AWD vs 4WD in an Edmonton winter, in plain language
· Just Auto · Buying Used
All-wheel drive runs on its own all the time and suits city and highway driving on snowy roads. Four-wheel drive is a system you switch on, built for deep snow, rutted side streets, gravel and towing. Neither one helps you stop or turn — winter tires do that.
Most people shopping for a used vehicle in Edmonton want one that drives all four wheels, and most of what is on our lot right now does. The question we get asked is which kind: all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
The two terms get used as if they mean the same thing. They do not, and the difference matters more for how you drive than for how the vehicle looks on paper.
What is the difference between AWD and 4WD?
All-wheel drive (AWD) is always working. The vehicle decides, on its own, how much power goes to each wheel, and sends more to the wheels that still have grip when one starts to slip. You never touch a switch. It is common on cars, crossovers and most SUVs.
Four-wheel drive (4WD, or 4x4) is a heavier system you engage yourself, with a lever, a dial or a button. Most have a high range for slippery roads and a low range for crawling through deep snow, mud or up a steep grade at slow speed. It is common on pickups and body-on-frame SUVs.
Some newer 4WD vehicles add an automatic mode that behaves much like AWD. The owner's manual says which one a given vehicle has.
Which is better for an Edmonton winter?
It depends on where you drive, not on which sounds tougher.
- Mostly city and highway driving — the Henday, the Yellowhead, cleared arterial roads and a bit of packed snow. AWD suits this well. It is there when you need it without you having to think about it.
- Unplowed side streets, deep ruts, acreage driveways, gravel range roads, or towing. 4WD suits this better. Low range and a sturdier drivetrain earn their keep where the snow is deep and the speed is low.
Plenty of Edmonton drivers do both. If you spend most of the winter on cleared roads and a few days a year getting stuck at the end of the street, either will do the job.
Do you still need winter tires with AWD or 4WD?
Yes. Driving all four wheels helps a vehicle get moving on ice and snow. It does nothing for braking or cornering, which come down to the tires. An all-season tire's rubber stiffens below about 7 °C, and that is true on every vehicle regardless of what drives the wheels.
The honest risk with AWD and 4WD is that they make pulling away feel so easy that a driver arrives at the first corner faster than the tires can handle. Winter tires close that gap. We covered when to put them on in our article on the 7 °C rule.
Can you drive in 4WD on a dry road?
On most traditional part-time 4WD systems, no. They lock the front and rear axles together, and on dry pavement the wheels cannot turn at slightly different speeds through a corner. You feel it as the steering binding up or a hop in tight turns, and it strains the drivetrain.
Use 4WD on snow, ice, gravel and mud, and switch back to two-wheel drive when the road clears. An automatic 4WD mode, where the vehicle has one, is designed to stay engaged on mixed surfaces. AWD never needs switching off.
Does AWD or 4WD use more fuel?
Generally, yes, compared with the same vehicle in two-wheel drive. The extra parts add weight and friction. A part-time 4WD vehicle running in two-wheel drive on a dry day gives some of that back, which is one reason drivers who tow or head out of town often prefer it.
What should you check on a used AWD or 4WD vehicle?
The extra drivetrain parts are also extra things to look at. Before you buy:
- Engage it. On a 4WD, shift into four-high and, where fitted, four-low, and make sure the indicator lights come on and go off. On a snowy or gravel lot, feel it pull.
- Listen in tight turns. Clunks, groans or a shudder at full lock in a parking lot can point to a drivetrain problem.
- Look underneath. Check the differentials and the transfer case for fresh oil leaks.
- Ask for the service history. Transfer case and differential fluids have service intervals of their own, and they are easy to skip.
- Look at the tires as a set. Many AWD systems are sensitive to tires that differ in size or wear, so mismatched tires are worth asking about.
- Read the vehicle history report. Our listings link to one where it is available.
Questions
Is AWD the same as 4WD?
No. AWD works on its own all the time and shares power between the wheels automatically. 4WD is usually a system you switch on, often with a low range for deep snow and slow, heavy going. Both drive all four wheels; they suit different kinds of driving.
Is AWD or 4WD better in Edmonton snow?
For mostly city and highway driving on cleared roads, AWD suits well and needs nothing from you. For unplowed side streets, rural driveways, gravel and towing, 4WD with a low range suits better. Either one needs winter tires to stop and turn well.
Do I need winter tires if I have 4WD?
Yes. Four-wheel drive helps you get moving; it does not help you stop or corner. That comes down to the tire, and an all-season tire stiffens below about 7 °C whatever drives the wheels.
Can I leave my 4WD on all winter?
Not on most part-time 4WD systems. On a dry or bare road they bind in turns and strain the drivetrain, so switch back to two-wheel drive when the pavement clears. If your vehicle has an automatic 4WD mode, that one is meant to be left on.
What should I check before buying a used 4x4?
Make sure four-high and four-low engage and disengage, listen for clunks in tight turns, look for oil leaks at the differentials and transfer case, ask whether those fluids have been serviced, and read the vehicle history report where one is linked on the listing.