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