Why SUBARU | Technology

The Symmetrical AWD

Taking you wherever you want to go.

Symmetrical AWD brings SUBARU’s ideal to life—delivering the same sense of confidence and driving enjoyment for everyone on board, no matter the road conditions.

By optimally distributing power to each wheel, it helps maintain stability even on slippery surfaces. It also contributes to a smoother ride by reducing body movement and improving comfort.

Whether you’re driving alone or with loved ones, Symmetrical AWD helps make every journey feel smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable.

The Symmetrical AWD

Designed to Make the Most of All Four Wheels

The defining feature of Symmetrical AWD is its symmetrical powertrain layout, centred around the horizontally opposed engine. With major components aligned along the vehicle’s centreline, weight is distributed evenly to all four wheels, maintaining strong tyre contact with the road surface. As a result, drivers can drive with confidence across a wide range of conditions—from muddy, uneven terrain to highway cruising.

Outstanding Weight Balance from a Symmetrical Layout

With Symmetrical AWD, key components such as the engine and transmission are positioned close to the vehicle’s centre of gravity, creating a naturally balanced layout for agile, responsive handling. It also helps reduce body sway, improving ride comfort and giving everyone on board a greater sense of reassurance.

Mechanism like no other delivers ideal performance

Stability

Excellent overall weight balance helps maximise the potential of AWD. Because the engine’s power is efficiently transmitted to the road through the tyres, the vehicle remains stable across a wide range of road surfaces.

Traction

SUBARU’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive is a full-time AWD system that optimally distributes driving force to all four wheels. Even on slippery surfaces or rough roads, the tyres maintain strong grip, enabling confident, capable driving.

Agility

Combined with the smooth-running horizontally opposed engine, SUBARU’s AWD system helps the vehicle stay stable through corners and remain steady at higher speeds. As a result, drivers can follow the intended line smoothly and with confidence.

X-MODE

X-MODE

X-MODE further enhances the all-terrain capability of Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. By appropriately distributing driving force to all four wheels and controlling braking force, it helps you regain traction and pull away smoothly on slippery or uneven roads. On selected models, a two-mode X-MODE system is available. Simply choose the mode that matches the road surface to drive with greater confidence across a variety of conditions.

Hill Descent Control

Hill Descent Control helps maintain a steady vehicle speed when driving downhill. It allows you to descend safely on slippery surfaces such as snowy roads or gravel slopes, where careful brake control is usually required. Even when turning through a bend while descending, it helps you stay focused on steering.

Symmetrical AWD: Four Types to Match Every Model

Active torque split AWD

Active torque split AWD

An AWD system developed exclusively for 4-speed automatic transmission, E-4AT (with manual mode) and Lineartronic models to maximise the reliable driving performance of AWD models under any driving conditions. The Lineartronic CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) uses a chain instead of a belt—allowing a greater span of overall ratios for improved performance and efficiency as well as a faster response to throttle input. The active torque-split AWD system usually distributes torque 60:40 front and rear, however sensors constantly monitor the vehicle’s condition in areas such as changes in grip of the front and rear tyres or vehicle speed. The electronically controlled MP-T (Multi Plate Transfer) adjusts torque distribution to the front and rear tyres in real-time to suit driving conditions, as well as the transmission and driver inputs. This further increases the stability of the AWD system to deliver a safe and agile driving experience

Variable Torque Distribution AWD

An AWD system designed exclusively for 5-speed automatic transmission, E-5AT (with manual mode) models to provide aggressive, sporty driving with increased turning abilities all while retaining the fundamental driving stability offered by the Symmetrical AWD. An uneven 45:55 front and rear torque distribution has been set for the front and rear tyres. Sending greater torque to the rear wheels can reduce understeer, a trait that plagues 4WD vehicles, when cornering for smooth and agile handling. Torque distribution is controlled automatically up to an equal 50:50 front and rear to suit road surface conditions for both sporty driving and stability.

Viscous Centre Differential AWD

An AWD system for manual transmissions with a simple layout consisting of a centre differential and viscous LSD. A 50:50 front and rear torque distribution is set under normal conditions. This maximises traction and provides driving backed with stability. When the front or rear wheels slip and traction is lost, or the wheel speed differs between the front and rear axles, the viscous LSD maintains optimum torque distribution between the front and rear and distributes power to the wheels with the most traction. It links the flexible gear shifting of the manual transmission to deliver sporty driving that always maximises the available traction.

Multi-mode DCCD

The Driver’s Control Centre Differential (DCCD) allows the centre differential locking of the WRX STI to be dialed in and adjust its handling. It adjusts both an electromagnetic multi-plate transfer clutch and mechanical locking of a Limited Slip Differential (LSD) to distribute torque to the front and rear wheels. Auto Mode identifies the ideal power distribution for changing conditions, whilst Auto [+] keeps more power up front for increased traction. Auto [-] transfers more power to the rear for tighter cornering, and the six-step Manual Mode locks in the driver’s favourite handling characteristics.

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