The automotive industry is filled with different vehicles and drivetrains that each carry their own benefits, and you’ve probably heard of the two most important; All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive (4WD). Both systems essentially provide the same advantages to your vehicle, but they differ in some ways as well. We’ll show you the difference between All Wheel Drive and Four Wheel Drive right here at Carville’s Auto Mart!
How All Wheel Drive differs from Four Wheel Drive
The difference between AWD and 4WD comes when we discuss their respective complexities and processes. We’ll first describe how differentials work:
Putting it plainly, a differential is a gear train that is placed under your vehicle on an axle; differentials help to provide torque and power to your wheels. In a Front- or Rear-Wheel Drive vehicle, there’s only one differential to give power to its respective wheel. In AWD and 4WD systems, there are either two or three depending on the system, and they operate in different ways as well.
All-Wheel Drive
In an AWD system there are three differentials, located in the front and rear axles of your vehicle as well as the center. Simply put, because differentials are always working to provide your wheels with power, torque and grip, AWD systems are constantly running no matter what conditions arise on the road.
Four-Wheel Drive
Have you ever driven a big truck and noticed that you can toggle between drivetrains? That’s a tell-tale sign that you have a 4WD vehicle. In a 4WD system, there are only two differentials at the front and rear axle of your vehicle, connected by a centrally-located transfer case. When you turn on the 4WD system, power is distributed to both differentials through the transfer case.
Both All-Wheel Drive and Four-Wheel Drive essentially do the same thing for your vehicle, but they do it in very different ways. Some may argue that 4WD is a more simplistic system, and some may say that AWD is much more convenient. Whatever the case, both are always a help when the elements are less than ideal.
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Test drive a vehicle at Carville’s Auto Mart
If you are interested in driving a vehicle outfitted with either AWD or 4WD, feel free to contact our team at Carville’s Auto Mart. We’ll hook you up with the car that you’ve had your eye on!