★★★ *FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEO / FACT UPDATES* ★★★ *1) Was this a sponsored Ad by Subaru?* - No. I just happen to own a 2006 Subaru Outback at the time of making this video and was curious about how AWD differed from 4WD. So I researched it for myself and afterwards decided to make this video covering what I learned. Just to clarify further I no longer own the Subaru Outback, I now have a 2018 FWD Hyundai SUV as of 1/7/2020. *2) Here are all 4 drive trains in a nut shell.* ► FWD = Fuel Economy & Slippery Roads ► RWD = Performance ► AWD = All Weather Conditions & Minor Off Road ► 4WD = For Serious Off Road *3) You have not covered every kind of drive train and 4 wheel drive system* - Correct, this is more a laymans overviews of the 4 types of drive trains. with the main goal of explaining the main difference between AWD & FWD. *4) In this video I do state how I got poor fuel economy from my Subaru outback* - But after a fuel comprehensive service and some long distance drives, bedding it all in, I averaged 450 klms in suburb driving and 650 klms in country driving. Which was much better than the original 350 klms for Suburb driving i was getting when I bought it second hand.
This is not the official terminology. 1)AWD means All Wheel Drive. It literally means that all wheels are driven. I know, the meaning of a term doesn't necessarily have to match the meaning of the words it consists of but still there's no limitations for the automaker to call any 4x4 system AWD or 4WD and it would still technically be correct. 2)There're different opinions among automotive journalists on whether the center differential setup like in the Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse is considered AWD or 4WD. 3)This 4WD/AWD division doesn't really give you any information about how effective this system is. For example, SUVs like the Nissan Patrol Y62 (if I remember correctly) or some of the specs of modern Mercedes GLE and GLS are excellent off road despite having weird automatic coupling units between the axles. On the lower side of the budget, we have Renault Duster that almost outperforms russian UAZ Patriot - a classic part-time 4WD SUV with ladder frame and solid axles (at least it had been so before they started offering a rear differential lock on the UAZ). 4)Most automakers have their own AWD/4WD systems with cool names like 4X-Motion, Quadra Drive, Super Select, Quattro, etc. We know much more about them than just the type of connection between the axles. Some vehicles even have their signature setups like Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has it's unique part-time 4x4 with both axle lockers and Toyota Land Cruiser has that boring Torsen differential with not even an LSD in the rear. Do you really need to classify them as AWD or 4WD when we already know so much about them? 5)There's much better term to describe what you call 4WD - part-time 4WD or (this will sound confusing) part-time AWD. This is much more accurate, especially considering that one of those two categories (AWD or 4WD) have to include center differential 4x4 which is very different from the part-time setup or the coupling unit 4x4. 6)Finally, there are cases when there's more than 4 wheels (or less), which makes 4WD acronym even more stupid. Of course you can say "6WD" but it doesn't sound right. I know, this is commercial truck territory but why would you use something inconsistent like "4WD", especially if it rarely gives you any useful information?
You also gave a little bit inaccurate description of torque distribution. 1)Let's first look at how differential works. Open diff always splits torque 50:50. It's a little counterintuitive but it's what really happens. If one of the wheels loses traction it becomes incapable of applying torque to the ground. If it's in the air it consumes almost 0 Nm of torque, if it slides it has some small amount of torque as sliding friction coefficient is smaller than the static one. Since the other wheel has exactly the same amount of torque as the spinning one, the car lose performance and in case when the spinning wheel is in the air, the amount of torque on that other wheel is not enough to move the vehicle and it gets stuck. Locked diff always sends torque to the wheel WITH traction. Not 50:50 how many journalists say. To have an easier time to understand it, imagine the solid cylindrical axle with 3 gears in random places on it. One gear is connected to some electric motor, one is connected to the load and one rotates freely. The motor generates 10 Nm of torque, which torque is consumed by the load to make the axle spin at constant speed? Yes, 10 Nm. The same thing is with the wheels. If only one wheel moves the vehicle it means it has 100% of the torque. Not 50% or 25%. 2)Same thing occurs in AWD system. Yes, they are often incapable of sending all 100% of the torque to the rear wheels let alone to the one of the rear wheels. But what system tries to do is not necessarily distribute torque 50:50, it sends the needed amount just to make the ride better. It can be 5%, 20% or even 100% - any number within it's capability is possible. When the coupling unit is completely locked it act like the locked center differential and sends torque in exact same proportion as traction that axles have. 3)That wet spinning wheel problem is only partially dictated by the AWD system type. Yes, of course, having all that torque distributed between two axles makes wheels less prone to slide but what also matters is the open differentials in axles. When the diff is open your total traction equals double the traction on wheel with the least grip and when the diff is locked the total traction equals the sum of left and right wheels. Part of the reason why Subaru is so dang good in rain is that it not only distributes torque to the rear wheels but it also can apply brakes to an individual wheel to add a little bit of load on it so that the other wheel with better traction can consume more torque (I remind you that it can only have the exact same amount as the sliding wheel has which, in this case, is increased by that brake application - it's like we add an artificial load to an unloaded wheel in order for the other one being able to take more torque and put it to the ground).
@@ldmtag I agree with most of what you said. But my interpretation is that the transfer case is what distinguishes 4WD from AWD. In 4WD, both the front and rear output shafts will ALWAYS turn at the same ratio to one another (almost always an equal 1:1 speed ratio). But AWD allows for speed differences (essentially, a differential within the transfer case)
@@amypablo9470 AWD will give you better handling on wet roads and when making tight turns blah blah. If your going to be seeing 2-3" of snow and you want to 'make' your own road then 4x4 like a real man, in that case F-250 Diesel 4x4 lifted 6" and since your in NY get a couple smoke stacks so you let your neighbors know you miss the 1800s and riding on a coal train.
