You are quite right,
it is nothing like a deticated 4x4 system, but then there are plenty of those available if you want to buy or require to buy a 4x4.
You pays your money and makes your choice really.
For many years now 'Traction control/Hill decent' etc has worked on modern 4x4s & AWD's (part time AWD's)
by braking/slowing the spinning wheel/reducing its speed untill it gains traction rather than spinning with no traction.
(You do still get on or for 4x4's, Air Lockers, spools, Lock rights, LSD, DEtroit Lockers but not many as standard on basic soft/Mild Roaders etc,
they are part time AWD, with a system that comes in after wheel spin and uses the braking system like the ABS to reduce the wheel spinning, many are Electonic controled now rather than Viscous Couplings or mecahinical/hydraulic/electronic)
Electrics and sensors and mud/watter/ice/snow are never a great combination sadly.
JUST ASK AND FREELANDER/DISCOVERY OWNER ABOUT TC SENSORS OR THE 3 AMIGOS.
*Any system 4x4, AWD, Traction Plus or open diffs will only ever be as good as the tyres that are part of the system being used, JMO obviously*
A old 2CV or Fiesta etc on narrow tyres might perform as good as any lardy Range Rover or Land Cruiser on Wide Low profiles.
Even a Fiat Panda 2wd on good tyres can out perform a AWD Panda on the wrong tyres when there is in conditions with poor traction.
I have a few 4x4's, one is permanent 4x4 with a central diff used as a tow barge, (Land Rover) & 2 have Part Time AWD, rear wheel drive on road (Suzuki), 1 has locking diffs.
My road one has not needed to be put into 4wd since the winter of 2010-11, so other than when offroad, there has been no need for it.
Even the 4x4 can become '1 Wheel drive' or even 'no wheel drive' when there is no Locking axle differential.
There is a very good dedicated selective AWD vehicle about to come out later this year if that is what you actually require.
Dacia Dusters will be available at Renualt dealers later this year.
The 2 wd version will be around £10,000 & the Auto select 4wd will cost less than your Qubo Trekking.
Maybe worth checking these out.
Nice simple robust AWD coming back to the UK at an affordable price.
(sadly Euro 5's, DPF's, ECU's, TPMS, DRL's are here for ever. but we have yet to suffer Euro 6 & 7's luckily)
george
PS
The Skoda has a Electronic Front diff and it is wonderful.
