 km and some accumulate problems from year 1. I would surely rustproof it and add sound insulation. Adding a litre of oil every 5000 km is annoying but not a deal breaker for me.

 

[Roadwork]

I am aware of this suit. These kinds of problems are the main reason I would prefer the HR-V. However, I am concerned that the HR-V might be delayed to next spring or come out without AWD or with a ridiculously weak engine (1.5l). The 2015 Fit forums report some fit and finish problems out of the Celaya plant that are unusual for Honda's - will they affect the HR-V? So I am also looking for alternatives.

The German's small SUVs have too many reliability issues for their high price. I do not like the seat access of the small Korean's. I am concerned about some Mitsubishi RVR poor reviews and the company might not be in business for long (may be I should reconsider them).

For now the Subaru Crosstrek is my second choice. I think Subaru's are inconsistent. Some last for 300,000 km and some accumulate problems from year 1. I would surely rustproof it and add sound insulation. Adding a litre of oil every 5000 km is annoying but not a deal breaker for me.

Well, if the average oil change is at every 8000 km, and if I "need" to add oil inbetween recommended changes, as a starter, it's not normal for me. Adding the quantity you're suggesting is by far "not normal" as it's partically 20-25% of the engine's oil capacity, TOO much for me.

I had my sights on the RVR and read complaints mainly about "power". I test drove one, the CVT wasn't that bad and the ride good. My friend had a letter from Mitsubishi indicating a fix for the push button start, and that's about it. Don't know of any major issues in comparison to what Subaru is having, depends what's important individaully for sure.

Right now, I am "almost" equally set on the RVR, HR-V and Jeep Renegade 2015 if I can wait a little longer. Each have things I like that are different from the other, but I have been, "lately", developping a slight preference for the Renegade.

I have never had a car "fully loaded" and I am now looking for alot of "bells and whistles" at a given budget. The AWD system and final pricing ratio to features should do it for me.

 

[vtec]

With some of my past cars, both old and new i have had to add oil inbetween oil changes, more often with a much older car that burns oil. Thankfully now a lot of cars have oil lights so it beats having to check manually.