What Is All-Wheel-Drive?
An AWD vehicle works in that the drive system will power the front and rear wheels at all times. It works without any input on the driver’s end, although some trucks may allow you to control where the power goes when driving.
The wheels will get their torque through various clutches or differentials. These review the car’s traction rate to ensure how well things function.
An AWD vehicle may feature a full-time AWD setup. The front and rear axles will be driven at all times here. This works well in dry conditions to help provide full power over the road. It also works in muddy summer conditions to provide added traction to ensure you can handle whatever obstacles get in the way.
Part-time AWD is also available in some vehicles. The AWD system here sends torque to two drive wheels. The torque goes to either the front or rear wheels. The other two wheels are automatically engaged when the road conditions demand additional help.
AWD uses electronic sensors to review when the wheels need extra traction. The sensors will move information to a computer, which then dictates how much power each wheel requires.
AWD functions are useful for rainy conditions, plus it works well for when you need to get off-road throughout the summer. The ability of AWD systems to work with two or four wheels at a time also helps.
But an AWD system will increase the cost of your car. You can expect to spend a few thousand dollars more on an AWD vehicle due to its added capability. An AWD system also has reduced fuel economy on average, although the difference will vary by model.
What Is Four-Wheel-Drive?
The other options you can consider for an off-roading vehicle this summer is a four-wheel-drive or 4WD setup. 4WD is a traditional system that focuses mainly on off-road activities, but it can work in most other vehicles. The purpose of 4WD is to give drivers more traction over the places they will drive.
A 4WD system moves torque to all four wheels. The design can work with low or high ranges. The driver can select the range one will use, usually through an electronic switch inside the cabin. You can use a low setting if you’re in the sand or another off-road environment. The high setting is the default one and works for rainy roads and places with loose gravel, sand, rocks, or other damp spots.
Like with an AWD vehicle, a 4WD system features full and part-time designs. It can provide power to all four wheels all the time, or it can provide power to two wheels. A part-time setup can also let you lock the differentials on the vehicle when you need extra help in some of the roughest road conditions.
A 4WD vehicle is powerful enough to manage many road conditions. But the ride is stiffer than what you’d expect from a two-wheel-drive vehicle. The 4WD system also requires more fuel than an average 2WD model, plus it costs more to use such a vehicle at this point.
Which Vehicles Have AWD or 4WD?
​All-wheel-drive features are available in most vehicles. While trucks and SUVs are more likely to feature AWD designs, you can find it in some sedans and other smaller passenger vehicles.
4WD setups are more commonly found in heavy-duty trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles made specifically for all road conditions. 4WD is prominent in vehicles with high ground clearance levels, especially since such clearance levels are necessary for climbing over rocks or handling other intense off-road situations.