Symmetrical All Wheel Drive

The 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 a transmission balanced over the front axle provides optimum weight distribution with low center of gravity, improving the steering characteristics of the vehicle.

[1] Ever since 1986, most of the Subaru models sold in the international market are equipped with the SAWD system by default, with the rear wheel drive BRZ and kei cars as the exceptions.

Torque distribution is adjusted up to a 50:50 split in real time with input from the throttle, transmission, engine control unit and wheel speed sensors.

[1][4][5] Subaru vehicles equipped with manual transmissions use a viscous limited slip centre differential (VCD) AWD system, which by default distributes torque evenly between the front and rear axles.