Demon Plays wrong, it's a full time 4wd which means it runs like an awd in normal situation but is a true 4wd since it has center diff lock and a low range transfer case. Totally different from awd which is purely electronic
4WD is direct transfer case and AWD is controlled by centre diff. The system you explained for AWD is Subaru’s symmetrical awd system which is only correct for Subaru vehicles with open diffs. Mine has a rear lsd and definitely can get sideways. AWD systems differ with manufacturers such as Mitsubishi’s active yaw system. Some 4wd vehicles have permanent 4wd. Most modern 4wd are complemented by LSD, locked diff and 4WD engagement options.
It's also this lack of central Diff that makes using 4wd systems on tarmac bad, because your front axle and back axle are locked together they can't slip when the front wheels take a shorter or longer path than the rear wheels. This causes the central axle to have a big twist in it. while being fine off road because there is enough slip and give in the dirt to allow the central axle not gain too much twist. This video focuses too much on electronic traction control. there is no reason why AWD can't be 100% mechanical, or a reason why 4wd's cant introduce theses management systems and no have a locked central diff. center
@@aaronsymes7000 what? A 4wd system has a front and rear diff, plus a transfer box from the gearbox. Its fine on tarmac as both diffs work independently and quite offen have an open diff on the front. I own 4 4wd vehicles, 2 rally cars, a hilux (with selectable 4wd) and a new landrover defender. Ive also owned awd vehicles with independent clutch packs for power transfer to each individual wheel.
My mom bought one of the first Foresters from Japan (98 or 99) and still has it. The car was made when Subaru was starting to make everything all wheel drive, though hers might be a mechanical viscous linkage than computer controlled. I'm not sure. What I do know is that the car remains a delight to drive and has held up very well. People in Maine love that car.
the system in those early Subarus was very much mechanical. not 100% sure about that specific forester but more than likely it's a set 50/50 split or a variable 60/40 split, reacting mechanically to loss of grip. pretty cool.
Lived in Maine my whole life and I agree some people love Subaru because they have that tanky build. My gram has one in mid 90s one my uncle's still has it to this day just wicked rusty.
@@MistaTofMaine My mom's Forester is white and primer now. It looks like a damn Dalmatian, and that's because my father decided to clean it with a pressure washer...
Some 4wd vehicles (Defender, Hummer, some Landcruisers and others) are permanent 4wd not part time. They have a centre differential so the front and rear axles are always driven. This gives much better on road stability than a part time system. The centre diff can be manually locked for off roading so they don't get stuck if one wheel starts spinning.
4WD BLEAUS!! HAULING 150& 250'S AND 2500'S CANT HANDLE AWD: THE TECH WILL BE DEVELOPED. IV BEEN DRIVING AWD FOR 22YEARS, 600K+, IN 6 MONTHS OF ICE AND SNOW ON WINDING, NARROW, HILLY N CNTRL PENNSYLVANIA ROADS ON FOUR STUDDED SNOW TIRES IN WINTER TO BE INDOMITABLE FOR COMMUTING, ALPINE AND X-COUNTY SKIING, BUT ESP SNOW FAT BIKING ON ST FOREST AND ST GAME LAND ROADS, I.E., BACKCOUNTRY.
well only from the point of view that I drive one and i wanted to use footage of the car i know, if I drove another all wheel drive brand I would have talked about that
DJQ 15. Couldn't be because the explination is not applicable becayse Subaru is and allways has been front wheel drive that adds the rear axle when needed or selected. This guy is clueless. Haha
Dandahermit Seals let's see some proof, I know for a fact my sti it's 80%rear and 20% front unless otherwise, and other Subarus use a similar center diff system. Mazda however does have what you are talking about and so does honda
The idea that the car has a FWD bias is laughable, as is the idea that a viscous coupling can "sense which axle has the most grip and distribute torque accordingly". As, indeed is that the transmission changes its behaviour between "normal and dry road conditions" or "wet, muddy or icy conditions". As above the centre diff on non-DCCD Imprezas is a conventional planet and bevel gear unit. It cannot split its torque anything other than 50/50. Find a knackered one and take it apart - it's easy enough to see how they work that way.
There are plenty of videos on the net demonstrating that power does indeed get diverted away from the wheels without traction, for example one wheel lifted off the ground. I have a 03 WRX which uses the older purely viscous differentials and even on that car going up hill on a sheet of ice never leaves one or two wheels spinning.
The definitive answer. Strap yourself in. This gets weird. I looked into terminology and 4WD means torque can go to 4 wheels. And AWD means ALL wheels can get torque. Nothing to do with difs, however in the US there has been a trend to advertise active centre diff management as AWD. So there may be a regional difference here. The world AWD and 4WD same for 4wheel cars. US -> active torque splitting is AWD, open centre diff or locked centre diff or LSD with no active torque splitting is 4WD. So probably by the regular/old/world definition all 4X4s are 4WD and AWD. But in the US a 4x4 is a 4WD but may or may not be AWD depending on of it has active centre diff management (active torque splitting). Hope this helps clear up all the disagreements.
AWD may be less slightly gas mileage, but believe me in rain, snow or icy weather (even in flat terrain) the driving stability & reliability of getting to your destination is worth it. Also, I haven't been stuck in the mud or snow once since using either a AWD or 4WD vehicle.
