What You Need to Know About AWD Vehicles

What You Need to Know About All-Wheel Drive Vehicles

Car buyers looking to buy a vehicle for off-road trips often confuse four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Many people think they are the same which is not true. Here we have listed some important facts about all-wheel-drive vehicles that you should know. 

The Difference Between AWD And 4WD

It’s easy to get AWD and four-wheel drive (4WD) confused. Both drivetrains send power to all four wheels and perform great on slippery or rough terrain. However, the primary difference is that in an AWD vehicle, all four wheels are sent power all the time, while in 4WD, all four wheels are powered only when extra traction is needed, such as off-road situations. 

• AWD: The engine employs a front, rear, and center differential to direct power to all the wheels

• 4WD: The engine employs two differentials (front and rear) and a transfer case to direct power to all the wheels  

Types of All-Wheel-Drive Systems

There are two main types of all-wheel-drive systems: Full-time all-wheel drive and automatic all-wheel drive

Full-time AWD: In this system, the power is directed to all three differentials all the time, which is then sent to all four wheels. 

Automatic AWD: In this type of system, there is no center differential. The engine sends power to only one differential which powers either the front or rear set of wheels. Only when there is lower traction, the engine power is directed to the other set of wheels. In automatic AWD, the driver gets benefits of all-wheel-drive only in low traction scenarios.

Does AWD Make Driving Safer? 

The truth is that an AWD system only helps in improve traction on slippery surfaces or off-road. It does nothing to improve steering or braking performance. Also, the traction performance depends a lot on the right types of tires. Without a doubt, tires are one of the most important elements in AWD vehicles. For example, if you are driving in snow, you will get better traction if you are using winter tires. 

All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Have Low Fuel Economy

As mentioned earlier, the drivetrain sends power to all wheels in the all-wheel-drive vehicle, resulting in the engine having to generate more power than in an two-wheel-drive vehicle. The result is that the engine burns more fuel. Hence, the fuel economy of an all-wheel-drive vehicle is lower in comparison to a front-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive vehicle. 

Mismatching Tires Can Cause Damage to AWD Vehicle

According to automobile experts, you need to follow the car manufacturer recommendation regarding tire replacement. You can check the owner’s manual to know the tire recommendations. If one of the tires needs to be replaced, check in the owner’s manual whether you need to replace all tires at once (most likely you will need to). 

According to tire experts, if the tread depth difference between a new tire and your older tires is more than 3/32 of an inch, you need to replace all tires. 

Do You Need An AWD Vehicle? 

If you drive off-road often or live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, an all-wheel-drive vehicle will reduce the chances of getting stuck and will keep you much safer on slippery surfaces than a front- or rear-wheel-drive vehicle will.

Now that you have enough information about AWD vehicles, you can take an informed decision regarding an AWD vehicle purchase.