AWD is the Name of the Game at Lexus

If you’re buying a Lexus, you know a few things: you know you’re buying reliability, performance, luxury, technology and the piece-of-mind that comes with all of that.

In 2023, however, there’s another feather in that quiver: almost every Lexus model is available with AWD. Not just any AWD, either; there are a number of different AWD systems on offer from Lexus to fit a number of driving styles. Whether you’re looking for a performance drive, a rugged off-road trek to the backcountry or just the relaxation that comes with driving a hybrid AWD vehicle in cold Canadian winters.

The NX and RX crossovers are a good place to start. They are all AWD but by default, only the front axle gets power. However: depending on what’s required (taking into consideration driving style and conditions), up to 50 per cent of available power can be sent to the rear axle via a mechanical driveshaft. These vehicles are all about providing driving confidence and assuredness in adverse conditions.

The system found in a performance vehicle like the RC coupe, meanwhile, provides a more rear-biased driving feel with a minimum 70 per cent of torque being delivered to the rear wheels. Like the on-demand system, up to 50 per cent of power can be sent to the front wheels, if the situations dictates.

A hybrid powertrain is available in almost as many Lexus products as AWD is and with it, we find yet another twist in the AWD game.

You see, in order to fit all that hybrid running gear – namely, the battery pack – there’s less room within the vehicle to run a space-using part…like a driveshaft to the rear wheels. So, what Lexus has done is use an EV motor to power the rear wheels in a hybrid, and that’s how you achieve AWD. Since there’s no mechanical driveshaft to worry about, the transition from FWD to AWD happens very quickly in this configuration.

Both the GX and LX Series SUVs come with a mechanical, locking four-wheel-drive system that makes use of transfer cases and gearsets. These are the rear go-anywhere vehicle, able to clamber up most any surface and in most any condition as all four wheels get put to the test.