Maybe youre talking about off roading but in 20 years of driving purely FWD cars ive never lost control of the vehicle. For most weather related accidents AWD or 4WD wont really have an impact. In fact what has been a minor issue is the fact that in snowy or icy conditions these drive Systems are capable of accelerating your car better and give false sense of security because braking performance is the same no matter how many wheels are powered.
@@TheDude50447 you are almost right, but for people who live in somewhere has heavy snow weather condition. I still will suggest get a AWD car. Even we are not talking about off road. But AWD can help you get out from some snow dilemma
@@alanying5823 yeah of course. If i would live 100km further south in the alps here in germany i would consider awd as well and many people there actually buy awd or 4wd cars. But the Video makes it Sound like its worth it just for when it rains
@@TheDude50447 true, if there are no special weather condition and some driving requirements, AWD might only have very small different which you barely can feel the difference compare FWD. And AWD will cost more gas that is for sure.
@@alanying5823 aware this thread is a year old but I enjoy bringing up dead topics, but I've got rwd and vs my cousin who's got 4-matic his is definitely more planted in the heavy rainfall we have here in fl, so another pro to awd
I've watched at least 3 or 4 of these AWD vs 4WD videos this week and your video is the only one that kept my interest long enough and or was simple enough for me to understand. Good video!
Mate, what are you on about?.There are full time 4wd vehicles. Look at Toyota range. The difference is that 4WD have low range while AWD only have high range. MOST of AWD are predominantly run on front wheels only. Rear wheels are engaged when certain conditions are met. Wheel spin has nothing to do with 4WD or AWD. This depends on what type differentials are used and traction control if equipped. Shitty AWD will spin one tyre. Good 4WD will not spin one wheel. Subaru cars have fancy diff and traction control settings which prevents single wheel spin. There are AWD cars that are over 2,5 tonnes in weight and have far more complex drive train then a conventional 4WD. Delete this video and dont confuse people.
Agree! In hanggliding community, we go off road to climb mountain tops. Most of pilots own 4WD. Few have AWD. I have chance to drive both AWD and 4WD(lots times in 4L mode). 4WD cars climb off-road hills far more better than AWD cars. I currently own a base model of Outback 2011 model (2.4L?). It got wheel spins sometimes when climbing steep off road hills where I never had problems when I used to drive a Nissan Pathfinder 2001 4WD (3.5L).
Well Ike Fun, then you have a 4WD system. Technically any AWD vehicle is an 4WD when the drive is engaged to all four wheels. Daaah. 4WD is just a more complex version of AWD. And no need to be angry. Just because someone may have a diability or injury does not make their knowege less relevant.
Look A lot of people may frown on the idea of having a Subaru buts its a reason they get repeat customer purchases but I own my first and they are amazing I purchased it mainly for the cargo space that my dogs need. They are amazing vehicles..I blow by everybody in the rain and snow. They probably think im aggressive but now its just unreal how stable they are when you accelerate and even accelerating during a turn the car will not betray you the confidence that this car gives you is unmatched. A guy who designs and builds all wheel dive systems for Mercedes told me Subaru makes the best,period..and don't let that boxer engine fool you it can run. Go test drive a Subaru Accent its a beautifully made car almost drives itself...
Absolutely Agree! I bought a Legacy last year & it’s (so far) the best car I’ve ever owned! It’s gets 500miles a tank about the time the fuel light comes on & driving it in the snow this past year made me Not regret my purchase at all.
Very useful. Thanks. I now grasp why I love my 2014 Crosstrek and why it hardly ever gets more than 23-25 mpg. By the way. I am on my third Subaru. Number one, 2000 Forester, made 185,000 miles and was by far the safest-feeling snow car, and I was commuting several hundred miles every two weeks over the Appalachian Mountains for almost four years. Two was a 2006 Impreza, which was the most fun to drive but the worst snow car.It also made 185,000 miles. It's snow advantage was I could practice my drift skills on country roads with good sight lines more or less safely. My third is a 2015 Crosstrek which is better on snow than the Impreza but still not up to the Forester. The Subaru Crosstrek is a good car: basically an Impreza with bigger tires and more road clearance. All in all, I rate Subaru very high.
I drove my '23 Crosstrek 6-speed from Manchester, TN to Atlanta, including the climb over Monteagle and averaged 42 mpg (US gallons) for the trip. It's closer to 30 around town, but fuel consumption is one of the Crosstrek's strong suits.
Thank you for taking the time on this subject, 👍I have get my hands on a Suzuki sx4 2018 AWD 🤗 a month ago and like the way it works 🧐I live in a Island 100 x 35 miles ( Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 ) roads here are good and we have nice Beach's whit nice yellow and white Sand ⛱️ ( there some black sand to in some areas ) and nice off road places to test that AWD...in the hills ⛰️ ( 2,450 ft to 4,300 ft ) will see how this little car ( Suzuki sx4 AWD 2018 ) work them next weekend..😎🏝️🇵🇷
After not being stuck in the snow storm in Lake Tahoe, while other 4wheels drive & cars were stuck in the snow, I’m forever a Subaru driver for life. The extra cost in gas is worth your family life
Gas mileage aside, my Subaru is exactly what you described. Reliable and sure footed. Will I buy another? More than likely. Gas mileage isn’t an issue. Safety and reliability are.
This video is misinformation! You effectively explain Electronic Traction Control. Not All-Wheel Drive. Four-Wheel Drive uses a direct transfer case. All-Wheel Drive uses a center differential. Seriously, do the research before posting this amateur shill video....
