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you haven't answered the question - how does AWD help a vehicle stop moving?

It helps you regain control and the tires will naturally drag against snow and slush once they have regained some traction.

Downshifting, if your AWD vehicle is equipped with three pedals

Are you referring to descending long hills using engine braking rather than brakes to avoid brake fade?

I can see AWD allowing better engine-braking than FWD in some low-traction situations, but I don't think it would make much difference if trying to stop quickly. I think for modern cars, using engine braking would almost never provide quicker stopping, or more controlled stopping than brakes alone.

Regarding three pedals, you could downshift in an two-pedal automatic too couldn't you?

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