AWD vs. 4WD in the Snow; AWD vs. 4WD in the Snow.
Whether you have four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, or you're running around in studded cleats, you can always lose traction if you go beyond the limits of grip. When shopping for an SUV or truck, or even a Subaru, you’ll see one of two terms, AWD or 4WD, as an option. 2WD vs AWD vs 4WD A guide to the differences and which is best for you. Note: Jeep offers a quasi-4WD system called Active Drive Low. 4WD vs. AWD in Snow. Soon everyone was getting into the four-wheel-motivation game but nobody agreed what to call the systems. Locked in 4WD, a vehicle needs wheel slip to compensate for the different axle speeds—in 4WD, a truck is able to find traction on loose surfaces, but also needs loose surfaces to work. Both AWD and 4WD are good for driving in snow, and knowing how they work and what they're used for helps with deciding which one you really need. I've owned a few 4wd trucks and the auto 4wd is one of the nicest features that I actually use. “What’s the difference between a 4WD and a 4x4?” ”4WD” and “4x4” each refer to the notion that power from a vehicle’s engine is transmitted through four wheels to make the vehicle move. AWD -- either full time or on-demand system that can be used on road (has a center differential). 4x4 = 4WD -- mechanically locked, on/off style transfer case that makes front and rear axle spin at the same speed. Cannot safely be used on road. Auto 4wd is a really nice feature that I use when the roads are bad but not bad enough to leave in 4hi. Sometimes mistakenly labeled an all-wheel-drive system, Autotrac is more accurately defined as a standby four-wheel-drive system. A 4x4 or 4WD has locking diffs and low range, some can be part time 4wd, where normal drive is from the rears, then you can lock in the fronts with the transfer case to give you 4wd when you are offroad. Last updated: July 2015 . The AWD vs 4WD differentiation was born. Autotrac, when in AUTO 4WD, is capable of engaging four-wheel drive for maximum traction, without any input from the driver. Command-Trac 4x4 The name Command-Trac dates back to the 1980s. Your tires, your speed, and especially the road conditions are all a big part of maintaining traction. And then there is Full time 4wd, that allow slipping center diff so that all 4 wheels can get drive while on the road. The Autotrac four-wheel-drive system is standard on all Tahoe 4x4 models. Works best with locking axles. I would think leaving it in auto mode all the time would cause more strain on the drivetrain which might cause problems later on down the road. In 1982 Fiat introduced the world to the first four-wheel-motivated vehicle with a transverse engine layout and a transaxle (the Fiat Panda 4×4).