Also the fuel economy its not always direct with the size of the engine, since a heavier car with a smaller engine will require a bit more revs to move and it uses more fuel
FourDollaRacing "Four-Wheel Drive uses a direct transfer case. All-Wheel Drive uses a center differential." And we could have saved watching the video ; )
1:16 It really depends on what type of AWD setup you have, some are FWD biased while others are RWD biased. Some will send 70% to the front axles while others will send 70% to the rear axles. This can vary depending on where traction is needed.
The definitive answer. Strap yourself in. This gets weird. I looked into terminology and 4WD means torque can go to 4 wheels. And AWD means ALL wheels can get torque. Nothing to do with difs, however in the US there has been a trend to advertise active centre diff management as AWD. So there may be a regional difference here. The world AWD and 4WD same for 4wheel cars. US -> active torque splitting is AWD, open centre diff or locked centre diff or LSD with no active torque splitting is 4WD. So probably by the regular/old/world definition all 4X4s are 4WD and AWD. But in the US a 4x4 is a 4WD but may or may not be AWD depending on of it has active centre diff management (active torque splitting). Hope this helps clear up all the disagreements.
Yeah. There's more to it. A car doesn't just slip Bec it's a 4wd or Awd like in this video. It can still slip if it's any of those as when one of the tyres enters a slippery surface the car's engine tend to power that wheels with lesser traction , which is what differentials are for while cornering. It can happen in any wheel drive. Its prevented when the differential are advanced LSD or electric ones as they sense these high changes in traction and accordingly sent power to wheels inorder to not slip. Thus this video is not accurate
Exactly this. I have an RD1 / first generation CR-V (97-01) and it's in FWD mode until the front wheels detect slippage, then you'll feel the rear pick up and push. The pros to this is reliability and significantly less wear and tear on these non-electronic system so long as you routinely replace the differential fluid. The cons to this is that when I need that additional power from the rear on those snowy, icy roads, I have no choice but to wait for it to engage. At least with this Honda AWD system, that's the only downside to a FWD-based AWD system.
I would add a more "it depends" caveat to the fuel efficiency aspect. Having driven Subarus (and other cars over the years) I can attest to the fact that your gas mileage varies considerably on how you drive it. Having owned both an STI and an Outback, I can say the mileage on both varied significantly. Both cars could get really good MPG's if you drove them without stomping on the gas and with a light foot, and both cars could get really ratty mileage if you "lead-footed" your way through the tank. So it just depended. Having also owned a Jeep while living in Colorado I can also attest that AWD is pretty hard to beat for everyday driving, if you live in snow country. The video is correct there. The trade offs are worth it, compared to 4WD in the Jeep - unless you are really off-roading in the high country. The other caveat I would add is that it's not impossible to spin an AWD Subaru - Colorado winters are proof of that.
But a 2WD will always win in fuel efficiency over an AWD, given same driving style. The AWD system inherently costs some efficiency. This was the point being made in the video.
All you have to do is look at EPA estimates for a car model that is available in both FWD only and also AWD. The AWD nearly always have worse MPG. It takes more energy to move 4 wheels than 2, especially with the drivetrain drag and power loss delivering it to the wheels.
A few years ago I drove in convoy with a friend from Adelaide to Melbourne in Australia. By the not-most-direct route we took, it was a trip of about 850km. We were in almost identical 1999-2003 series Subaru Outbacks, both manual transmission, although mine is an early-series models with fully mechanical A/4WD, while my friend's car is the mid-series updated version, which I think was one of the first models to get the electonically-tweaked "Symmetrical" system. We knew we'd have to stop for fuel somewhere on the way, but it was my friend who called the stop, and that's simply because of the way he drives. On a separate note, I've had some - thankfully rare - hairy moments in both of my Outbacks on wet roads; heavy understeer in the earlier model, and full four-wheel drift in the subsequent model, with not a lot of throttle applied. Footnote: the guy who made this video must have an incredibly heavy foot to only get 450km and 350km from a 60-litre tank in urban driving in FWD & AWD respectively. From the same tank capacity in my '98 Outback, I could easily achieve 550km or more in the same situation, and more than 700km on the highway. The slightly later model I currently have, with a 64-litre tank, adds about 50km to the range.
The Subaru boxer engine is well known for its great appetite… my Mazda CX30 AWD uses +/- 0,5 l/100kms extra fuel, which is totally reasonable for the added safety.
I'm not sure if the information here is completely accurate. 4WD system mentioned here is a part time 4x4 where the user has to manually engage 4wd or 2wd. But there is also. Full time 4wd which stays on all the time that dynamically switches between 2wd and 4wd using a clutch pack. 4wd also uses a transfer case and usually has High or Low gear in 4wd mode.
You can't compare Mitsubishi Galant to a Subaru outback and say the gas mileage difference is solely because of the awd system. Yes all-wheel drive will affect gas mileage, but Subaru's use boxer engines which are notoriously bad for gas mileage. Also, the outback is nowhere near as aerodynamic as your Mitsubishi Galant, and that plays a huge role in gas mileage. The outback is also heavier than the Galant...
Unfortunately most of what this video said is wrong. Many modern 4WD are always on. The mechanical difference is in a 4WD system there is a transfer case while in an AWD system there's a center differential. This means 4WD is more robust than an AWD system.
