In a remote corner of Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, about 90 miles northeast of Montreal, we found ourselves standing on 30-inch-thick ice floating atop one of the many picturesque lakes that dot the rolling landscape of Quebec. We hadn’t come to take in the sights or participate in a dog-sledding expedition?although we did these things, too?but to put Volkswagen?s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system to the test. On hand were examples of the brand?s newest SUVs, the Atlas and the Tiguan, as well as a Golf Alltrack with a manual transmission and a Golf R equipped with Volkswagen?s DSG automatic gearbox.
All four vehicles were equipped with the company’s 4Motion all-wheel drive and shod with unstudded Continental winter tires; winter tires are a requirement in the province of Quebec from December 15 to March 15. Four makeshift courses had been cleared and coned off on the lake, and a pair of instructors stood by to help us hone our car-control techniques on ice and lightly snow-packed surfaces. Being from frigid Michigan, we slid behind the wheel confident that we?d need little of the guidance flowing out of our French Canadian guide?s mouth. But we listened anyway and ultimately learned more than we’d expected, both about Volkswagen?s 4Motion system and about our driving.
The 4Motion system uses an electrohydraulic clutch pack to engage the compact all-wheel-drive coupling, which is situated neatly in the rear differential housing. The 4Motion system drives the f...