9SpeedTran

I had the chance to drive an i4 with P-AWS this past week (a loaner) and I was impressed. It was definitely quick in corners and felt light and nimble, despite having the Goodyear tires on it. The i4 was spritely and the 8-speed transmission was reasonably smooth. It was very fast, you could find yourself up to (my normal cruising speed of) 80 mph very quickly. It did feel a bit light in the rear above 45 mph, particularly around corners, much the way my TL Type S used to feel. The P-AWS was subtle, far less noticeable than the 4WS I had in our Prelude waaaaay back in the day. THAT was witchy.

Then I got back on the SH-AWD, now behaving normally again with a new left rear wheel speed sensor. What a difference. It felt much more solid and much more planted. Perhaps not as nimble but more stable in corners particularly as you push up the speed. And to my surprise, not only was the engine much quieter and the shifting noticeably smoother, even the dreaded 1-2 and 2-3, but the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires on it were quieter than the stock Goodyears.

I had never driven the i4 before, because I knew I wanted the SH-AWD. For someone who does less highway driving (especially in warmer, dryer parts of the country) I think the i4 would be a great car. But for me, the SH-AWD was definitely the right choice.

slats

If one really needs AWD then I'd agree it's the better choice, but the vast majority of car reveiwers that have tested both models prefer the 4 banger due to better weight distribution and the lack of feeling nose heavy.

9SpeedTran

Interestingly, I don't notice the nose heaviness. I think it may be because I have low-profile tires with stiff sidewalls. But I did notice the lightness in the tail of the i4. I also have the spare tire kit which may help balance things out a bit.

brutustlx

What do you think of the difference between having a shifter and not? Clearly not a concern for you that much, but for me was a deal breaker with the wife.