Some AWD systems also have permanent PTU which never disconnects, previous gen front biased Explorer does, only rear clutches on each side of diff keep it off in 2wd or when not needed in auto, but bottom line is what you said, the final delivery to wheels is computer controlled therefor less robust then transfer case type It seems there are just too many versions of each and both definitely have some versions of 2wd...i really don't know of anything recent with only 4wd, even cheap 4wd trucks have 2wd mode
This is not a horrible explanation, but it’s really not correct either. The viscous coupler in the transfer case is the main difference between the two systems and there are some vehicles that are actually both AWD and 4WD, with switches to change between the modes. 80 series Land Cruisers are a good example. Look up FZJ80 center diff lock switch if you want to learn more. AWD systems don’t typically send power to the wheel with traction (as Subaru advertises), rather they limit the amount of difference in speed between the wheels (by limited slip differentials and/or brakes using the ABS system).
*The actual answer:* 4WD (4x4): The front and rear axles rotate locked at the same speed. Great for off-road, can be turned off when on road. AWD: There is a centre differential or computer that varies power between front and rear. For general-purpose use
2:17 Have you tried better tires or lighter gasfoot? I drive rearwheel drive car and have only twice slipped and those were 1: On ice with summer tires and 2: In 15 cm/6" slush on steep uphill. And no, I don't drive "super carefully". I have heavy gasfoot but I know when to lighten it and always have good tires.
Depends on the car. My parents could not even leave the driveway with the old front engine rearwheel drive car in the snow. They needed to fill the trunk with bags of sand to have any grip on the rear wheels, even with fresh tires.
my guess would be people tend to not control how much pressure they put on the pedal, you can feel it when its gonna slip especially when you know your car and have good tires but when its ultra slippery there is no point in arguing
You are correct Tires are crucial. I have a Subaru Legacy with low ratio box, so 10 forward gears. I was going up a very steep hill in the UK several years ago in low ratio second and in about 4 inches of snow, when I was caught and passed easily by a small Renault post van, Mail van I suppose in the US, Whilst I was struggling for grip with my Bridgestone Potenza summer tires, the front wheel drive van breezed past me with no difficulty. I think that the post vans here are fitted with winter tires in the hilly parts of northern England so as to get the mail to outlying areas, and what a difference they make.
You are mixing up a lot of systems in your video. In modern cars, wheel spin is controlled by traction control (either through ABS, electronically controlled differentials, or by modulating the throttle for drive by wire setups), not the transmission configuration itself. Additionally, sending power to a slipping wheel is also not controlled by the transmission configuration itself, this is done again through a differential. An open diff sends power to the wheel of least resistance, a limit slip diff sends to the slower wheel (ie the wheel with grip), and a welded or locked diff sends to all wheels equally (like what you said was 4WD). RWD is more efficient for acceleration than FWD but NOT more fuel efficient and AWD is the least fuel efficient option due to the energy loss. Driving in FWD until traction is lost is to regain some efficiency (this is pretty much all mechanical AWD systems and most newer ones still use this philosophy). The only part that was close is how hard your ABS has to work is based on transmission configuration. After all these things are considered, that will determine what can accelerate faster and have more grip (assuming the same engine power and torque curves and comparable tire grip). The diagrams are nice, just the facts that are linked to them are all wrong
Nice comment, though that thing you mentioned about RWD being more efficient for acceleration is only true under certain conditions. Under the kinds of conditions talked about in the video (low grip) RWD is almost always slower. This is because nearly all cars have the engine in the front (or more specifically, they have more weight in the front) and thus more traction in the front tires. The reason your claim sometimes holds up is that when the car can accelerate hard enough to shift the weight of the car significantly back, that means FWD shifts weight and therefore traction OFF the driven wheels and RWD onto them. This, however, only applies if there is enough grip to get that kind of acceleration and that is not what is being talked about in the video and in fact, the video shows FWD, RWD and AWD accelerating in parallel in what seems to only be wet conditions (not low grip in the mind of an icelander, just normal lmao) and as expected, the RWD car is slowest. In short, you're not exactly wrong, but in the context of the video you are definitely wrong on that one point. Cheers!
@@fudjeo You neglect to consider the crucial factor which is when and why the weight shifts. RWD is better when the weight shifts back, but when there is barely any grip, the weight barely shifts, so no advantage is gained. Quite the opposite. Also, FWD does not have "a tiny wee bit" more traction, it has quite a heck of a lot more traction under near-zero acceleration. I have a feeling that you may be thinking of a slightly rainy day as "low grip conditions", and thus you call me out for being wrong (and given the following, you're right), because you can still accelerate enough to shift the weight back and get more traction. As a person that lives in a country that gets actual winters, though, RWD can be veeery slow to accelerate on ice. FWD is slow, too, but not as much. At least it's fun to kick out the rear :) PS: Back when RWD was common, people used to put sandbags in the trunk. I always thought that was funny.
I was wondering how you made this into a 5 minute video oh and btw a lot of newer awd cars are front wheel bias and send traction to back wheels if needed
Thank you for this video!! My AWD Cadillac turned off the AWD via a service light and I see the difference!! The Dealer must not have reset the computer when I had the fluid changed last year.
Theres a reason it usually has a way to be turned on and off. Your performance goes out the window when u have 4wd on. It sacrifices performance for that 4wd. Ive done enough farm work to figure out the differences.
Over generalization of AWD and 4WD systems and not all are correct. Some AWD systems like Mercedes ones put most the power to the front wheels and not the rear wheels (and adjust as needed), while others put 1/3 to the front and 2/3 to the rear all the time. Also you can't compare an old car's fuel mileage/efficiency to a new one based on only how many cylinders it has and if its AWD or not. When it's that many years difference the technology difference in the engines makes a difference too. Plus some manufacturers just make engines that aren't as fuel economical as others.
