Obviously all-wheel drive has better control, but what else makes it worth $3-4,000 more?
its what youre comfortable with my advice would be to test drive both vehicles if you can on all types of terrain that you would typically drive on and see what you like best for traction though awd is good but if you just highway drive and its not generally wet all the time go the front w drive and spend the extra cash on something to go with the car
with for wheel drive, all four wheels actually have power, rather than just the front or just the back. if you get stuck in snow, u dont need chains the other wheels will to that. it also has better handeling
In slippery conditions, it does benefit. But front wheel drive with stability control would do the same and should cost less (if available on the vehicle). I usually makes a large difference in resale ($1000-1500 more than a 2 wheel drive version). If the option of Front Wheel Drive w/stability control or 4wd or AWD, I would choose front wheel w/stability any day of the week. If you live somewhere where there is consistently deep snow, that is a different story, go for the AWD. Outside of resale and traction, there aren't any. You usually get worse gas mileage as well.
