As we come up on the rainiest season in the Bay Area, lots of drivers are asking questions about finding a vehicle with the right amount of traction. Is all-wheel drive necessary? What are the differences between all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive? Is AWD or 4WD better for hauling and towing? Carnamic is here to answer all your questions! The first step in finding the right vehicle to meet your needs is understanding the differences between all-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive, so keep reading to learn more.
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Four-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with 4WD typically run on front or rear-wheel drive until the driver switches the 4WD system on. With the push of a button, power goes from two wheels to all four wheels at the same time. There’s a reason that most cars and crossovers don’t come equipped with 4WD, and that’s because it’s more robust than AWD. You’re more likely to see 4WD on trucks and SUVs that need the extra-rugged performance for towing, hauling, and handling tough terrain. The Nissan Frontier is one example of a 4WD vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive
Where 4WD requires the driver to switch it on, AWD operates on its own without the driver. All-wheel drive can be full-time or part-time, meaning the power either goes to all four wheels all the time or only when needed. For example, INFINITI Intelligent All-Wheel Drive can detect loss of traction and deliver up to 50% of the power to the front wheels. Then, when the vehicle regains control, it automatically goes back to rear-wheel power. The main difference is that AWD doesn’t need to be turned on. All-wheel drive is ideal for road driving and some off-roading. Full-time AWD means that you’re always ready, but it can lower your fuel economy. Some examples of vehicles with full or part-time AWD include the Nissan Rogue, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Santa Fe, and INFINITI QX60.
Find Your 4WD or AWD Vehicle in the Bay Area
Carnamic makes searching for your next vehicle simple! Check out our online inventory of four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles and contact us to schedule a test drive.
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