4-Wheel Drive (4WD) Vs All-Wheel Drive (AWD): Is There A Difference?

Car terminology can be confusing. Case in point: If a car only has four wheels why are 4-wheel drive (4WD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) two different things. So different, in fact, that mixing them up could make a major difference to what you're referring to. If this confusion has been bugging you, we're going to try and clear that turmoil in your mind. Gear up for a straight-up lesson on what the difference is between a 4-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle. Let's get going then.

A basic explanation

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Most of the cars out on the streets right now are two-wheel drives. This means their engines generate energy and pass it onto either the front wheels or the rear wheels, with the remaining set of wheels spinning freely with the momentum. So, by this logic, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) car has the engine or motor sending power to all its four wheels. As for a 4-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle, think of it as a hybrid. It drives on two wheels normally but only uses the 4-wheel drive (4WD) system when you manually activate it.

What is the use of 4-wheel drive (4WD) and all-wheel (AWD) drive cars?

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When all four wheels of a vehicle are engaged, it creates more traction, meaning the tyres can achieve a better grip on the road. This is why you will find such systems on SUVs that are designed to navigate difficult environments. Having a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD) car at your disposal when you're crossing a shallow river or riding on sand makes a huge difference to the drivability and safety of your car.

How do the two systems work?

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As we said, 4-wheel drive (4WD) cars are propelled by two wheels until the system is engaged by the driver. When you do activate it, the car equally distributes torque to the two axles, giving all four wheels an equal amount of power. A driver has to know when to turn this system on or off, or it could have an adverse effect on the efficiency of the vehicle.

All-wheel drive (AWD) cars are more intelligent machines. Since the system is on all the time and is managed by a computer, it is able to identify the kind of surface you are driving on. So, if you're driving on a regular street or on a straight highway, an all-wheel-drive (AWD) car sends most of the power to the rear wheels in order to provide more fuel efficiency. However, if it starts raining or snowing suddenly, or you enter a path that is difficult to drive on, the system automatically adapts and starts sending appropriate power to all four wheels.

When should you buy such cars?

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AWD and 4WD cars are offered as options by car manufacturers for SUVs, meaning their base models might have the two-wheel drive but the top models will feature AWD or 4WD. As for the question of which you should choose or whether you should go for such cars in the first place, it all depends on where you live and what kind of driving conditions you will encounter. Those living in remote areas should prefer 4WD since their part-time 4WD system offers control over whether to engage the option or not. AWD should be preferred by those who drive in extreme conditions like snow-filled roads or rainy-drenched streets. While it doesn't offer you the manual control of a 4WD, it certainly is more fuel-efficient.