Many people think that all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are the same. Considering cars have four wheels it would make sense if they were the same thing. But, that’s actually not that the case and they’re vastly different from each other.

Each one is better in its own respects, but for off-roading four-wheel drive will almost always be better. Let’s dive in and we’ll explain the difference between AWD (all-wheel drive) and 4WD (four-wheel drive).

All-Wheel Drive

All-wheel drive is used in some small cars like Subaru Impreza’s and is also sometimes used in large trucks like the Cadillac Escalade. All-wheel drive powers all the wheels, all the time. This means that AWD is great for conditions where the road might become very slippery. Conditions such as snow, or heavy rain.

An AWD Land Rover Discovery II can get you around in a pinch, but is it what you really want off-road?

When you turn your car, the front wheels are rotating at a different speed than the rear wheels. If the wheels are locked together, 50/50 split like a typical 4WD system everything will bind up.

It’s like if you put a lower gear ratio in your front axle than your rear axle. The driveshafts will bind up, and will probably blow up the transfer-case. The AWD system fixes this by using a differential inside the transfer box. It’s like the differential in your axles, except this one differentiates power between both axles.

In some cases, the center differential will also have a locker or limited-slip device. This means you can lock power to the axles, 50/50 split. Otherwise, all power can be sent to just one axle, which is effectively making your vehicle 2WD.

Four-Wheel Drive

Four-wheel drive is typically used on trucks and Jeep-like vehicles. Four-wheel drive doesn’t power all four wheels, all the time. It’s actually “part-time” since it’ll be in 2WD on the road.

This isn’t ideal for conditions where the road might become slippery at random. This is because you can’t adjust 4WD on the fly and usually have to stop and put the vehicle into neutral. When you go from 2WD to 4WD it locks power 50/50.

One of the most recognizable four-wheel-drive vehicles – a Jeep.

When you turn your car the front wheels are rotating a different speed than the rear wheels. If you shift into 4WD on the street and try to make a turn everything will bind up and something might break. This brings up the question: why can you use 4WD on the dirt then? When you’re in the dirt traction is limited. This means that instead of binding up the driveshafts and transfer-case when you turn, it simply spins the wheels a tiny bit.

In some cases, a transfer box will have 2WD, AWD, and 4WD. These types on transfer-cases are awesome since you can use AWD in case it snows, 2WD on the street, and 4WD when the pavement ends.

Summary

To make it simple think of everything this way: all-wheel drive is 4WD with a differential in the middle. Each one has its own pros and cons. Personally, I like 4WD because it gives me the ability to stay in 2WD and do donuts in the dirt. Some people might prefer AWD since it powers all the wheels even on pavement, giving you traction when you suddenly need it. Which do you prefer? Tell us in the comments below!