Like other all-wheel-drive systems, Acura?s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) distributes engine power to the front and rear wheels. Four spinning wheels instead of two means having increased traction in all road conditions, including wet tarmac, loose surfaces, and snow-covered pavement. However, the similarity between SH-AWD a conventional all-wheel drive (AWD) system ends there.

The ?Super Handling? part adds torque vectoring between the left and rear wheels. Unlike conventional AWD systems, SH-AWD adjusts the torque being sent to either the left and right rear wheels, depending on the driving condition.

There are currently two versions of Acura?s SH-AWD system: mechanical (for conventional gasoline-powered vehicles) and hybrid electric. In this guide, we?ll talk about both.
But before that, let?s discuss the differences between a vehicle with two-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive.

What is All-Wheel Drive (AWD)"

For clarity?s sake, AWD is different from 4WD. The former is more oriented towards road use, while the latter has more robust components for off-road driving. However, both AWD and 4WD operate on the principle of sending engine torque to all four wheels.

The difference is how AWD and 4WD operates. In an AWD system, everything happens instantaneously with no driver inputs. In a 4WD vehicle, the driver can choose between various settings like high/low range when tackling harsh terrain. In this article, we?re talking more about AWD since...