When you buy a car, you will want to think about the type of performance features that it has. Two drivetrains that you might get are all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is a versatile drivetrain that you can get if you want a vehicle with great fuel economy and the ability to get through adverse weather conditions with confidence. All-wheel drive may be a standard or available drivetrain based on the vehicle you get.
What is All-Wheel Drive?
Some automakers offer all-wheel drive as a standard feature, while others offer it as an available powertrain. Additionally, you can choose whether to get the drivetrain as a full-time drivetrain system or a part-time system. If you get full-time all-wheel drive, your car will automatically have an equal amount of power sent to all four wheels simultaneously. All-wheel drive gives your car extra traction if the road surface becomes slippery so that you don't get into an accident or encounter an otherwise dangerous situation. The all-wheel drive varies based on the car that you buy. Some cars are configured with an electronic all-wheel drive, which is an intuitive system that uses a computer system to initiate all-wheel drive in your car. If a car has an electronic all-wheel drive, it will use an internal computer system to monitor and adjust power output to all four wheels as necessary. While the car generally has an all-wheel drive that gives all four wheels equal power, the drivetrain is designed to send power to the front and back wheels separately. Therefore, all-wheel drive can also automatically adjust to give either the front or back wheels additional power as needed for stability and predictable and reliable performance.
What is Four-Wheel Drive?
Four-wheel drive is another drivetrain available for drivers who want a car designed for performance and adventure. Unlike all-wheel drive, which gives all four wheels equal power simultaneously, the four-wheel drive gives every individual wheel power. Four-wheel drive is typically a drivetrain found on larger SUVs and pickup trucks. Some cars have four-wheel drive as a standard drivetrain, while others offer it as an upgrade. Four-wheel drive is available as a full-time or a part-time four-wheel drive system. Four-wheel drive can also be configured with a number of drive select modes, which makes your car more capable of getting through, over, and across challenging terrain.
If you are curious to learn more about the benefits of all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, get in touch with our knowledgeable staff today.