<p>We are looking into cars that are safe and all wheel drive at a reasonable price. Wondering if anyone has any experience with either vehicle. I looked at the IIHS crash tests which rate both as very safe.</p>
<p>We have a Jeep Liberty ( H insists on American cars & we got a deal)
It is OK- but still a Chrysler.
I think handling counts a lot for road safety. Can you see out easily- does it maneuver well… I did get used to sitting up high with the mini-van, so the Jeep is good in that regard.
[Jeep</a> Patriot](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/patriot/]Jeep”>http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/patriot/)</p>
<p>[Mitsubishi</a> Lancer](<a href=“http://www.edmunds.com/mitsubishi/lancer/]Mitsubishi”>http://www.edmunds.com/mitsubishi/lancer/)</p>
<p>Checkout a Hyundai Tucson and Subaru.</p>
<p>Mitsubishi is one of those manufacturers that might go the way of Isuzu for the USA since they have low sales figures. If they do go away it might make it more difficult to get parts down the road.</p>
<p>Make sure you test drive whatever you’re considering since there’ll be a big difference in drive and handling between these vehicles.</p>
<p>We bought a patriot this past summer for my 19 yr old son. With 12k miles on it . He loves it and we have had no probs. not bad on gas and performed well in its first snow this week!</p>
<p>Good to hear that the Jeep Patriot was great in the snow!</p>
<p>We LOVE our new Hydundai Tucson AWD.</p>
<p>These two cars are odd picks to compete with each other. So are you looking in the SUV segment, or are you looking for a compact car? Neither of the Lancer or the Patroit are particularly reliable or comfortable, nor hold their values well…</p>
<p>Why not buy any car you like and an extra set of wheels with winter tires on them?</p>
<p>The extra set of wheels with winter tires won’t cost any more than an AWD option, and won’t drink extra fuel in the summer. While AWD can help you go in the snow and ice, winter tires can help you turn and stop in the snow and ice. You just install them when the snow and ice season comes and put back the non-winter tires when the snow and ice ends.</p>
<p>^^ I’d much rather have AWD in snow and ice than 2WD with winter tires. I’ve had both.</p>
<p>My only goal is to find a vehicle that is safe and has AWD - and is reasonably priced. I looked at the IIHS reports and went from there.</p>
<p>Both the Jeep Patriot and Mitsubishi Lancer were rated highly in crash tests and are reasonably priced but I am totally open to any others that fill these needs.</p>
<p>If you test drive them you’ll find the handling quite different between the two vehicles. They’re also different in terms of practicality in the ability to fit stuff in them. The comfort and ergonomics are bound to be different as well. You need to get out and check out these and some others in person. You should be able to determine whether an SUV/crossover or sedan/coupe is the preferred type which helps you narrow it down.</p>
<p>Make a list of vehicles with the primary criteria you’re looking for such as IIHS safety, cost, size, type (SUV, car, hatchback, etc.), AWD, etc. and then spend some time at the dealers checking them out but when you do that don’t be prepared to buy anything until you’ve checked out all the ones on your list. When the salesperson gets obnoxious tell him you’re just starting your research and have other cars to look at and will made a decision at a later time.</p>
<p>I’d much rather have AWD in snow and ice than 2WD with winter tires. I’ve had both.</p>
<p>It’s not like if you get 4WD- then you can’t get winter tires.
You need all the traction you can get.
We just put our snow tires on yesterday- just in time- it started snowing last night!</p>
<p>You should consider a Subaru Forester or Outback, both of which have AWD. The passenger compartment frames of Subarus are reinforced with extra steel, and the cars are designed so that the front and rear absorb most of the force in a collision while the passenger compartment remains mostly intact. My wife and daughter were in an accident in a Subaru Outback wagon and received only a few bruises and mild cases of whiplash. We immediately replaced that car with another Outback wagon.</p>
<p>If you travel to Vermont or Colorado you will notice that many people who are used to harsh winter conditions have chosen Subarus.</p>
<p>Yes, there are lots of Subarus in mt towns. ;)</p>
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Yea - AWD with dry pavement handling tires might not be as good as 2WD with good winter tires but AWD with decent winter tires is the best choice for snow/ice. One still needs to be careful and not over-confident though because once tires are sliding it doesn’t matter whether it’s 2WD or 4WD.</p>
<p>Another vote for Subaru here. Great AWD, reliability, great to drive and good value for the money. </p>
<p>We put snow tires on all our cars, even the AWD ones.</p>
<p>I am thinking of getting a car for D- since where she is attending college- bikes aren’t so practical.
How easy are Subarus to work on for someone who doesn’t want to have to pull the engine to change the spark plugs?</p>
<p>Who’s this car for? To be politically incorrect - a Subaru Forester and Outback pretty much top the list as a ‘mom car’ so if this is for your S or your H then they might it not be so appealing.</p>
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<p>Unless it’s the Impreza WRX STI. My guess is that a S or H would find that very appealing. ;)</p>
<p>This is Jeep country where I live so we were proud to be able to support our local economy with a Patriot! We truly believe in 4WD so that was a priority in choosing a car for our son. While I’d like a Suburu myself, the Patriot is a decent, reliable car for him. Better gas mileage than the Liberty was a plus.</p>