What is the difference between all wheel drive and 4x4?

Answer 1

some vehicles are equipped with all wheel drive, meaning they are in 4x4(high) at all times. this provides better traction, but can reduce fuel economy. vehicles that state they are 4x4 mean they have a transfer case, and you can "lock in" the front tires so they will drive along with the rear, giving you better traction. normally 4x4 vehicles, the back tires are the only driving force untill you engage the front tires. also, 4x4 vehicles generally have a 4x4 low, and a 4x4 high. the 4x4 low is for extreme traction, at a low gear ratio, meaning you cant drive over 20-30 mph because of low gear ratio. the 4x4 high, is for higher geared traction, such as rainy conditions, thus all wheel drive, and 4x4 high are basically the same, other than you can go from 4x2, to 4x4 high, to 4x4 low, and a all wheel drive basically stays in 4x4 high all the time..... whew...........

Answer 2

All wheel drive is a permanent trasmission on the 4 (or more) wheels. In the 4x4 option the driver can decide whether to use 2 or 4 wheels drive.

Answer 3

All wheel drive is where all the wheels drive the car at all times, 4 wheel drive is the same thing, but with 4 wheel drive there is a switch to switch it to 2 wheel drive and drive witht he rear wheels only. There is a big difference in the two systems eventhough there don't sound like they are that different. 4 wheel drive systems can be driven with 4 wheels driving the car or 2 wheels driving the car, all wheel drive is where all 4 wheels drive the car all the time.

Answer 4

Manufacturer's labeling. Either one is capable of sending power to all four wheels, although it may not do this all the time.

Some people will claim that an "all wheel drive" car must have a center differential and a "four wheel drive" one instead uses a locking transfer case, but I've seen cars with "all wheel drive" badges with locking transfer cases and vehicles with 4x4 badges that use center differentials.

Answer 5

RE:
What is the difference between all wheel drive and 4x4?

Answer 6

difference wheel drive 4x4

Answer 7

All wheel drive has an additional differential that can send power to the front OR rear. 4x4 has a transfer case that sends power to the front AND rear.

Answer 8

AWD is all 4 wheels pull all the time with a manufacturer set percentage of drive power that is sent to the front and rear axles. Could be 60% rear, 40% front. Could be 50% rear 50% front. Depends on what the manufacturer wants. 4 wheel drive or limited slip dif, is where either the front right and rear left or front left rear right pull depending on weight, binding or slipping of a wheel. If your front left tire begins to spin, the system will distribute the pull power to your right front and left rear tire and vise versa.

Answer 9

They are basically the same.... just a fancy way to say 4WD.
All-wheel-drive. This system locks both axles and distributes power in varying degrees to all four wheels automatically when it detects wheel slippage. The transfer case is always in 4WD, so the driver doesn't have to bother with a switch. All wheel drive (AWD) is full time 4WD without 4WD Low. That's it - nothing more, nothing less.

go here for more....

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/diff4WD_AWD.html

Answer 10

Coriennie: if you are talking about "S.U.V's and 4x4 Dodge Truck"
well here's the differeances see Jeeps, Hummer, are all terrain
type vechicles that are used for climbing steep & rought areas
then Dodge 4x4 has more pulling power also great gas mileage
visit http://www.2007dodgetruck4x4.com