Full-Time All-Wheel Drive | Desjardins Subaru

We always feel better when we're ready to face all the challenges of the season. The symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive is here to tackle all winter conditions. We have been perfecting our symmetrical all-wheel drive technology for over forty years to overcome all imaginable conditions.

This extensive experience has allowed us to develop a range of vehicles offering the widest array of all-wheel drive systems on the market. We take all-wheel drive seriously because we know that four-wheel drive is always better than two when the goal is to make cars safer, more capable, and more enjoyable to drive, in all conditions you might encounter in Canada.

Experience the Difference with Full-Time All-Wheel Drive

Constant Control in Winter Conditions

When power is delivered to all four wheels, a vehicle benefits from better grip, more predictable handling, superior agility, and increased control.These advantages translate into a stronger connection between the road and the car, a greater sense of confidence for the driver, and contagious driving pleasure, no matter the weather. Subaru's symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive lives up to the promise of 'Confidence in Motion' in all seasons, on all roads, and in all conditions.

Constant Winter Safety

Subaru's symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive operates continuously, as its name suggests. It is therefore better suited to unexpected changes in road conditions. Our system delivers power to all four wheels in a balanced manner, resulting in increased stability and greater grip to outperform front-wheel drive or temporary all-wheel drive systems (on-demand) without question. Even when only one wheel encounters a slippery or unstable surface, all four wheels maintain their traction to maximize all grip possibilities and increase control in winter conditions.

Constant Winter Capability

Rain, sleet, snow, and ice can compromise even the best-laid plans. Fortunately, Subaru's symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive has the ability to conquer challenging driving conditions, including gravel roads and rougher trails, where front-wheel drive or temporary all-wheel drive (on-demand) vehicles would never dare to venture.

Constant Reliability

Some all-wheel drive systems are considered too complex, neither reliable nor economical. However, these criticisms are more about the four-wheel drive systems specific to trucks - and a 4WD system is not like an all-wheel drive. Subaru's symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive is also not an ordinary all-wheel drive system. The engine is aligned with the drivetrain to deliver power to all four wheels directly and efficiently, without the need for additional components.This better-thought-out design, using fewer components, results in reduced complexity, increased durability, better fuel efficiency (comparable to front-wheel drive for most models), and reduced maintenance costs.

Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive Makes All the Difference:

See why two-wheel drive and temporary all-wheel drive will never match symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive in winter

Traction is a determining factor in a vehicle's acceleration quality, cornering and slope behavior, braking speed, and performance on uneven, slippery, or icy surfaces. Symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive offers maximum traction to optimize vehicle performance, handling, and safety in a variety of winter conditions. Here are some factors explaining why four wheels are better than two in this perspective - and why symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive is a better system than temporary all-wheel drive.

Two-Wheel Drive (Front-Wheel Drive)

While the two-wheel drive (2WD) mechanism can be either front or rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive is most commonly found on passenger cars because it is the least expensive to manufacture. Its strength lies in normal driving conditions, where the front wheels are sufficient to handle the demands for smooth turns and moderate acceleration.

When demands intensify, the weaknesses of front-wheel drive systems quickly become apparent:

During strong acceleration, weight transfer causes the vehicle's nose to lift, which can lead to torque steer and a loss of traction;
In corners, especially when the road is slippery, front-wheel drive vehicles tend to understeer: the driver turns the wheel in the direction of the turn, but the steering that heavily solicits the wheels and inefficient power delivery can lead to a loss of traction and stability, resulting in less direct cornering;
Faced with snow or ice, front-wheel drive is sometimes very challenged since the front wheels must provide power, negotiate turns, and brake - so there is less traction available.

Result:The drivetrain and vehicle are fundamentally unbalanced most of the time.

Temporary All-Wheel Drive

A temporary all-wheel drive system (on-demand) operates most of the time with two-wheel drive (2WD) (front-wheel drive on most vehicles) and automatically switches to all-wheel drive when conditions require it. This type of system excels in normal driving conditions when the wheels are less stressed.

However, as soon as conditions require power to be delivered to the other wheels, some challenges arise:

The power-sharing mechanism of the temporary all-wheel drive system is generally limited to helping you start when trying to accelerate in situations where grip is reduced;
When driving at high speed in slippery conditions or on a very long and winding road, the on-demand system may struggle to adapt to changing circumstances;
If conditions change suddenly, the on-demand system may not react quickly enough to provide adequate traction.

