Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
What is the difference between all-wheel and 4×4 drive?
By Product Expert | Posted in Technology, Tips and Tricks on Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 at 2:43 pm
While we’ve already tackled the differences and advantages of rear-wheel drive vs front-wheel drive, today we want to look at something a little different. While most cars on the road (and the majority of vehicles in our used vehicle inventory here at Third Coast Auto Group) are two-wheel drive models, drivetrains that send power to more than two wheels have plenty of positives, especially in bad weather or rough terrain. What is the difference between all-wheel and 4×4 drive? Keep reading for a few highlights.
How do all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive work?
Both all-wheel drive and 4×4 drive direct power from the engine to all four wheels of a vehicle, but how they do it is very different. Four-wheel, or 4×4, or four-by-four directs the power evenly to each wheel so that they turn at the same speed without slipping (which isn’t how cars generally work). This is great when you are driving straight, but can actually damage your vehicle on turns, because the wheels have to go at different speeds in order to turn effectively.
In contrast, all-wheel drive uses computers and sensors to monitor the behavior of each wheel and send the optimal amount of power to that wheel. Usually all-wheel drive is on all the time, while 4×4 drive is activated with a lever, switch or button.
Bad Weather vs Off-Road
Car being driven in snow
All-wheel drive is great for difficult road conditions, whether that be heavy rain or a muddy country path. Four-wheel drive is ideal for serious off-roading needs. Especially at low speeds, it offers the best traction.
Complexity and Cost
Both all-wheel and 4×4 drive will cost more to buy than two-wheel drive, but there are other costs that drivers should be aware of. All-wheel drive is more complex, and if it breaks down it will cost more to fix.
Should you get all-wheel drive or 4×4 drive? That all depends on your budget, your driving needs, and what you are going to use it for. For city and suburb driving, in a climate like Texas, you probably won’t need all-wheel drive more than a couple times in you life. However, those times it may be very nice to have.
