Toyota Sienna Van and RAV4 Compact SUV: All-Wheel-Drive Cures for the Winter Blues
March 02 2015 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
- Sienna: The Only All-Wheel-Drive
Minivan in the Segment
- AMCI Certified Testing of Sienna and
RAV4 Reveals Significant AWD Benefits
Through ice and snow, Toyota continues to go places. Long, harsh
winters can be a bit more bearable when drivers of family haulers
ride into spring with the added capability and peace of mind that
an all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle provides.
2015 Toyota Sienna AWD (Photo: Business
Wire)
Recently, the Toyota Sienna and RAV4, both with available AWD,
along with some leading competitors in their respective segments,
completed certified testing in snow and ice conditions by notable
third-party organization AMCI. The certified tests revealed the
Sienna minivan and RAV4 compact SUV performed significantly better
in the areas of acceleration, traction, and handling on snowy and
icy road conditions when equipped with AWD. In fact, the certified
testing results showed the Sienna AWD performed substantially
better than other front-wheel-drive competitors in its segment and
equal cornering performance on both ice and snow as a competing
popular mid-size SUV equipped with four-wheel-drive!
Similarly, the RAV4 equipped with AWD was AMCI Testing certified
to deliver better active-safety acceleration, handling and
cornering performance on snow than its competitors in the testing.
Specific certified testing in which a Sienna XLE AWD and RAV4 XLE
AWD each outperformed its competition by large margins
included:
- 0-50 mph on snow
- Shorter stops on ice from 30 mph
- Cornering performance on ice (Sienna
only) and snow (Sienna and RAV4)
- Evasive-action performance on snow
(RAV4 only)
Toyota’s AWD technology helps provide additional on-road
capability. The Sienna AWD system employs a transfer case to
smoothly deliver power to an electromagnetic coupler on the rear
differential that divides engine power up to 50/50 front and rear.
Wheel slippage at either set of wheels automatically transfers more
power to the opposite wheels to help keep the Sienna moving
forward. This type of system not only handles wet and slippery
roads (rain, snow, ice, etc.) with confidence, but is fully up to
light-duty off-highway conditions. Driver intervention is
minimized, as the AWD system continuously monitors the torque
transfer between the front and rear wheels. Front to rear torque
distribution can vary from 100:0 to 50:50, with front-wheel drive
(100:0) automatically engaged under normal driving conditions to
help improve fuel consumption.
The RAV4 compact SUV offers a sophisticated Dynamic Torque
Control All-Wheel Drive system. By coordinating through a
high-speed interactive management system with Vehicle Stability
Control (VSC) and electric power steering systems, Dynamic Torque
Control All-Wheel Drive helps enhance performance, handling and
safety.
This advanced AWD system continuously monitors and controls the
torque transfer between the front and rear wheels via an
electromagnetically controlled coupling positioned in the rear
differential. Dynamic Torque Control uses input from various
sensors (vehicle speed, steering speed and angle, throttle angle
and yaw rate) to actively govern torque distribution to the rear
wheels, as needed.
Front to rear torque distribution can vary from 100:0 to 50:50,
with front-wheel drive automatically engaged under normal driving
conditions to help reduce fuel consumption. The system
automatically shifts to AWD when accelerating to help prevent front
wheel slippage, or when sensors detect wheel slippage.
When Sport mode is selected, torque transfer to the rear wheels
starts from the moment the steering wheel is turned, to reduce the
load on the front tires. If understeer develops, torque transfer to
the rear wheels is automatically increased by up to 50 percent,
further reducing front tire loading to provide enhanced lateral
grip.
When tackling off-pavement driving or very slippery conditions,
pushing an AWD Lock button fixes torque distribution at 50:50 at
speeds up to about 25 mph to maximize grip. Above that, the system
reverts to Auto mode.
Sienna’s AWD system is available on seven-passenger LE, XLE,
Limited and XLE and Limited Premium models. The RAV4 AWD system is
available on LE, XLE and Limited models.
To help prepare your Sienna and RAV4 for the harsh winter
elements, a Toyota Outdoor Package is offered. Available with all
2015 Sienna AWD models and select RAV4 XLE and Limited models in
both FWD and AWD, the package consists of roof rack cross bars,
all-weather floor mats and mud guards. The Sienna package also
includes door sill protectors while the RAV4 package adds a rear
bumper skid plate garnish.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos and video to accompany this story are
available and can be retrieved in digital form by media without
charge at http://www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Video of the Sienna and RAV4 AWD certified testing by AMCI can
be viewed on the Toyota YouTube site at:
http://toyota.us/Sienna_OnIce and http://toyota.us/RAV4_OnIce.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150302005044/en/
Toyota Division CommunicationsCraig Taguchi,
310-468-3282craig_taguchi@toyota.comorSam Butto,
310-468-7728sam_butto@toyota.comorMedia Web site:
http://www.toyotanewsroom.comPublic Web site:
http://www.toyota.com
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