There's no shortage of bells and whistles that come with different types of cars in the industry today. When you're looking for a specific model, there's a chance you have the option of choosing between AWD and 4WD. You may think these options are the same, but they have different setups that make them unique from one another. You may be intimidated learning about both options, but there are a few basic facts that make them easy to learn about to ensure you can choose the right setup for your next ride.
What is All-Wheel Drive?
Every car that has an all-wheel drive has a powertrain that delivers power to the rear and front wheels on the car. All-wheel drive is versatile because it has a full-time AWD option to ensure every wheel on the car is always moving. A two-wheel-drive mode can also be used part-time, which still has the ability to switch back to all-wheel drive if extra traction is needed on some types of roads or surfaces.
Whenever you use all-wheel drive, you don't have to spend time engaging the system. If you prefer to control the feature, there are still a few models in the industry that offer you the ability to engage it. Each wheel receives enough torque through couplings, clutches, and differentials.
What is Four-Wheel Drive?
Larger cars like trucks and SUVs are known for having four-wheel drive as a standard feature, even on the base trims. This uses a set of differentials on the front, rear, and center of the car with transfer cases and couplings that give enough power to each wheel.
When you have a four-wheel drive on your vehicle, you can expect each wheel to have enough torque whenever it's needed with part-time and full-time modes available. As the driver, you can choose from low and high ranges while operating the vehicle in different types of settings and conditions. If you need a bit of traction for driving on sand, gravel, or snow, you can benefit from using the high setting. The low setting is ideal for the highest level of traction. You can adjust these modes with a lever or electronic switch.
If you want to learn more about AWD and 4WD, you can get in touch with our dealership today to talk to a team of experts. Our professionals are here to help you and can assist you in selecting the best setup for your next vehicle.