2:17 I know exactly where that's at! I-70 and Wadsworth in Arvada Colorado. I drive past that exact intersection quite often, because i get my gasoline from the Costco, just up the street from there. Great video. Because i live in Colorado, the winters can get quite bad, and there's so much opportunity for off road driving, that AWD was #1 priority for my car. I ended up with a 2011 Subaru Outback, already drove it during snowy weather, and it is so nice to have AWD.
Thanks for this easy-to-understand explanation! I made the switch to Subaru three years ago and have been driving a 2018 Impreza sedan(AWD base model). At first, like many things in life that involve change, I wasn't sure if I was a fan of the brand(boxer style engine, not many vehicle models to choose from, etc.) but it HAS been growing on me. I'm not far off from hitting 60,000 miles(had 20k when I purchased) so hoping for hopefully many more years ahead.
Great video! Just picked up a ‘23 Crosstrek with a 6-speed manual. Really enjoying the vehicle. Can really tell the difference with the AWD system. Don’t even have the engine broken in yet, so I’ll have to get back to you on observes gas mileage, but it’s rated at 22/29 mpg city/highway. We’ll see how well it does.
AWD also makes for great track acceleration, assuming you can get around the downside characteristics of FWD and RWD combined together (I.E understeer under heavy cornering)
@@Anvarynn not a bad thing, a good thing. If understeer is a problem you need to make a parking break turn. Not only does the parking break help you do this but it also looks really cool while you do it. E-brakes are for betas while the lever-pull parking break is for true DKs.
@@BimmerWon You mean drifting. Most cars now are an electronic parking brake, it's not a handle you can jiggle up and down, so it wouldn't even help. Nor would you ever want to have a controlled loss of grip during an actual race. Yes it looks cool, but you will absolutely get passed casually.
Unfortunately there are multiple inaccurate/misleading descriptions in this video. A few examples are older AWD systems that utilize a viscous clutch and no electronics, full time 4WD, and front wheel drive based AWD systems. It’s not always that easy to label a vehicle AWD or 4WD.
bcubed72 Be sure to tell that to the pick-up truck manufacturers that install single speed transfer cases in their trucks and call it AWD. Or any BMW X-Drive. All have transfer cases and utilize front and rear driveshafts to deliver torque to the front and rear axles... just like other 4WD’s, but EVERYONE calls the BMW AWD, not 4WD. Also, “full-time 4WD” vehicles utilize a “center diff” in the transfer case that will allow for varying speeds of the front and rear axles, which is necessary when turning. For example, the Land Rover Discovery, which in some years, has a center diff lock. Like I said, it’s not always that easy to label a vehicle AWD or 4WD.
Subaru owner here, everything good they say about the AWD is true, it’s amazing. Had it in snow, mud and sand and always gets me through. The only downside is if you puncture a tire after they’re worn a little you have to replace all 4 tires. I had that happen once in 5 years, so it’s a trade off but for me it’s worth it.
You don't have to replace all 4 tires when 1 tire needs replacement, that's complete bs. You just have to replace the 2 tires that share the same axel.
I recently switched from my factory tires to Toyo Open County A/T 3 all terrain tires on my 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R and that makes a huge difference ! Phenomenal performance !
Only Subaru's AWD is always on. Other manufacturers' AWD will only engage when their systems sense tire slippage. Subaru claims theirs is better because it's always on, but I don't think this is an advantage because the systems that only engage if tires slip are able to do so at nearly the speed of light. My Genesis G90 w/ AWD performed perfectly in the snowy conditions in Colorado last winter and its AWD only engages if it needs to. It worked awesome.
ALL WHEEL FRIVE. HE'S TALKING ABOUT ALL WHEEL DRIVE. Defenders ar NOT by any way all wheel drive. So before saying "B.S.", you should at least get your driving licence. Like you literraly just saw a vid about AWD and 4WD and still can't get the difference?@Deans RC Life
I’ll take AWD for commuting 4WD for work hunting fishing and general outdoor activities that will take you off road. Better throw in front and rear lockers for serious off road. FWD AWD RWD 4WD doesn’t matter on black ice or icy roads speed and driving smoothly matter more. 30 years of driving in northern Michigan. The other advantage of AWD SUVs Wagons is most sit a few inches higher than cars. This helps a ton when entering the road and you have piled up snow as the result of snow plows
there are some videos on youtube clearly showing an AWD car like an OUTBACK getting through an area a full blown 4x4 can't. I think AWD is good for all round use, and 4x4 for extreme off roading.
Something to consider: Your little 4cylinder engine has to work hard to carry that heavier drive train than the V6 did. There are situations where less power can mean slightly less efficiency.
@@michaelkeayes1914 A 2.5L engine of any kind should have ample performance and torque for a car below 1600kg. I know some want a 300hp engine for a 4-person car they then drive to Walmart and back but for decent normal driving a 2.5L engine should be more than enough - from where I see it a 2L should do too, unless you live in a very hilly area.
Biggest flaw of AWD or 4WD is that they have transfer case which throws power to each wheel as required however transfer case seldom is neglected as preventative service and ends up being a big problem
I completely agree with you. The best thing is to change the oil in the transfer case every 100 thousand kilometers. My W203 4matic has over 300 thousand kilometers and the system functions perfectly (I changed the oil twice). Best greetings from Switzerland.
Many AWD systems are different. Most common is primary front wheel drive with the rear wheels kicking in when the computer sees slippage. Typically a 60/40 split. Subaru on the other hand is a constant 50/50 split, always. It's why they do so well in snow.
