what’s the difference between 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive?

Question

what’s the difference between 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive?

In: 60

Answer 1

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).