What is all-wheel drive?

Every car on the road is front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is becoming more and more popular, and it's possible that the car you want to buy has it. So you might be wondering what exactly four-wheel drive means and why it matters. Kazu explains.

What does all wheel drive mean?

Four-wheel drive means that all four wheels of a car get power from the engine - they "push" the car into motion. In contrast, in front-wheel drive vehicles, power is sent only to the front wheels. In rear-wheel drive vehicles, power is sent to the rear wheels. The term four-wheel drive is often shortened to 4WD.

How does four-wheel drive work?

There are many different types of all wheel drive systems. The differences between the two are in how power is transferred from the engine to the wheels, but they are basically the same in that there is a mechanical connection between all four wheels and the engine.

All-wheel-drive electric vehicles are a little different in that they don't have a motor — instead, a battery and an electric motor. All-wheel drive electric vehicles have one or more electric motors that send power to the wheels. The only physical connections between the motors and the battery are the power cables. 

There are also some hybrid vehicles that have a conventional engine driving the front wheels and an electric motor driving the rear wheels.

Is all wheel drive always on?

Most modern four-wheel drive vehicles are in fact only two-wheelers most of the time, with power being sent to either the front or rear wheels, depending on the vehicle. Power is transferred to all four wheels only when it is needed - for example, if the wheel starts to spin. In this case, the car detects a spinning wheel and sends power to the other wheel to counteract the spin. It sounds complicated, but everything happens automatically, in a split second, without the participation of the driver.

Some XNUMXxXNUMX vehicles allow you to select "permanent" XNUMXxXNUMX mode if the road is slippery or you just need some extra confidence. This is usually as simple as pushing a button or turning a dial on a dashboard. 

What are the advantages of all-wheel drive?

All wheel drive vehicles provide more traction than two wheel drive vehicles. Traction is what makes the car move forward. A clutch is different from a clutch, which prevents the vehicle from slipping or skidding when turning. All-wheel drive cars have more traction because less power is sent to each wheel compared to a two-wheel drive car—the “load” is more distributed. This means that wheels that receive power are less likely to spin on slippery surfaces.

All wheel drive vehicles are very efficient on slippery roads caused by rain, mud, ice or snow. When pulling away in such conditions, a four-wheel drive vehicle is more likely to spin the wheels, which can make pulling off difficult. The increased traction of all-wheel drive can make a difference.

While not infallible, XNUMXxXNUMXs tend to be easier and safer to drive on slippery roads, giving a real sense of security and confidence. The extra traction also means that all-wheel drive vehicles are better suited for towing. And all-wheel drive is pretty much essential for serious off-road driving.

What vehicles are available with all-wheel drive?

Four-wheel drive used to be reserved for big, burly SUVs, but now you can find just about any type of all-wheel drive vehicle.

City cars like the Fiat Panda, compact family hatchbacks like the BMW 1 Series, large luxury sedans like the Mercedes E-Class, minivans like the Ford S-MAX and sports cars like the Porsche 911 are available with four - wheel drive. Whatever type of car you need, you can probably find a car with all-wheel drive.

Are there any disadvantages to all-wheel drive?

XNUMXWD vehicles tend to be more expensive than similar XNUMXWD vehicles, whether you buy new or used. With newer vehicles, the increase in cost is due to the additional components needed to send power to all four wheels. When it comes to used cars, there is also the fact that an all-wheel drive version of a particular car is often more desirable than an all-wheel drive version.

It is also usually the case that an all-wheel drive vehicle consumes more fuel and produces higher CO2 emissions than an equivalent two-wheel drive vehicle, so it is more expensive to run. This is because the AWD system adds extra weight and friction, so the car's engine has to work harder.  

Other names for all-wheel drive

Some automakers that make four-wheel drive vehicles use the terms 4WD, 4x4, or AWD (all-wheel drive) in their vehicle names, but many use the brand name for their all-wheel drive systems. Here is a summary of the key points you can see when looking for your next vehicle:

Audi - quattro

BMW - xDRIVE

Mercedes - 4MATIC

MiniI - ALL4

Peugeot - Hybrid4

Seat - 4 Control

Suzuki - 4Grip

Tesla - Dual Engine

Volkswagen - 4MOTIONS

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