What is all-wheel drive?

Confused about all-wheel drive? Here’s how AWD systems work, when they improve traction and handling, and how they compare with 4WD for everyday driving and off-road adventures.

What is all-wheel drive (AWD), and how does it compare to other drivetrains? AWD systems are designed to improve traction and stability in changing road conditions, but understanding all-wheel drive vs four-wheel drive (4WD) can be confusing.

This guide explains what is the difference between all-wheel drive and 4WD, how each system works, and which is best suited to your driving needs.

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What is all-wheel drive?

All-wheel drive, also known as AWD, is a drivetrain system that automatically sends power to all four wheels of a vehicle. It’s designed to improve traction, stability, and control in slippery or uneven driving conditions such as rain, snow, or ice – without the driver needing to switch anything or make adjustments.

Full-time AWD cars

Full-time AWD cars always send power to all four wheels, so they can grip the road in all conditions without you needing to switch anything on or off.

This system automatically adjusts how power is shared between the wheels to help with stability on wet, icy, or uneven roads. It can use a bit more fuel than systems that only activate AWD when needed.

Examples include the Land Rover Defender 110, Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester, as well as the Audi A4 Quattro and Audi RS6.

Part-time AWD cars

Part-time AWD cars (also called on-demand or automatic AWD) default to driving using just two wheels to save fuel. When the car senses the wheels slipping, it automatically sends power to all four wheels to improve grip and stability.

Examples of part-time AWD cars include the Volkswagen Golf R, Skoda Octavia vRS, BMW 3 Series xDrive, BMW X1, and Mercedes-Benz A-Class 4Matic.

How does 4WD work?

Four-wheel drive (4WD) also works by sending engine power to all four wheels, but 4WD typically refers to cars that can send power to all four wheels equally when desired, where all-wheel drive cars can continuously alter the way power is distributed.

Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles use a transfer case to split power between the front and rear wheels, and differentials to let the wheels turn at different speeds when you go around corners, so the car can stay stable and controlled. A 4WD car, however, can lock its front and rear driveshafts in sync to make sure that each wheel receives the same amount of power from the engine at any given moment.

This makes 4WD vehicles more effective as off-road vehicles. The ability to evenly distribute the engine’s power to all four wheels means that in a low-grip situation in mud or snow, it’s easier to keep going as at least one wheel is ‘guaranteed’ to keep spinning once it gains traction.

Pros and cons of all-wheel drive

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using all-wheel drive compared to front- or rear-wheel drive:

Pros of all-wheel drive

• Better traction in bad weather: Sends power to all four wheels, helping maintain grip in rain, snow, ice, or gravel when tyres start to slip.
• Improved acceleration: Reduces wheel spin by spreading power across all tyres, helping the car pull away more smoothly on slippery surfaces.
• More stable handling: Adjusts power between wheels to improve cornering control and stability, especially on uneven roads.
• Automatic operation: Works in the background without driver input, adjusting traction as conditions change in real time.

Cons of all-wheel drive

• Higher cost: More expensive to buy upfront than two-wheel drive vehicles.
• Lower fuel economy: Extra weight and drivetrain losses uses more fuel.
• More maintenance: Their more complex systems mean higher repair and servicing costs.
• Tyre wear sensitivity: Often requires replacing all four tyres together to avoid drivetrain damage.
• Overconfidence risk: Can feel safer than it is; winter tyres often matter more for real grip and stopping power in bad weather.

All-wheel drive vs four-wheel drive

The main difference between AWD and 4WD comes down to how and when they’re used. AWD works automatically to improve grip on normal roads in changing weather, while 4WD is manually switched on and built for tougher off-road conditions like mud, rocks, and steep terrain.

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