Now that there are two huge competitors in the winter vehicle world, the debate has been sparked by many drivers on the road. As some claim they prefer AWD and some 4WD, it’s hard to pin which one is best — because it’s very subjective! Below are a few listed pros and cons of each driving system, which might help you make your decision.
4WD:
When it comes to 4WD, nothing gives you more control over your car. This is because in most 4WD cars, the modes have to be selected manually. Most notably, this is a huge selling point for truck enthusiasts, who loved the Selec-Trac system. In a pinch, this allows you to switch between high and low settings of 4WD, which can be huge when you’re stuck in a pile of snow or mud. On the flipside, 4WD might not be the most necessary thing for you, if you’re not in an area to utilize it. If you only get a few inches of snow at a time, 4WD won’t present any benefit over AWD.
AWD:
All wheel drive is the brains of your traction operation. Each one is specifically designed to do all of the thinking for you in poor conditions, which makes the process of driving much easier. With this computer comes the certainty that you’ll likely never experience any differential or wheel hop damage due to the system because it makes enough moves per second to control the power between wheels. One of the downsides is the fact that it’s not as strong as many say, compared to 4WD. Additionally, there comes the notion that if something goes wrong, a more comprehensive test and diagnostic needs to be performed to pinpoint the exact issue, and replacement of parts.
While each one if great in their own way, the decision between them is based on your needs. For the security of being able to get out of a rut when necessary, 4WD might be for you. But if you’re into the car making all of the decisions so you can focus on driving, AWD might be up your alley.
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