Independent MacPherson Strut Front Suspension

The MacPherson strut independent front suspension is a proven design that delivers an excellent balance of spirited handling and crisp steering response.

Ride and Handling

• The front struts feature a coil-over-shock design with an L-shaped lower control arm
• Each wheel reacts to road irregularities with no effect on the opposite wheel
• Coil-over-shock design locates the shock absorber in the center of the coil spring which reduces offset and allows the spring and shock to move in precision. This also limits twisting or lateral forces that could bind the shock and cause a harsher ride
• Use of high-strength steel combined with coil-over-shock design allows the use of lightweight springs
• Suspension bushings are tuned independently for responsive steering and a smooth ride
• Large bushing at the top of each strut mount helps resist vertical movements from uneven road surfaces and resists side deflection to deliver crisp steering feel
• Hydrobushing at the rear of the L-shaped lower control arm uses oil-filled internal chambers to dampen road forces from passenger compartment
• Outboard-mounted front stabilizer bar provides precise roll control and steering response

Compact Design

• Front struts feature a coil-over-shock design which is more compact than double-wishbone front suspensions
• Allows the maximum amount of room in front of the suspension to help improve crash performance
• Provides more room in the engine compartment for powertrain components

Independent Multi-link Rear Suspension

Front and rear suspension components are tuned for consistent and balanced shock absorption front to rear, delivering precise handling without the sacrifice of a smooth ride.

Strong

• Multi-link design is built on a stout fully-isolated boxed subframe
• Shock absorbers are mounted as far outboard as possible — allowing chassis engineers to tune them to handle higher road impacts and deliver an excellent balance of ride and handling
• Independent suspension design lets each wheel react to road irregularities with no effect on the opposite wheel

Ride and Handling

• During heavy braking, the suspension causes slight toe-in — which is how much the front part of two opposite wheels point toward the center of the vehicle. This helps enhance steering stability
• Strong foundation allows chassis engineers to better tune the suspension components for excellent ride and handling characteristics

Available All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

• AWD provides performance and safety benefits for SEL and Limited
• Continuously monitors vehicle speed, throttle input, steering angle and wheel slip to seamlessly deliver torque to the appropriate wheel(s)
• Helps eliminate torque steer and helps balance the vehicle when cornering
• In a curve, the front wheels steer the vehicle to maintain direction, as well as propel the vehicle forward
• AWD system sends power to the rear wheels, allowing the rear wheels to help propel the vehicle
• AWD helps improve overall handling by allowing the front tires to apply more available traction to steer the vehicle
• AWD works together with traction control to distribute up to 100 percent of the available torque to the wheel(s) with the most traction
• System operates as front-wheel drive during normal driving to help reduce fuel consumption

Rack-and-pinion Steering

• Rack-and-pinion steering maintains linear steering effort as the driver turns the wheel. The result is responsive steering that naturally follows a straight line as the wheel is turned
• 41-foot (curb-to-curb) turning diameter
• Quick steering ratio of 17:1 means drivers don’t have to turn the wheel very far to go around a tight corner

Four-wheel Disc Brakes

• Large brake rotors (12.8-inch front and 13.0-inch rear) for a large swept area and powerful braking. Front rotors are vented for better heat dissipation, to help reduce brake fade
• Twin-piston front calipers provide a precise and powerful braking performance
• Low-metallic, high-friction brake pad material for durability and dust control. The results are potentially lower maintenance costs and cleaner wheels

Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD)

• EBD sends the optimum amount of braking pressure to the rear brakes at all times under a variety of loads
• Whether there’s one person or five people and their gear, EBD ensures the driver can apply the brakes with confidence in all conditions
• EBD means fewer occurrences of ABS activation and improved braking under heavy loads, and it allows all four wheels to give optimum braking

Class III Trailer Tow Package

• Rated to 4500 lbs. and optional on all models
• Receiver hitch and wiring harness with 4-/7-pin connector
• Engine oil cooler
• Tire mobility kit