In the olden days, All Wheel Drive and 4WD were very rare that were only available on strange vehicles like Audi 4000. All vehicles used to have 2WD. But now, sedans, crossovers and SUVs have become common and they all provide different driving systems.
Unless your vehicle is completely automatic AWD, 2 driving systems are offered in most vehicles. For instance, AWD cars usually have a 2WD mode and Toyota Land Cruiser has complex options like high range, low range, locked or unlocked center differential. But if you are a newbie in driving systems, you won’t know which one is right for you and which is better for what situations. CarSwitch explains all that in this article. For buying used cars in UAE, check out the CarSwitch website.
Is 4WD or All Wheel Drive better?
Whatever drivetrain you should use depends on your lifestyle and situation. If you are on challenging terrain, use 4 wheel drive but in case you are going to work in heavy snow, pick All Wheel Drive. Majority of systems today are All Wheel Drive.
This system means that there is a center differential which permits the front and back tires to turn at separate speeds. All Wheel Drive can be utilized on dry surfaces but 4 wheel drive needs a slippery surface.
If you have a car that boasts 2-wheel or 4WD, you can utilize the 4WD automatic as well. It runs well on dry surfaces and is useful in difficult weather since it gives extra traction. But if you want fuel economy benefits, you might use 2WD.
If your vehicle is 4WD automatic, then 4WD High is a useless setting because it is not useful for off-roading. It only locks the front and back ends together.
Read More: How to Drive a 4-Wheeler
What about 4WD Low Range?
Without the 4WD automatic, you should use 4WD High in a circumstance demanding low traction but high speed. For instance, a dirt road. As for 4WD Low, it is especially for slow off-roading or situations where high torque is needed.
There’s a rear differential lock sign on the dashboard which can be significant. 4WD High locks the front and back axles but the rear differential lock links the back side-to-side.
This means if one side loses traction, the other will keep rotating and this will keep the vehicle going forward. While driving straight, this feature can be useful. It is useless to allow this feature on a corner because the actual reason for the rear differential lock is to make a smooth turn. The outside tire will run faster than the inside. If you do not use the rear differential lock, the vehicle will not turn. And if it does, it will show skidding and juddering. There are some vehicles offering a front differential lock which works differently.
Remember that before off-roading, set the traction control or disable it by clicking the stability-control-defeat button. Stability control will avoid the tires from rotating which is useful if you’re on a rocky path but it could get you stuck in other situations that require momentum and wheelspin. Stability control can imitate the advantages of locking differential which is great for rocky trails. But when even a 4WD vehicle can get stuck in snow, mud or sand, that’s where stability control should be turned off.
In order to turn the system off, you should hold the button for 5 seconds. At first, the traction control system will deactivate. Keep holding the button until the whole system shuts off.
High price driving system
The cost of 4WD is usually directly connected to the difficulty of its drive system. However, if you purchase a complete 4WD, it will most likely have excellent off-road capabilities. For instance, The Ford Raptor offers a Baja mode which activates the anti lag system for the turbocharged engine. The 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 having the optional hydropneumatics suspension can take itself out after getting stuck.
Similarly, the Land Cruiser boasts a button for off-roading turn assist. This brakes the inner wheels to offer a skid-steer effect and maximize the turning circle on the loose surface. But if you want to activate it, you have to be in 4WD Low and simultaneously use the Crawl Control which is a dedicated off-road cruise control system. The point is, whatever your vehicle is, you should first open the glove box and read it’s owner manual.
