AWD

I have found that the AWDe (I have a 2020) works well at low speeds. I can now easily go up my steep driveway on snow/ice even with the poor Toyo Nanos that came with the car. With my previous Prii, the driveway was a difficult problem which was mostly resolved by getting Nokian WR tires (WR, WRg2, WRg3, and soon WRg4). I was also disturbed by the lack of a spare so I just keep the donut from my 2016 in back of the driver seat.

JeffD

 

All things considered — extra trunk space and power drivers seat — I would’ve preferred getting an XLE instead of an XLE AWD-e. But in Seattle, they were running amazing lease deals on the latter that they weren’t on the former.

The one day I drove in the snow this past winter (it rarely snows here), it did seem sure footed, FWIW. But I think in general AWD is overrated. I grew up in Michigan in the 80s, and no one had AWD.

 

The AWD works amazingly well for what it's meant to do - low-speed traction with Winter tires. I can honestly say I was doing better in the snow than every single AWD SUV in my area during the deep snow in Calgary last winter. I won't say anything about higher speed AWD, but no amount of AWD or brakes will help if you're above speed on snow and ice.