Symmetrical All Wheel Drive

Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (also known as Symmetrical AWD or SAWD) is a full-time four wheel drive system developed by Japanese automobile manufacturer Subaru. The SAWD system consists of a longitudinally mounted boxer engine coupled to a symmetrical drivetrain with equal length half-axles. The combination of the symmetrical layout with a flat engine and transmission balanced over the front axle provides optimum weight distribution with a low center of gravity, improving car handling characteristics. Since 1996, most international market Subaru vehicles include SAWD as standard equipment, with the rear wheel drive BRZ and kei cars as the exceptions.

The earliest version of Subaru SAWD debuted in September 1972 as an optional part-time mechanical four wheel drive system for the first-generation Subaru Leone Wagon. In 1986, the automatic non-turbocharged version of the Subaru XT was equipped with the first full-time SAWD system, with an electronically controlled version introduced in 1987. Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) AWD was first introduced in 1991, with the addition of Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) in 1998, allowing for better control of the all wheel drive system. Modern implementations of SAWD are used in conjunction with VDC, ABS, and traction control for enhanced handling performance.

First introduced in 1987 for the Subaru XT, the active torque split AWD variant uses an electronically controlled multi-plate transfer clutch for a default torque distribution of 60% front, 40% rear ratio. Torque distribution is adjusted up to a 50:50 split in realtime with input from the throttle, transmission, engine control unit and wheel speed sensors. Active torque split AWD is paired with 4-speed automatic transmissions and Subaru's chain-driven Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

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