Beautifully explained. Thanks for the info. I drive a Subaru WRX and I’ve never lost traction despite many hard accelerations and turns. Yep, fuel efficiency is not as good, especially with my lead foot.
Things are not as simple as that my 2007 jeep cherokee 2.8crd has the option of 2wd rear 4wd full time so ok to drive on the road 4wd part time for off road or snow then there is the 4wd low gear option if that does not cover everything it also has traction control to stop one wheel from spinning if you choose to use it. The only problem is you need to now how to use it all to get the best result unlike an all wheel drive where you just drive it and let the computer do the work and that is why I got my jeep so that I can be in chard not some bloody computer as for fuel consumption best not think about that.
I have an AWD Chevy Trax premier and it's the first AWD I've ever owned it is awesome in the winter snow. Actually fun to play around in. You have to turn off the traction control and stable control to get all 4 wheels spinning.
That's only the gear reduction. 4H is the normal gear ratio for everyday driving. 4L is low range you can use whenever you need extra torque or have to drive very slowly.
In that case I would assum that 4H locks the center differential and 4L additionaly puts it in low range. AWD would be for roads, all wheels are powered but they can turn at different speeds, while in 4H/L front and rear drive shafts turn at the same speed. Don't nail me down on this though, I drive a G-Wagon not a Montero/Pajero. Usually the owners manual has some detailed information on the drivetrain and when to use which mode.
VorboteDesKrieg That would mean its actually Permanent or full time 4WD like a Range Rover or a Toyota Land Cruiser. They probably called it AWD to differentiate it from Part Time 4WD system. Also because it's AWD most of the time, as all Full time 4WD systems are. But when you lock the center differential(which is liklely what happens when you switch into 4H or 4L) it becomes 4WD, as it preforms just like a part time 4WD system would in the 4H and 4L settings. Edit: Its also possible it uses a clutch pack instead of a center differential. Like you would find on most AWD systems that are 2wd most of the time. The clutch pack allows a variable amount of locking to control torque split typically between 100% to 50% torque to either the front(if its a fwd based system) or to the rear(if its a RWD based system). That being said some of these clutch pack based 4wd and awd systems can send 100% of the torque to either axle. And to make matters even more confusing is that systems with a conventional gear based center differential can also sometimes used clutches to control torque split as well. Even though they typically split torque at a more neutral rate(f/r 60/40-30/70) depending on the vehicle.
locking differentials are actually pretty rare. the 2 modes are 4 high and 4 low. 4 high is high geared and 4 low is low gear. If you had a locking diff, it can be engage in 2wd and 4hi and 4lo
@@adamedunn if you exclude all the fake city only 4wds you will see the percentage with lockable diffs is very high, if it dont have locking diffs it is not designed to go off road
Great explanation. A lot of people don`t realise that 4WD and AWD are actually different! Also I would like to add that 4WD is actually the older system and is slowly being phased out for the more technically advanced AWD. I am now in my 40s and I have driven FWD and RWD most of my life. Since switching recently to AWD I have felt a lot more confident with my driving and more relaxed behind the wheel, considering I live in a country where most of the year round the roads are wet! AWD rules every time and I would never go back to FWD or RWD!
Little Miss leading some 4wd cars do not stop been 4wd they only turn off the center diff lock but all 4 wheels still have power to them unless one wheel out of 4 starts to slip much like a AWD in 4wd mode high it locks the center diff so now it takes two wheels to slip to get stuck one front one back you can also get 4wd with front center and back diff locks with all 3 diff locks it takes all 4 wheels to spin before you get stuck, some 4wd cars have 2wd mode but not all.
@@raamoo_ IQ doesn´t work like that. You might gain little iq by eating better, exercising and doing active problem solving but getting half-baked info with pretty pictures doesn´t have that effect.
My 15 Silverado had a mode select for RWD, AWD, 4HI and 4LO. Excellent combination of choices, I do use AWD a decent amount in the winter when it has just started to snow and I dont want to have to be laser focused as I go along, but I'm always grateful I can just switch to RWD to hoon around, and I dont need to explain the use of 4WD in upstate New York, I'm never worried about even 2 feet of snow, just stick it an 4WD and go wherever I damn well please, even when the plows aren't out, and someones in a ditch
MichaelofSC AWD runs on 2 wheels until there is slippage. The Subaru for example puts power to 2 wheels symmetrically, if the front left wheel is getting power the right rear wheel is as well. They are constantly bouncing power around to different wheels, not all 4 are getting power all at once, only 3 wheels will while the other will spin freely. Locking a vehicle into 4WD means all wheels are getting 25% of the power which is the absolute best for traction in rough conditions. So, AWD is never all 4 wheels getting equal power simultaneously, whereas as 4WD is. AWD is better for driving on tarmac and get better fuel efficiency and also corners a little better then locked 4WD
I have full time 4wd soooo... 4wd is not only part time.. difference is 4wd has a transfer case that's adjustable vs awd that only a computer can control.
The reason I bought an AWD was because it would transfer power from the front drive to the rear whenever it needed. A 4-Wheel drive couldn't do that automatically. So I would drive on rear normally, and had to switch to 4-wheel when it needed. In addition, I could not drive on 4-H or 4-low all the time, or risk damages. Subaru and the 4_Runner Limited are the only 4-wheel drive that could be driven full time.
