Ford took the opportunity of showing off its new best-in-class all-wheel drive system by renting out the corner of a massive
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| How does the new Freestyle AWD compare to a Chrysler Pacifica AWD and Buick Rendezvous AWD on a 35 percent grade of sandy dirt? Very well. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
gravel pit, and having us power up a 35 percent grade of sandy dirt. That's steep by the way, and the exercise brought to light the good, bad and ugly of all-wheel drive systems. Obviously the Haldex system fared best, but what I wouldn't have believed without testing its competitors on the same hill is the disparity between best and worst. There aren't many vehicles in this class yet, I mean true wagon-like 6- to 7-occupant crossover vehicles. Ford provided a Chrysler Pacifica AWD and a Buick Rendezvous AWD. I started with the former, and it handled the hill fairly well. Even when I stopped halfway up, and then attempted to take off it spun its front wheels, needing to roll backward a bit to get out of a rut that had developed before making its way up and over the crest. I thought, hey, that's pretty decent. Then I jumped into the Rendezvous, expecting much of the same. Not so, GM's entry made it up the first half of the hill, but when I started out after stopping there was nothing but spraying dirt, a revving engine and a deeper rut. I rolled back a bit, tried it again and repeated the futile process. I had to back down the hill, take a run at it and use momentum to carry me over the top. The Pacifica all of a sudden started to
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| The Freestyle's Haldex all-wheel drive system blew away the competition on the hill test. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
look pretty good. That is until I tried the same routine with the Freestyle. All it took was a tap of the throttle and its Haldex all-wheel drive lifted the big wagon up and over the rut with as little fuss as moving it forward on a level patch of tarmac on a dry day. Wow! The difference between all-wheel drive systems was made beyond clear. As was the Freestyle's ability to maneuver around a makeshift autocross course. I have to admit that the Pacifica handled the course well too, but the Freestyle felt lighter on its feet and resultantly quicker in transitional response, important during emergency lane changes. The Rendezvous, well it has a nice ride, but it lists from port to starboard like the analogy suggests.
