What's The Better AWD System: Audi Quattro Or BMW xDrive?
Audi Quattro and BMW xDrive might just be the two biggest names in the world of all-wheel drive systems. But when the going gets slippy, which setup are you better off with?
YouTube’s favourite rubber expert Tyre Reviews decided to find out, by testing an Audi A4 against an example of the outgoing F30 BMW 3-series at the ‘White Hell’ test centre in Ivalo, Finland. To spice things up, there’s an all-wheel drive Jaguar XE in the mix. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta is used as a control tyre, to make sure the results are all about the AWD systems rather than the boots.
Where it gets a little complicated is the Quattro name - these days it’s merely a brand that’s used for several different systems. In the case of the A4 seen here, it uses the Quattro Ultra system. This forgoes the Torsen centre differential usually seen in Audi products with longitudinally-mounted engines, opting instead for an electronically-controlled clutch pack.
The system operates similarly to modern transverse Quattro-branded cars - which use Haldex-type differentials - only powering the rear wheels when necessary. This saves fuel when front-wheel drive is sufficient, but is just as capable as ye olde Quattro when the rear axle comes into play, Audi claims.
The cars are put through their paces on a snow handling course, on an iced-over straight, and a snowy hill. Give the video a watch to see how they compare.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
You would think they would have a volvo intead of a jaguar
Interesting video! Thanks for sharing
Too bad you didn’t include the good AWD system… ;)
The two biggest names i the worls of 4WD systems? Uff!
Mercedes has been making 4MATIC cars when BMW was still more or less in it’s diapers. I won’t even mention Subaru here.
How many cars do they push out the door?
Not sure why you would ever turn the control systems off? The point of these systems is to keep you safe as possible. I’ve owned several AWD cars and live in Cleveland Ohio, where snow can get crazy. I just turned in my 17 A4 for a 20 Q5. No car I’ve ever owned compares to the A4 in snow handling, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the Q5 is capable of. The 2 friends I have that both had BMWs refused to lease 2nd ones because they suck in the snow. Both joined me driving real German engineered sexiness that doesn’t require monthly trips to the service department…
The BMW loses it at 3:31 (goes sideways) and I think takes out the camera (the scene is cut but I think you can hear the smack as it hits it). Why is this obvious loss of traction not mentioned?
Cause drifting is fun.
May have been intentional….
Maybe a v8 would have helped, but oh wait…
Stopped watching at the second run, where he says he jumped, then @2:45 of the video, the Audi has caught up and just barely passed at the finish line, but he gives point goes to the BMW…
Don’t like new Audis quattro.It is basically same shit as anybody else now. Do the proper test with A6, E-class and BMW 5