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You’ll no doubt have come across various terms relating to 4×4 such as AWD, 4WD, Quattro, ALLGRIP, ALL4 and 4Motion. As confusing as these terms can be, they all relate to two different types of 4×4 cars: 4-wheel drive or All-wheel drive, and they are quite different from each other.

4WD

4WD or 4-wheel drive cars, like the Suzuki Vitara ALLGRIP and Nissan X-Trail 4WD spend the majority of their time running as a 2WD car unless the need arises. With this type of system, the 4-wheel drive mode doesn’t kick in until it detects slipping on one of the two wheels powering the car, thus allowing the car to grip and remain stable. Modern cars often have mode selectors which allow you to turn the 4WD on permanently, for such instances as driving in snow where slipping could occur frequently.

AWD

Cars which come under the AWD category like the Subaru Forester, Outback and XV, are in permanent 4-wheel drive mode. This means that all four wheels are powered 100% of the time. This is particularly useful if the driver is negotiating rugged, off-road terrain. Professions such as farming often require this capability, which is why you’ll often see them in vehicles like Land Rovers which are permanently 4-wheel drive!

So what are the advantages of 4-wheel drive cars?

Regardless of whether the car is permanent 4-wheel drive or not, 4×4 cars give added stability and grip in situations where a standard 2WD car may slip or get stuck. Where two wheels are only at work in a 2WD car, all 4 wheels work together simultaneously in a 4×4 to move the vehicle. If you live in a rural location with muddy tracks, or your job involves frequent off-road trips – then a car with 4×4 capability is likely to be a priority for you.

Where performance is a factor, 4WD cars are quicker off the mark than a standard rear or front wheel drive car because all the power is applied to all the wheels from the get go, so there is no lack of traction. Combine this with launch control which many performance cars also come with, and this is one of the reasons that these heavier cars with lower bhp can outperform lighter, higher-powered 2WD models.

Ok, what about the disadvantages?

To power four wheels instead of two requires additional vehicle parts, and in the case of 4WD cars (rather than AWD), it requires additional technology on board to control when the system kicks in. These extra parts and technology come at a cost and weight meaning that 4×4 cars are more expensive to purchase and run. The extra weight and the need to power twice as many wheels also means an increase in running costs. Though the latter can be circumvented to a degree in 4WD cars thanks to their clever selective mode technology.

When it comes to traction on slick pavement, gravel roads, snow or off-road, four-wheel drive may be more likely to help keep you moving forward when a two-wheel drive vehicle could slip off the shoulder or be buried up to the axle attempting to get a grip. This begs the question: When do you use the various modes of four-wheel drive?

Here’s the down and dirty, which will help keep you from having to dig a stuck truck out of a ditch.

Four-High (4H)

In high-range four-wheel drive, you can travel at all normal speeds. Engage this setting when you’re on the highway and roads are sketchy – wet, snowy, icy. It’s also good for level, loose-gravel roads, packed sand or mud. Simply put, 4H is used for driving at normal speeds when you need extra traction, according to Popular Mechanics.

Four-Low (4L)

The low-range four-wheel-drive setting is for the serious stuff – deep sand, snow, mud, crossing water, climbing rocks and ascending/descending hills. When you use four-low, keep your speeds low, too (under 40 mph or so), as you’re not actually gripping the road any better but you’re applying more torque to that grip. Designed for maximum traction and maximum power, the wheels will turn more slowly in 4L than 4H, says Popular Mechanics.

Automatic Four-Wheel Drive (AWD)

This is a modern convenience that allows you to effectively “set it and forget it.” In this setting, the vehicle monitors tire traction while in two-wheel drive and automatically shifts into four-wheel drive when one of them begins to slip. Use this setting when roads are variable, such as patchy snow and ice or any other combination of conditions when a tire could slip suddenly. There are two types of AWD: part-time or automatic AWD, as mentioned above; and full-time AWD, which delivers power to all four wheels but lacks the low-range torque found in 4L, according to Edmunds.

Keep in Mind

You should never travel in four-wheel drive on flat, smooth, dry roads, as it will damage your drivetrain. Also, remember that four-wheel drive provides more torque and engages all the tires for movement – it doesn’t help you stop. Always travel at speeds that allow you to stop safely, regardless of how well you’re moving forward.

When shifting from two-wheel drive to automatic four-wheel drive or four-high, you can do so “on the fly” – or while traveling at normal speeds. When shifting into and out of four-wheel-drive low, however, you will likely need to come to a stop and wait for the indicator light to stop flashing.

2 wheel Drive? 4 wheel Drive? What are the differences?

The terrains and conditions you drive on determine which type of car you need to buy. Depending on your daily driving activities, you need to choose either a two-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive. Typically, two-wheel drive vehicles are smaller than four-wheel drive vehicles. Two-wheel drive vehicles are powered by only two while four-wheel drive vehicles are powered by all the four wheels. This obviously means that four-wheel drive vehicles provide more power than two-wheel drives.

2 wheel Drive Vehicles

Most vehicles are found in this category. Being a two-wheel drive vehicle means that only two wheels are spun by the engine. There are two types of two-wheel drive vehicles; front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive. A good example of a two-wheel drive from BE FORWARD stocklist is Toyota Wish.

Front-wheel Drive Vehicles

This design is the most common and it is where the engine powers the two front wheels. This engine design has the advantage of being cheaper to make. They are also more space efficient than their rear-wheel drive counterparts. These engines are preferred as they provide better traction while going uphill as the weight of the engine is balanced over the front wheels. The disadvantage of this type of design is that the front wheels have to do two jobs, driving and steering.

Rear-wheel Drive Vehicles

This design is where the engine powers the rear wheels. This type is popular in pick-ups and trucks that carry heavy loads. This is so because the heavy loads give better traction. Rear-wheel drives are also popular on sports vehicles, SUVs and luxury vehicles where handling is improved. Cars with rear-wheel drive have the advantage of optimised suspension handling due to the fact that the front wheels are used for steering only.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Two-wheel Drive Vehicles

Advantages: Cheap, Fuel-efficient and Lighter
Disadvantages: Less power and not suitable for all conditions

Four-wheel drive vehicles are also known as 4X4, which means that the engine or drivetrain can give power to all of the car’s wheels, thus being powered by all the four wheels. Four-wheel drive vehicles are the perfect vehicles for off-road driving situations and going up steep hills and low traction roads. For most four-wheel drive vehicles, you have the option to switch between four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive. Four-wheeled vehicles have the advantage of providing more traction. An example of a four-wheel drive vehicle on BE FORWARD’s stocklist is Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, most SUVs are four-wheeled vehicles.

All-wheel Drive Vehicles

This vehicle design gives power to every corner of the vehicle. It is capable of providing maximum traction on acceleration. It is absolutely magnificent in wet and slippery conditions. It is capable of providing power to a set of wheels, either the front or back so that when your car is slipping, power is moved to another axle, to try and get more traction from it.

Advantages and Disadvantages of 4 wheel Drive Vehicles

Advantages: Excellent traction in off-road situations and ability to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive for better fuel efficiency Disadvantages: Heavier, Expensive, Consumes much fuel in off-road conditions.