What’s The Difference Between AWD & 4×4? Plus Vacation

There isnt much difference at all. Aussies make a difference where 4×4s are off road cars, whilst AWDs are on road cars which cant go off road (lest they want to get its underside trashed).
In the US, though, 4×4, AWD and even SUV are often applied liberally, but tend to be taken to mean the same thing.

Ron, it the most simplistic terms: a 4X4 (Jeep, etc.) runs on 2wd until one manually engages a transfer case that hooks up the front differential, thus engaging the front 2 wheels. This is NOT actually 4wd, as one front and one rear tire are the drive wheels when losing traction. On an awd vehicle, the abs brake system is deployed to actually engage any and all wheels that have traction. Normally, this is a feature on ALL THE TIME. It works very well “until” the computer malfunctions OR the abs system malfunctions. It is superior to the so-called 4wd, but under normal conditions, I still prefer the manually engaged 4wd method. Hope this clears up the difference. It’s a fine line on paper, but quite different in actual operation.

Hi Don,
Thanks for the simplified explanation. The AWD features a Lock position to have it engaged fully as well as the Auto feature.

Enjoy the weekend.

Hello Stefan,
I doubt I’ll be going off road. LOL Thanks for stopping by and sharing the info.

Regards, Ron

Not all AWD are created equally. Most AWD vehicles are not true All Wheel Drive. The term has been used with most auto manufacturers, even though they are not true AWD. If you want a true AWD (not controlled by a computer which can be the weak link) I suggest you look into a Subaru. True AWD like the Subaru offers make their cars/SUVs safer. You should test drive the Kia then go and test drive a Subaru. You will notice the difference in the handling. Remember test drives are free and knowledge is power, well at
least that’s what they used to say between my Saturday morning cartoons.

Thanks FUR . DUH . INFO……

……But . I’ll stick with . ONE – Wheel – Drive…
..By . Harley-Davidson…

….AND…. Have-A-Good-Trip . Ron

[...] What’s the difference between AWD and a 4×4? [...]

[...] What’s the difference between AWD and a 4×4? [...]

Typically, AWD refers to a non-locked type of setup. Meaning, the power is distributed between the front and rear via a viscous coupling. Also, AWD is typically “always on” and cannot be disengaged. The better AWD systems will have a viscous coupling that will be able to change the percentage of power distributed between the front and rear depending on the traction levels. Also, the better AWD systems will have limited slip differentials (definitely in the rear, sometimes in the front).

4×4 is typically reserved for trucks that have a hard linkage between the front an rear, and will also typically include locking hubs (making the wheels across from each other turn at the same speed no matter what). This latter feature, while great for off-road, is problematic on-road due to the fact that during turns, the inner wheels spin slower than the outer wheels, and you will get significant tire wear driving like that all the time. Hence, most 4×4 setups allow that to be turned off, either mechanically or electronically.

I think I’ve got most of that correct – it’s been a while since I played with that stuff. I hope it helps!

/greg

Just as an after thought Ron: if one lives in an area not too inundated with snow, then a good option would be a limited-slip differential (rear), especially on Ford vehicles! Owned Fords for years, and their full size cars were absolutely horrible in snow, even on level ground! Reason being their awful center of balance. 70% of the weight on the nose is NOT conducive to good traction! LOL

Of course, any sales person worth his/her salt would steer a customer away and instead try and sell the more “glitter” options, as they don’t make any money on this. It was tried on me a few times .. “you don’t need that option, but you really do need the premium sound system”. Yeah, right!

My Suzuki SX4 has 4X4, AWD, and FWD. The difference is: AWD will shift more power to any wheel that may slip, whereas 4X4 is a locked system; meaning that all 4 wheels rotate the same despite road conditions. AWD is better for driving on roads as the car will manage slippery conditions…great for rain or changing snow. 4X4 is more beneficial if you get one tire stuck, as the three remaining will pull you out of that situation. This is why 4X4 is a great off-road vehicle, but so is my versatile Suzuki!

AWD and 4×4 are different; don’t listen to those who say otherwise.
In 4×4, or true 4-wheel-drive, the front and read prop shafts are solidly linked. In AWD, there’s some sort of viscous (not really the right word) connection between the two.

AWD uses a transfer case that does not always send the same amount of torque to both prop shafts (the two shafts coming out of the transfer case that go to the two differentials on the two ends of the vehicle); usually the front shaft gets less torque until the rear wheels begin to slip/spin, then sensors tell the transfer case to send more torque to the other shaft.

In a 4×4, the transfer case always sends the same amount of torque to each prop shaft. There’s no slippage between the two. On solid ground (pavement) this is bad, because the rear wheels follow a shorter path around curves (we’re constantly correcting our path through small steering inputs), which puts a tremendous stress on the drive train (transfer case, prop shafts, u-joints, differentials, c/v joints, and wheels/tires),which is why there’s always a 2-wheel drive option on 4×4 vehicles, to remove this stress.

Each system (4×4 and AWD) has its advantages and drawbacks. AWD is much easier on the drivetrain while allowing much better traction in adverse conditions on pavement (which is where we do most of our driving). Traction control adds a lot to this. 4×4 is much more more useful for off-road driving, but does nothing for driving on pavement at all, and in fact is harmful to the drivetrain on pavement, and in some conditions (such as on snowy roads) can cause the ends of the vehicle to swap at inopportune times, but AWD shines here, especially with traction control.

Something to remember: 4×4 will get you into trouble faster, but will also get you out of trouble better. Unless you’re planning on doing a lot of off-roading, in areas where 4-wheel drive is actually a benefit, AWD is the better choice.

Bill

4×4 is the best way to go….. if you combine Don and Stefan’s answer, you will have the whole story to the difference betwenn AWD and 4×4. There are also some AWD that are sports cars produced by Subary and a few others. I doubt you would take them off roading.

A 4×4 is a “Manly” vehicle……..

Thanks for the additional information everyone. It is appreciated. Back to vacation. LOL

Ron, our Durango is AWD unless you engage the 4WD lock in either low range or high range (or the Nuetral which disengages all power to the axles). I don’t have a rear 2WD option. On a side note, AWD robs a few horses and mpg due to inefficiencies in the drivetrain but makes up for it in better on-road handling in wet conditions. Also, it makes it hard to burn rubber with all four wheels, even with the Hemi.

Hello David,
I have an option to engage aka LOCK the AWD for a 50-50% power split to the front and back wheels.

Mom and I had a great time at your place. Thanks again!

Like Goose Said…

…a All wheel drive is-a . GIRLY . car

Oh Yeah,
I thought a Firebird with a 6 was a girly car! LOL

Geez, I agree with Ron, Denny and Goose…….

I agree with me also!