AWD - resale advantages, insurance disadvantages?

markodaly

Deciding between a Toyota RAV4 2WD or AWD. Can't really decide to be honest.
So, I am trying to justify the extra cost of AWD.

Does AWD affect insurance premiums? One would think it would be cheaper since they are 'technically' safer cars but well, we are talking about Irish insurance companies here.

As to the main question, what about resale? Should one get a portion of that extra initial cost back when it comes to resale or trade-in, in a few years time, or would most people treat it like a 2WD in terms of price?

unhappys10

I wouldn't bother with AWD on the likes of that. It's not going to be capable of being a decent off roader anyway.
You'll have some extra grip, but when are you going to be in a situation where you need extra grip in a Rav4? Not going to be pushed to its limit often I'd imagine.

Anyone specifically looking for AWD will want something more capable and anyone just looking for a Rav4 in a few years will probably think its harder on fuel than 2WD.
Just my thoughts, but I wouldn't be paying any extra for it.

punisher5112

Fuel economy takes a big hit....

Know someone went with the Karoq AWD and mpg is terrible.

Unless you're towing say a horse box or going off road AWD ain't much use....

markodaly

Yea, there is a lsight increase of fuel economy from the 2WD to AWD on the new RAV4, 5.7 l/100km to 5.8l/100km and that is WLTP figures.

Just had a look there on carzone.ie and it looks like there is very little premium on the price people are asking for, for older 2nd hand RAV4's (talking pre 2019 models). They are not common, but many are asking for the same price as their 2WD brothers, so little in the way of resale value it appears.

unhappys10

unhappys10 wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with AWD on the likes of that. It's not going to be capable of being a decent off roader anyway.
............

AWD and 4WD are two very different things, main advantages of AWD are actually on road. If you need a decent off roader you need 4WD with a low range box etc etc. that said an AWD has much less chance then a 2WD has of ending up as a ZERO WD when one driven wheel has no traction and there's an open differential.

punisher5112 wrote: »

Fuel economy takes a big hit....

Know someone went with the Karoq AWD and mpg is terrible..........

I've averaged 38mpg over 70+k kms in an AWD Sorento, if I don't do much motorway driving it returns 40mpg ..... last week saw Letterkenny to Dublin return and 200kms around Dublin/Kildare on regional roads..... 40mpg.

I don't think a 2WD Sorento woould be much lighter on fuel, AWD are mainly in 2WD anyway

Personally, on something the size of a Sorento AWD is a must have, the extra surefootedness is highly beneficial and makes the driving experience much better.

markodaly wrote: »

Deciding between a Toyota RAV4 2WD or AWD. Can't really decide to be honest.
So, I am trying to justify the extra cost of AWD.......

I'd let a decent test drive of both be the deciding factor unless the price gap is huge, which is presumably isn't.

nogoodnamesleft

I imported an AWD 2014 Rav for my father about 18months ago. The RAV AWD can be locked between front and rear axle and automatically disengages after 25kph.

Sport mode puts more power to the rear if required to give better drive.

The RAV was facelifted slightly in 2016. I ended up getting the IQON version (leather, sat nav, power assisted tail gate, heated seats, fogs and a few other toys). There is one spec above that "invincible" which has roof bars and chrome.

Ours seems to do fine with the diff locked pulling a light trailer around the field and if/when it gets a bit snow.

Some of the AWD versions in the UK spent their time in the scottish highlands and one I saw was fitted with winter tyres as it was used to get around in those baltic parts. One drawback was severe corrosion on some of the cars due to the amount of salt it had seen.