Tuscon AWD, A Winter Storm Story

"POD" (podimus) 11/16/2013 at 22:19 • Filed to: Hyundai Tuscon, AWD, Winter

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So, we had a winter storm today. My wife and I had some training to go to and we decided to leave the MS3 at home and take her AWD Tuscon. Now, I know what you are thinking;

"Hyundai is CUV Bat Gunao!!! If you don't kill it with fire right this moment your Oppo privileges will be revoked!"

Well HARUMPH!!.

True, it's not an Oppo approved car. It's cheap, it's underpowered, it's a Hyundai. However... With a nice big button on the center console that turns all the auto nannies off, except ABS

(this button, this one right here)

and a set of Michelin X-Ice XI2 on all four corners

it is, for lack of a better word...

Seriously, the car kicked ass. Passed bro-trucks with aplomb, trudged through the deep stuff, skittered across ice, it was impressive. Either the drivers out there lacked confidence, they had all seasons tires and couldn't handle the decrease in frictional coefficient, or the Tuscon was just that good (I'm going with decrease in frictional coefficient).

What was even more interesting was that in the corners, it was even a little tail happy. Not sure if it's because the AWD system is so crude that it can't really balance the power and it just throws it all to the back when the front wheels slip, or if it's because the weight distribution is heavily front focused and there isn't much poundage in the back (58.5/41.5). What's more, the automatic 6-speed slushie didn't even hunt and peck through the gears when the wheels were spinning, it let the engine rev. Whatever it is, it's shamefully fun. Despite the little Korean that could's paltry 176 bhp and its zoftig 3382 pound curb weight, the car was genuinely fun in adverse conditions.

Any other Oppo's out there been presently surprised by a beige commuter?

Montalvo > POD 11/16/2013 at 22:29

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Any beigemobile can have its moments when faced with snow and the chance to absolutely hoon it. I remember once when I was still taking lessons for my license a few years back, I was in the driving school's Chevy Cavalier when I hit a patch of ice. It started to slide and get a bit of oppo and I was able to flick it back around and continue on my merry way. I think it gave my instructor a bit of a scare but for those few seconds I felt the Cavalier try to be more than it had resigned its fate to be and I had a smile on my face the rest of the way back.

POD > Montalvo 11/16/2013 at 22:42

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Nice!

Leadbull > POD 11/16/2013 at 22:44

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I drive an AWD Hyundai Tucson ('05, MT, ~140hp 4 banger). It's a pretty decent system... basically a Haldex-type set up, but the dash button locks it at 50/50.

Much funzies in the snow, and I've never had any traction problems with all seasons.

POD > Leadbull 11/16/2013 at 22:49

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2010 has a separate button to lock at 50/50, it's to the left of the wheel, but it disengages above a certain speed (so says the manual anyway). I'd love to have this car with a MT though. I think it'd be even more fun!

The Winter vs All-season debate has been discussed at length and empirically tested. Under 7c, winters. Above 7c, summers or all-seasons, players choice. Glad you've been able to get by safely on your all-seasons.

Leadbull > POD 11/16/2013 at 23:02

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I think 25mph or so is when the system disengages. And though winter temps here generally hang out in the 30's, it doesn't snow enough to justify winters.

POD > Leadbull 11/16/2013 at 23:12

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I think you're right about the 25mph.

If you stay just under freezing and you don't get much precipitation (sounds like Central Washington in the winter) then that's fair. The all-season tires will take a little longer to stop vs. winters, but if the road is bare, you're more then fine on all-seasons.

Conditions where I am tend to sit at -10c on average, can gets as cold as -40c/f or worse, and lots of snow. Winters make a big difference.

Leadbull > POD 11/16/2013 at 23:37

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Winters are pretty dry here in southern Illinois, and it usually gets above freezing during the day.

Sounds like you're in Canada!

POD > Leadbull 11/17/2013 at 02:13

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I'm not up to date on balls representing countries. I've seen them, they can be funny.

Leadbull > POD 11/17/2013 at 06:58

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In this case, the little balls represent your provinces and territories.