Result:This type of drivetrain is also typically unbalanced and limited when the all-wheel drive mode would be most useful in winter.

Permanent or Full-Time All-Wheel Drive

While temporary (or on-demand) all-wheel drive systems only react to traction losses, permanent all-wheel drive mechanisms are always in operation and action, making them the most effective and safest solution in all possible winter conditions. This type of system is also particularly effective in dealing with unpredictable conditions, in moments when an immediate reaction is required.

Here are some differences that make permanent all-wheel drive the best choice:

Permanent all-wheel drive maximizes available traction from the start by delivering power to all four wheels and maintaining power when road conditions deteriorate - this ensures a high level of control, stability, and confidence, regardless of the weather;
Even in normal driving conditions, there is less power delivered to each individual wheel compared to front-wheel drive or temporary all-wheel drive (on-demand), so the wheels are less likely to slip and lose their grip;
Permanent all-wheel drive offers the added advantage of instantly reacting to changes in traction or direction;
State-of-the-art permanent all-wheel drive systems are lighter, more efficient, and more reliable than before - Subaru's symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive perfectly illustrates this rule in the conditions encountered in Canada.

Result:A fundamentally better-balanced and safer drivetrain, providing more driving pleasure and confidence.

Why Symmetry Makes All the Difference

While some manufacturers have merely added all-wheel drive to existing models, Subaru designed a complete system from the start, with all components designed with all-wheel drive in mind. The engine, transmission, and central differential are compact, efficient, and aligned along the vehicle's central axis for near-perfect lateral balance, smooth power delivery, and better stability, especially in corners.

How to Achieve Near-Perfect Balance:

We start with a horizontally opposed cylinder engine (boxer type) with a short overhang, which provides better agility. Its flat profile promotes a lower center of gravity and ensures more stable driving, better handling, and enhanced stability.

This engine is compact and lightweight. It is paired with a compact and lightweight transmission. And these two elements are matched with a compact and lightweight differential.

The engine/transmission/differential assembly is arranged longitudinally, along the vehicle's central axis, to enhance efficiency and achieve optimal lateral balance.

This assembly is then placed above the front axle so that the vehicle's nose is less heavy, reducing dive during sudden braking and decreasing yaw, which is the tendency of a vehicle to rotate around its vertical axis.

We add independent suspension, with long travel, and equal-length drive shafts, at the front and rear, to eliminate torque steer and maximize tire contact with the road, regardless of road conditions.

Subaru All-Wheel Drive Systems

In short, a single system rarely suits all needs. That's why Subaru offers a range of symmetrical full-time all-wheel drive systems, divided into four main categories. Each system is designed and calibrated to adapt to the specificities of the vehicle and the driver:

All-Wheel Drive with Viscous Coupling Center Differential

This system is used on all models equipped with a manual transmission, except the WRX STI. It combines quick and sporty shifts with an all-wheel drive system that maximizes available grip at all times. This system uses an efficient configuration, with a self-locking viscous coupling center differential that maintains a 50/50 torque split between the front and rear, ensuring optimal torque distribution, nearly neutral handling, and stable performance.

Active Torque Split All-Wheel Drive

This system uses a multi-plate clutch that maintains a 60/40 split between the front and rear and uses various sensors to automatically and instantly modulate torque distribution according to conditions, creating predictable handling. The active torque split all-wheel drive system, which equips all Subaru models (except the WRX) with the Lineartronic® continuously variable transmission (CVT), emphasizes ease of use, fuel efficiency, and reliability.

Variable Torque Distribution All-Wheel Drive

Coupled with the Subaru Performance Transmission® (SPT) and exclusive to the WRX, this all-wheel drive system combines sporty performance with superior efficiency. The center differential modulates the torque split between the front and rear from 45/55 in normal conditions (for a sportier rear-wheel drive feel) to 50/50 when the weather turns worse or road conditions deteriorate (for maximum traction). The rear self-locking viscous coupling differential maintains stability when more torque is delivered to the rear axle, ensuring a perfect combination of balance and enjoyment.

Discover the Models Equipped with Subaru's Symmetrical Full-Time All-Wheel Drive