AWD vs. 4WD vs. 2WD: What’s the difference?

 

What is All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and how does it work?

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles are equipt with a center differential, composed of gears that split power from the transmission to both the front and rear axles. Alternatively, it can send power to the front wheels only, creating a more efficient drive. All-Wheel Drive (AWD) has become a popular choice for many reasons, including its versatility and ability to anticipate and adapt to changing road conditions, by sending power to all four wheels, or just two. This gives you the control of Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) with the efficiency of Two-Wheel Drive (2WD).

Nissan Intelligent AWD

Nissan’s Intelligent AWD system gives you the most traction and power while driving and is designed to help maximize efficiency, by sending power to the front wheels while at speed. The system adapts to transfer power between the front and rear wheels when a change in road conditions is detected, making it more economical on the highway. Additionally, the wheel sensors function to detect traction loss, indicating which wheels require additional power. 

This feature makes it a great choice if you live in an area with heavy rain or snow, or you plan to take your vehicle for light off-roading.

ATTESA E-TS AWD system

AWD isn't just for SUVs like the Rogue or Murano. The Nissan GT-R sports car is equipped with an ATTESA E-TS AWD system, which helps to distribute torque to front and rear wheels, depending on tire slip or changes in road conditions. The ATTESA E-TS system functions a little differently, using two driveshafts to split power to both front and rear wheels. The system is rear-wheel biased, but torque can be split between front and rear wheels in an instant. 

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vs. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)

Both All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) provide power to all four wheels, but AWD can direct the power between either all wheels or just the front wheels, creating a more efficient drive. Four-Wheel Drive vehicles (also known as "4X4s") are specialized for rugged off-road driving and towing by adjusting the balance of power between the vehicle’s front and rear wheels.

What is Two-Wheel Drive (2WD)?

2WD is the most widely available drivetrain type on the market. It is available as Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) or Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), depending on which wheels the power is sent to. It functions by sending power to the front or rear two wheels simultaneously and is commonly categorized as front-wheel drive (FWD) or rear-wheel drive (RWD). FWD is typical for cars and SUVs, while RWD is common in pickup trucks and high-performance sports cars.

FWD vs. AWD

The difference between Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is the distribution of power. For FWD, power is sent to the front wheels of the vehicle, resulting in better fuel economy. AWD vehicles give power to all wheels of the car. This creates better weight distribution, and traction.