[Tablerocked]

I was curious if anyone had driven a "similar" year Sienna, one with AWD and one with FWD in "similar" snow conditions to tell how much of an improvement one configuration had over the other, if any?

You talk with someone with AWD and, of course, they swear by it, but, talking with many a Sienna FWD owner, I've heard them also swear by the great snow capability. Myself, having had FWD Ody's, I've driven in tons of snow in North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas, and they were part billy goat. I never had issues.

Just curious as if Sienna does the right thing for 2020, I'll have an AWD vs FWD decision to make.

 

[Geezer1]

It's all about tires. Any vehicle with "certified" winter tires (mountain/snowflake symbol on sidewalls) whether it is FWD, RWD or AWD will totally out perform the same vehicle with all season tires.

I've never owned an AWD vehicle but I've passed thousands of stuck AWD vehicles while driving RWD and FWD vehicles using real winter tires.

The first thing I do when buying a vehicle is to buy a second set of wheels and real winter tires.

 

[n8dogg]

There were a few time while towing a trailer I thought having AWD might have helped. With so much weight on the rear and the front wheels unloaded, even with the aid of a weight distribution hitch, the front wheels sometimes would have a tough time gripping, especially when trying to start from a stop on an uneven gravel surface. Otherwise, never needed it. Don't live in the snow belt or anything extreme like that, but the occasional low land snow that we get in the NW would reek havoc on our roads, but I've always managed just fine!

 

[sierrasclimber]

You describe driving in States which have no billy goats. Just saying. I grew up in Nebraska, I now live 8 miles from ski resorts in Utah. I'd never felt the need for snow tires or AWD til I lived in Utah. I don't know if I see as much a need for AWD in the midwest. My opinion is: Snow tires are for going up and DOWN and Stopping. AWD is just for going up and going faster; most of all AWD is for going up on snowy/icey roads in the mountains next to 50 ft dropoff into icey creeks. Certain times of the year you will not even make it up the road to my driveway, let alone up my driveway, without AWD depending on how well the City has cleared the road. If you're debating between FWD with Snow tires and AWD with all season tires; get the snow tires and stop faster. If you can afford AWD AND Snow tires there is just no question AWD and Snow tires is safest choice you can make. Around here if you're serious about skiing and being safe on the freeways you get AWD and Snow tires.

 

[SiennaDon]

I have a long upward sloping winding driveway. My AWD Sienna drives up it like it is dry even in deep snow and some ice. My old FWD Sienna was left at the curb while I scraped and salted the driveway before making the trip up the driveway. The traction control helped, better tires helped, but we never felt safe in the snow on the driveway in the FWD. With said, flat roads around and the FWD does fine but you won't win any snowy drag races. Throw in a hill, a stop light and traffic and the AWD will make your day.

 

[Steve In Denver]

I agree with Geezer that winter tires make a huge difference, and if it came down to an AWD sienna with all season tires vs a FWD sienna with winter tires, I'd pick the FWD with winter tires. As others have pointed out, the winter tires help all around (braking and cornering) while the AWD is just about going. Having said that, I don't think AWD is a bad thing to have. I just bought winter tires today, and I can't wait to see how well they work on my AWD sienna.

From what I have read it sounds like the AWD system on the Sienna is OK but not great. Not having driven in snow yet, I can't offer an informed opinion, but I'm not holding my breath. Maybe it will surprise me, but I doubt it will hold a candle to my Subaru.

-Steve

 

[lwalker]

You probably already know this, but it's not mentioned elsewhere in this thread yet, so..

Sienna AWD models do not come with a spare tire. Instead, they come with Run Flat Tires. There are many posts dedicated to RFTs and solutions for adding your own spare.

 

[jenfautsko]

You probably already know this, but it's not mentioned elsewhere in this thread yet, so.. Sienna AWD models do not come with a spare tire. Instead, they come with Run Flat Tires. There are many posts dedicated to RFTs and solutions for adding your own spare.

I have an awd sienna with a spare tire.

 

[Mr. B.]

I have an awd sienna with a spare tire.

How so? What year? Is it mounted under the car? Do you have run-flat tires, too?

 

[jenfautsko]

How so? What year? Is it mounted under the car? Do you have run-flat tires, too?

It’s a 2021 awd xse spare tire is in the back of the van left side there’s a panel that covers it.

 

[jenfautsko]

It’s a 2021 awd xse spare tire is in the back of the van left side there’s a panel that covers it.

It’s a 2021 awd xse spare tire is in the back of the van left side there’s a panel that covers it.

not run flats