It is natural for everyone to get confused while buying your ‘perfect car’. There are many aspects to be considered while shopping for your car. One of those important aspects is the ‘drivetrain’. A drivetrain is essentially a group of parts that move power from the engine to the wheels. Depending on the drivetrain type, power is shifted accordingly. While picking a car based on the drivetrain, you’ve got 4 options: AWD (all wheel drive), FWD (front wheel drive), RWD (rear wheel drive), and 4WD (4 wheel drive). But today, we’re going to focus on AWD or 4WD. We’re going to delve in deeper and answer essential questions like,
- Meaning of AWD
- Meaning of 4WD
- Importance of AWD and 4WD
- How AWD and 4WD work?
- Pros AWD and 4WD
- Cons of AWD and 4WD
Let’s start by getting to know what is AWD or 4WD. Here, we will also learn in-depth about how AWD and 4WD work.
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What is AWD (All Wheel Drive)?
The meaning of AWD lies in its full form itself. AWD stands for ‘All Wheel Drive’ which essentially means that the engines provide power to both front and rear wheels. In short, power is provided to ‘all wheels’. In AWD, power is sent to each wheel to keep the vehicle driving smoothly as compared to FWD (front-wheel drive) and RWD (rear-wheel drive). There are two types of AWD, full-time AWD and Part-time AWD.
Types of AWD (All Wheel Drive) Systems?
Let’s see the two types of AWD systems; full-time AWD and part-time AWD. As the name suggests, in the full-time AWD system, the car powers all four wheels at the same time. Whereas in a part-time AWD system, the car provides power to all tires but only when required. A part-time AWD system is fully capable of providing full-time power but does so only when required. Otherwise, it runs on a two-wheel drive mode. Thus, one can say that it runs part-time.
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What is 4WD (4 Wheel Drive)?
Just like AWD, the meaning of 4WD also lies in the name. 4WD stands for ‘4 Wheel Drive’. It is also commonly called 4×4 and it distributes power to all four wheels. This allows the wheels to spin simultaneously at a constant rate. 4WD distributes power to all four wheels, but they will not necessarily be powered at the same time. There are three types of 4DW; full-time 4WD, part-time 4WD and automatic 4WD.
Types of 4WD (4 Wheel Drive):
Let’s see the three types of 4WD; full-time 4WD, part-time 4WD, and automatic 4WD. Just AWD, full-time 4WD constantly provides power to all 4 wheels. This type does not require any action for activation. The second type of 4WD is part-time 4WD, which allows the user to switch between 2WD or 4WD mode. This switch can be made using a lever or a switch. The last time is Automatic 4WD. In this, the car runs on a default of 2WD but switches to 4WD when needed. This switch is automatic based on the judgment of the system.
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Importance of AWD and 4WD:
Now the question arises, ‘Why are AWD and 4WD important ?’. To answer this question, we’ll delve deeper into the concepts. The importance of AWD or 4WD lies in improving traction. Traction essentially means the ability of the tires to grip the surface. This grip is essential for holding, moving, and turning. Traction also helps to improve the stability and control of the vehicle. They are especially helpful during adverse conditions of snow, rain, off-roading, etc. AWD or 4WD are also rather safer than 2WD (2-Wheel Drive) vehicles. While AWD is better for everyday driving, 4WD is good for off-roading due to its extreme capabilities.
Difference Between AWD and 4WD:
The difference between AWD or 4WD is not very striking; thus, these terms are used interchangeably. Even though there is not much difference between AWD and 4WD work, one needs to understand that they are very different concepts. As mentioned above, off-roading is fit for off-roading, whereas AWD is preferred in a variety of situations. But AWD works with the exception of off-roading.
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Pros of AWD and 4WD:
There are a lot of pros and cons of AWD and 4WD. Let’s briefly go through some of them
Pros of AWD:
1) No Manual Intervention:
While operating an AWD vehicle, there is no need of manual intervention to switch modes. AWD allows all four wheels to rotate at all times and if there is a loss of traction, it automatically transmits power when and where it is required.
2) Wide Range:
AWD is easily available in a wide range of vehicles, making it a highly popular choice. From small sedans to big SUVs, AWD is available in all vehicles depending upon the functionality of the car.
3) Smooth Operation:
AWD allows smooth operation in difficult terrains. Even during adverse conditions of snow and rain, AWD allows the vehicle to move smoothly while maintaining stability.
Pros of 4WD:
1) Highly Effective for Off-roading:
Unlike AWD, 4WD is highly effective for off-roading and harsh terrains. It is optimal for gravel, sandy, and mountainous roads.
2) Manual Control:
Not everyone is a fan of automatic. Thus, people who thrive on manual control would be more biased towards 4WD rather than automatic AWD.
3) Better Pulling Power:
4WD has better pulling power, which also makes it ideal for towing capacity.
Cons of AWD and 4WD:
Just like every coin has two sides, there are two sides to everything. Even though both AWD and 4WD have their own pros, here are some cons of AWD or 4WD:
1) Increased Fuel Consumption:
Both AWD and 4WD vehicles consume a lot more fuel than 2WD vehicles, decreasing the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
2) Higher Cost:
Due to increased fuel usage, the overall operating price of these vehicles goes up by a lot. Apart from these, AWD and 4WD vehicles require more investment and maintenance.
3) Limited Availability:
AWD and 4WD may not be readily available in different models and cars.
