what’s the difference between 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive?
In: 60
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
Latest Answers