As one Subaru Crosstrek owner recently learned the hard way, it bears repeating that all-wheel drive is not the same as four-wheel drive. A Subie owner posted a warning letter they received a month after driving on Colorado River Overlook Road in Canyonlands National Park to the r/NationalPark subreddit. The letter notes that this particular road is restricted to 4WD vehicles only, and the Crosstrek is equipped with AWD, not 4WD. It also warns that they may face serious consequences if they’re caught taking an AWD car on a 4WD-only trail again.
And neither AWD system has a low range gearbox like a 4WD system, which is the point of the NPS rule.
Subaru has x-mode for difficult terrain, which is different/low gearing. They also have hill descent. https://www.sportsubaru.com/subaru-x-mode.htm
Why would you want 4wd with wasted energy when you could have symmetrical awd and get all the power to wheels that have traction, skipping those that don’t have traction?
I only see awd outperform 4wd when it comes to a subie, but other awd systems from other manufacturers are probably not up to snuff.
Edit: 4wd people are a cult their own too… awd (subaru’s version at least) is superior. Downvote me! I’m spitting facts with sources lol
You keep repeating this but it doesn’t change the fact that this article/change and added signage is meant for people like you
Signage can of course not make sense. I copy and pasted where relevant so others see…nothing wrong with that.
This is getting heated so I’d like to take this chance to say you’re both wrong and the best off-road vehicles only have two wheels with a constant lock on one of them at all times. Hope this helps.