Is a AWD vehicle just as good as 4WD in getting you through heavy snow?
I live in Chicago and park in an area that doesn’t get plowed in the winter. So I really need something that can get me through snow. I currently own a vehilce that has 4WD and haven’t had any problems. I’m looking to purchase a new vehicle and it only comes in what they call AWD.
Unless you are driving off-road over boulders and through creek beds, AWD should be fine. It is a great drive system for cars. Take notice that most all cars are AWD and most trucks are 4WD and despite what the other two clowns said, there is a difference.
If I were you, I’d try to recall other makes and models of cars that were in the same parking area or talk to your neighbors that park where you do and find out from them what kind of cars they drive and if they have had problems. Tire type and ground clearance will also be factors if the snow gets really deep and is not plowed or packed down.
It bothers me when people give answers that are completely and utterly wrong. Charlie, you are wrong. Firebird you too are also wrong. Let’s get back to Yahoo Answers and NOT Yahoo Guesses. By giving wrong or bad information, you could cause damage or harm.
The short of it is, you will be fine with AWD, but if you care to know the difference real between AWD and 4WD, then read on…
AWD- Engine power can go to any one wheel or any combination of the four wheels automatically when a wheel starts to slip on loose surfaces. Power is not equally distributed to all wheels all the time. This is a benefit because most situations do not require all the wheels driving and by reducing the number of drive wheels, you get better gas mileage and better dry road handling characteristics. (It doesn’t drive like a truck.) This system requires no driver input and is completely automatic.
4WD- There are two types of 4WD. Part time and Full time.
-Full TIme 4wd. This is an automatic system similar to AWD in that NOT all the wheels have engine power all the time, but only when wheels are slipping. This type of 4WD has a switch or lever that allows for super slow speed driving or crawling (as off-roaders like to call it).
-Part Time 4wd. You engage the vehicle into 4wd when needed, but the vehicle is usually left in 2wd (which would be rear wheel drive). Depending on the model and options, this is the ONLY type of 4WD system that has the wheels locked together so that all four wheels turn at the same time ALL the time. This type of drive system also gives you an option of engaging a switch or a lever into a LOW mode for very slow driving or crawling. This switch or lever is usually labeled 2Hi - 4 Hi - 4 Lo.
(e-mail me directly if you have other questions).
Jay
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charlie5_7_0 January 12th, 2009, 5:59 am
The biggest difference between 4WD and AWD is that 4WD is not always engaged where with AWD all four wheels are drive wheels at all times. Its normally a better system all in all. It should handle the snow really well if you have the correct tires and such.
References :
Firebird January 12th, 2009, 6:11 am
The distinction between ALL wheel drive and FOUR wheel drive is only marketing. The snow doesn’t know about marketing.
So - given the same tires and ground clearance, snow can’t tell the difference between AWD and 4WD. You need to look primarily at the tires instead of the sticker on the trunklid that says “AWD”. If the snow is more than a foot deep, for instance, you also need to consider whether the vehicle has enough ground clearance to seriously attack that much snow.
References :
J T January 12th, 2009, 6:31 am
Unless you are driving off-road over boulders and through creek beds, AWD should be fine. It is a great drive system for cars. Take notice that most all cars are AWD and most trucks are 4WD and despite what the other two clowns said, there is a difference.
If I were you, I’d try to recall other makes and models of cars that were in the same parking area or talk to your neighbors that park where you do and find out from them what kind of cars they drive and if they have had problems. Tire type and ground clearance will also be factors if the snow gets really deep and is not plowed or packed down.
It bothers me when people give answers that are completely and utterly wrong. Charlie, you are wrong. Firebird you too are also wrong. Let’s get back to Yahoo Answers and NOT Yahoo Guesses. By giving wrong or bad information, you could cause damage or harm.
The short of it is, you will be fine with AWD, but if you care to know the difference real between AWD and 4WD, then read on…
AWD- Engine power can go to any one wheel or any combination of the four wheels automatically when a wheel starts to slip on loose surfaces. Power is not equally distributed to all wheels all the time. This is a benefit because most situations do not require all the wheels driving and by reducing the number of drive wheels, you get better gas mileage and better dry road handling characteristics. (It doesn’t drive like a truck.) This system requires no driver input and is completely automatic.
4WD- There are two types of 4WD. Part time and Full time.
-Full TIme 4wd. This is an automatic system similar to AWD in that NOT all the wheels have engine power all the time, but only when wheels are slipping. This type of 4WD has a switch or lever that allows for super slow speed driving or crawling (as off-roaders like to call it).
-Part Time 4wd. You engage the vehicle into 4wd when needed, but the vehicle is usually left in 2wd (which would be rear wheel drive). Depending on the model and options, this is the ONLY type of 4WD system that has the wheels locked together so that all four wheels turn at the same time ALL the time. This type of drive system also gives you an option of engaging a switch or a lever into a LOW mode for very slow driving or crawling. This switch or lever is usually labeled 2Hi - 4 Hi - 4 Lo.
(e-mail me directly if you have other questions).
Jay
References :
Owned jeeps (4WD) and subarus (AWD) and well-read in mechanical engineering while employed through Chrysler’s Jeep division.