what’s the difference between 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive?
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Usually, but the use is subjective, 4WD is a driveline designed to work as 2wd, but can be put into 4wd in low traction situations. This usually means the front and rear drive are able to be locked, which causes binding in good traction, which is why it’s not for use all the time. All-wheel-drive is a system that is meant to deliver at least some power to all 4 wheels, allows full differentiation in speed between all four wheels, and can be used in all conditions without unnecessary wear.
4wd is manual mode. You switch from 2wd to 4wd for off roading and towing purposes.
Awd is automatic. Generally a computer will switch by itself while you’re driving.
Both give power to all 4 wheels at the same time tho when activated.
On the level that matters to the driver:
All wheel drive is designed to be used on roads.
“Full time” 4-wheel drive is designed to be used on and off road. In practice this usually means that full time 4wd includes a “low” setting.
“Part time” 4-wheel drive is designed to only be used in “4 wheel” mode when the traction is really bad (off road, snow, etc).
4 wheel drive isn’t meant to be left engaged at all times as it locks the front and rear drive shafts together. Going in a straight line on a high friction surface (such as asphalt or concrete) not a big deal but because the front and rear axles don’t track the same while turning, it creates a binding force between the two axles which can lead to damage of the transfer case. On low traction surfaces (dirt, ice, snow, etc) it’s not really a big deal as the surface allows for some slip. These are sometimes referred to as “Part Time” four wheel drive systems.
All wheel drive systems simply are meant to be engaged all the time and have a mechanism in the transfer case to allow for differentiation between the front and rear driveshafts. Very similar in concept to how the differential in the axle works. These are some times referred to as “Full Time” four wheel drive systems.
The other primary difference is price. An all wheel drive transfer case is significantly more than a more simplistic four wheel drive system though full time systems are becoming more common these days. There is also a hybrid system where you have a more traditional transfer case but has the ability to dynamically engage/disengage the front axle as needed using the traction control system to detect slip (common on American full sized trucks and SUVs now) but again, it’s not meant to be run full time.
4WD is a mode that you can switch on/off to send power to 4 wheels instead of the usual 2 (to get better traction at the expense of performance). There’s typically some switch or know to turn it on/off.
AWD is a feature that automatically kicks in to provide power to 4 wheels when the car detects improved traction is required. The driver doesn’t need to do anything for it to work.
I see a few answers here, but I don’t think they are correct….from my understanding….
AWD is when all wheels are driven individually, so if let’s say you take a tight left turn, the front left tire will turn slightly slower so you don’t feel that “grab” that you would taking a tight left turn with a 4WD.
4WD conversely all tires rotate together at the same speed, making tighter maneuvers more difficult and harder on the vehicle.
Also the notion that AWD is automatic, and 4WD is manual is entirely false as well, I’ve had cars that you manually engage the AWD and trucks that were 4WD all the time. So that theory is entirely wrong.
Yeah. Can someone explain why my 2021 ford explorer says 4wd on the trunk and not AWD, are they different? Like, is my 4wd different than say a ford escape or kia sorentos AWD?
The easiest way I have known it, and please do correct me if I am mistaken, generally speaking, 4 wheel drive is a mode you consciously go into. Normally you’re in 2WD and when you engage 4WD you start putting part to all 4 wheels.
AWD is usually a 2WD setup that uses a computer to gauge slippage and will then automatically send power to the remaining wheels to gain traction.
4WD is usually what you will see in off road vehicles. AWD is seen on performance cars and cars built for inclimate weather(there’s a reason that the Subaru WRX is called the Colorado Cadillac)
AWD is great for reducing wheel spin when launching however I believe most cars after a point stop sending power to the other two wheels and go back to 2WD where as again, 4WD is a specific drivetrain option you have to gear into so you cannot make that switch on the fly.
Source: I’m a guy who is loosely interested in cars, don’t use me as a source and do correct any false information
4 wheel drive gives you the option of driving 2 wheels or 4. You get a knob/switch/lever that allows you to choose.
All wheel drive is always active, all 4 wheels get power at all times, and you have no knob/switch/lever that allows you to switch into 2wd mode.
There are some exceptions, like computer-controlled 4-wheel drive systems that give you no control over when it engages (some Fords have this), or AWD systems that have a selectable 2 wheel drive mode (like in some BMW’s).
Typically a AWD car will lack what is called ‘locking center differential’ whereas a selectable ‘4WD’ car will be equipped with one.
Obviously we can quibble about the fact that a torsen diff’d Quattro system is *literally* 4WD, and some Subarus with manual transmissions offer a locking center differential; in most applications vehicles marked “AWD” the differentials ‘lock’ via an electronic clutch-pack and are not manually selectable. In low speed and low traction situations a locking center diff is a handy tool to have. In a regular road car a locked center diff would be a disaster.
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