Dealer says you can only tell by the VIN, and is trying to sell me one that has no badging, etc, to confirm it's an AWD. Some have a SRX4 badge on the rear, but not these. Dealer's advertisement says rear-wheel drive, but the salesman says it's really AWD.
Is there some way a buyer can tell? A website to check VINs against? Something under the hood?

 

I believe the 2008 model had the SRX4 badging if it was an AWD model. I have a 2008 model and that's what the salesman told me.

The regular rear wheel drivce ones on have the SRX badge.

You can look under the hood and strain your neck deep down and see of you can see the half-shafts going into each front wheel.
If you dont see it, then its a rear wheel drive version. Also look underneath from the front to locate the half-shafts. At the wheel, you will notice an accordian type dust boot with the shaft coming out of it. If its not there...again....its a rear wheel drive vehicle.

Hope this helps.

 

I believe this is a common question. The VIN # won't tell the whole story (my carfax report even indicated a rear wheel drive when it was actually AWD), but the build sheet will indicate if it is AWD. Like other trucks, the AWD was a transmission option (don't remember the code for that option off hand, but I am sure someone here has it handy).