Hi all! I keep hearing in various reviews that the Sportsline (not 4x4) can activate AWD, is that true? I recently ordered a 1.5 TSI (fwd) and I'm not sure what to believe. The specsheet I have says front wheel drive and nothing else.

Any feedback is appreciated - I want to know as much about my coming bear as possible 

 

If you’ve ordered a 1.5 fwd then that’s what you will get, it can’t magically turn into a 4x4

Just now, Kenny R said:

If you’ve ordered a 1.5 fwd then that’s what you will get, it can’t magically turn into a 4x4

 

I know, perhaps they meant it in the sense that under certain conditions (e.g. snow). I'm not expecting it to suddenly change drastially (nor do I even want/need 4x4) 🙂 Was just curious. 

I presume you are not in the UK, as according to the configurator and sales brochure the 1.5 Tsi is not available in either FWD or 4x4 in sportsline  trim.

1.5 isnt frontwheel drive? Perhaps i messed the abbreviation up as English isnt my first language, sorry!

FWD isn't a great abbreviation as it can be misconstrued as either 'front wheel drive' or 'four wheel drive'.

 

2WD = two wheel drive.

 

4x4 = four wheel drive.

 

The 1.5 TSI is 2WD, driving only the front wheels.

 

Here in the UK the SportLine cannot be specced with the 1.5 TSI, and they're all 4x4.

 

Also, the 1.5 TSI isn't available in conjunction with 4x4.

 

Kodiaq's with 4x4 get a lot more mechanical components underneath, a drive shaft from the front to the rear wheels as well as the transfer box, diff, Haldex controllers, and rear drive shafts.

 

If your Kodiaq is a 2WD 1.5 TSI there won't be any possibility of diverting power to the rear wheels.

I suspect what you've heard/read is a feature of the 4wd systems VAG sell... they are not permanent full 4wd, they are mostly front wheel drive. Occasionally as conditions dictate, pushing power to the rears too.

 

So accelerating hard form the start, more power will be pushed to the rear wheels as the fronts loose traction.

On a motorway cruising along, most of the power will be via the front wheels.

On a slippery surface you might have power being sent to the front left and rear right.

 

Unless it left the factory with a haldex gearbox, it won't be able to activate a drive shaft/fluid that does not exist.

 

All of this goes out of the water once the electrification comes along as then you'll not have a 4x4 gear/transfer box anyway, but you will have electric motors on the rears, possibly able to delivery drive.

 

Hopefully that helps. Whilst I have a haldex 4x4, it rarely helps in everyday driving... except when wet and you're in a hurry