The difference between 4x4 vs 4WD vs AWD

What is the difference between AWD, 4WD and 4×4? The terms ‘four-wheel drive’ (4WD), ‘all-wheel drive’ (AWD) and ‘four by four’ (4×4) are often used to mean the same thing, but there are actually some important distinctions. While you may think you know what each one is, this might not be the case. A vehicle is considered a four-wheel drive (4WD) when its engine sends power to all four wheels equally. A transfer case uses the vehicle’s two axles to split the power allowing each wheel to move at the same pace. The benefits of 4WD include increased grip, traction and power, making these vehicles perfect for driving off-road or towing heavy loads. There are two states of 4WD: 4L (four wheel drive, low range) refers to when a low gear ratio is used on all four wheels, usually on softer surfaces such as sand or mud and when driving on steep hills 4H (four wheel drive, high range) offers more traction for driving on firmer grounds such as gravel, dirt road and firmer sand. It’s worth noting that even if a vehicle has more than four wheels – such as a six-wheel truck – and its engine distributes power to each wheel equally, it will still be considered a 4WD. 4WDs are typically heavier and more expensive than 2WDs. They can also be less energy efficient, although certain modifications can improve this. What does 4×4 mean? A 4×4 system sends power to all wheels equally (known as 4WD) but only applies to cars or trucks that have four wheels. So, while all 4×4 cars are 4WD...