Hey all!

Looking into options for my gf with the Mazda 3 GS. Was debating between the FWD or AWD option ($4000 CAD difference between the two but AWD comes with luxury package). She lives out in Montreal Quebec where winters can get a little rough sometimes. Would just FWD with a good set of winter tires suffice with the Mazda3? Or should she try to save up more for the AWD option? Trying to look into the most budget friendly option but also suitable for the area she lives in.

Note: she also commutes 45mins to a smaller city for work if we are taking in gas mileage into consideration as well

  • ThisGuyKnowsNuttin@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Winter tires are mandatory in Quebec, so you’ll have to get them anyway. Please don’t let having the AWD justify getting cheaper tires. AWD ain’t helping you brake or turn better on iced roads. And you’re WAY more likely to get into an accident that way than because you couldn’t accelerate fast enough. Blizzak, X-Ice or Nokian ideally. Studded is best but noisy plus you can’t get into most underground or multi level parking lots.

    Given good tires on both, obviously AWD is better. Easier to get going or climb a hill, however that can translate into over confidence and you end up braking too late or turning too fast. Downsides for AWD is the added cost, but also more fuel consumption, slower acceleration and added maintenance cost later down the line.

    As I told my father when he was buying his FWD CX-5 (had the same, we both around Montreal): there are maybe 2-3 days per year where I miss having AWD, the remaining 362 days I enjoy the fuel economy.

    This morning was pretty bad weather, and my old Mazda3 FWD never came close to feeling unsafe, because I have brand new Michelon X-Ice tires on it. FWIW I have spent time in an AWD Mazda3, it’s pretty cool how easy it gets going on ice, it also felt so darn slow.

    Anyway, if I was still living IN Montreal and parking on the street, then yeah I’d want AWD so I can get in and out of parking spots more easily. But mostly I’d want more ground clearance (street parking is a douleur dans le derrière in the winter). Best winter vehicle I ever had was a Tribute, it was FWD but had really high ground clearance.

    In Montreal, I’d rather drive a FWD CX-30 than an AWD Mazda3, not that it matters since the CXs are now AWD only, but just my opinion.

    Anyway, make sure to spend some time trying both the AWD and FWD version. You don’t NEED AWD, but of course it is preferable in terms of winter driving. It just has some downsides.