The information in this video is probably only about 30% accurate. There's is so much more to it than what is mentioned. First of all awd, 4wd, 4x4, etc, are all synonyms. Second of all they all work so differently depending on the brand and most are fwd driven. But it's true that subies are rwd driven and always on. Some brands use aldex differentials that only send power to the rear wheels when slip is detected, like my volvo for instance. And so on, and so on. Quattro, 4motion, volvo awd, Subaru, etc, it's all very different and will offer different advantages. Subaru offers one of the best performing awd system but is less fuel efficient but it's not true for all the awd systems some are pretty good in terms of fuel consumption. You may be good at editing videos but your content sucks. Btw the 2.5 in the outback has a power to weigh ration that is terrible. Don't expect a good fuel consumption anyhow.
"First of all awd, 4wd, 4x4, etc, are all synonyms" - At last !!! Someone agrees with me. IMO, "AWD" was just a marketing term to try and distance the perception of 4WD cars being as heavy on fuel as 4WD off roaders. However, in the '80s, both Vauxhall & Ford advertised their cars (Granada Scorpio & Cavalier respectively) as "4WD".
I only have 4x4 vehicles. Because I need them to go to the beach to camp and fish. I also only have trucks, because I need ground clearance. Awd Subaru or any car is no good if it’s hung up on rocks and scraping on everything.
@@montanawhite5699 and your point is ? I don't even know what a 'truck' is ! I'm quite sure that we don't get them in Europe, or if we do, no one really buys them.
Agreed a lot of the information in this video is utter BS. An automatic Subaru is full time front wheel drive with a clutch that varies the drive to the rear through hydraulic pressure controlled by a computer. Older 4wd Skylines are rear wheel drive with a similar system running the front, in fact you can lock them in rwd with a simple blade fuse. Is a Lada Niva AWD, 4WD or 4x4? Well actually it's all of them. It depends on the manufacturer as to which term they choose to use, they are all fairly interchangeable. Many 4wd vehicles have a center diff that allows them to be used in 4wd on and off road, for further traction some have a center diff lock and low ratio if required.
4wd- 4 wheels are driven Awd- all wheels are driven 4x4- out of 4 wheels,4 wheels are driven If veichle has 4 wheels,and all 4 are driven,that means 4wd=awd=4x4.. If it has 6 wheels and 4 are driven,than it is not awd.it is 4wd or 4x6.. If it has 6 wheels and all are driven,than is awd,6wd or 6x6. What you are explaining in your video is different power transfering, between FULL TIME awd,4wd or 4x4,whatever you want to call it , and PERMANENT time awd,4wd 4x4.. Different car manufacturers put different designations...awd ,4wd, 4x4... As i guy who drives Patrol,you should know this...and also it is more fun to drive permanent 4x4,4wd,awd,(whatever),as i also drive Patrol,waiting for snow to have a fun with back end ;)
Been driving a Subaru for many years I live on a mountain ridge if it snows I am the first to know. The Subaru Outback has always got me home despite the snow or ice. While not perfect with a bit of skill and patience it will do the job.
this is bs the main difference your describing in the diffs, you seem to think 4wd's have locked diffs, they dont and if they have lockers people dont drive around with on.
AWD may split the power to the front wheels primarily as opposed to the rear wheels. There is a reason most cars are front wheel drive today. Besides room, manufacturing cost, and so on, efficiency is a primary reason.
Interesting. I kind of always thought something like this was the case, but never knew for sure. I have a GMC Acadia. What I like about the AWD system is that it _is_ designed to be left on all the time. However, it gives you the option to put it in FWD to save fuel. The real world result ends up being a 2-4 MPG boost, especially on long trips in warm, dry weather. We once drove an hour and a half out of town, and the car ended up getting about 31 miles per gallon. Not bad at all for a car as big as it is, weighing 4,100 pounds with a chunky V6 engine.
The only car makers with true AWD are Volvo, Audi and Subaru. The rest are 4 wheel assist and traction does not work like AWD. I took a Honda CIVIC out on a snowy day for a test drive and was spinning is many scenarios. Same day same conditions the Outback was stable and on track, no spins. So Acadia cannot be a true AWD as GM does not possess this technology.
@@hike2fishif you know enough about cars to be talking about these specifics then how do you not know enough about cars to remember which one you even drove?
I miss my 2001 4runner. It had a lockable center differential so you could be in 2wd, awd, or 4wd. Along with a locking rear dif, it was great in all conditions
Living in Ohio, I can say I’m Very happy with my Legacy! I do drive with a heavy foot yet still get 400+ miles on a tank by the time the fuel light comes on. This past year was my first winter with the car & while my neighbors had to dig their cars out after a fresh snow(6-7inches), I got in my car & drove out the neighborhood without much trouble(no I don’t have snow tires). I used to be a Only Ford/Chevy guy but this Subaru i bought Absolutely changed my mind!
With my Outback it had snowed so much the car was all but covered. My dad had to drive it, so he just cleared out the door, got in, and backed out no problem 😁 They're tough and capable little cars
Thank you. I am now in the market for a new car and the car of choice for me is the Outlander. I have an older model and have been very happy with it. This has given me food for thought. Older outlander is a 4WD or 2WD and have only used the 4WD once in the 10 years I've had it.
The biggest advantage of AWD is that the driver can drive stupid without spinning out on slippery roads or losing friction when taking long curves too fast.
The poor fuel mileage is due to the added friction ie the extra mechanical stuff to be turned. Weight is not that big a deal. If you want to verify, take two identical car, Toyota pickup is easy, weigh them both and add the extra weight of 4WD to the bed of the 2WD and see if they get the same mileage. The 2WD will always get better mileage because it has less friction.
Actually in my research on the matter, there are a number of different systems that each work a bit differently and whether any given car is labelled as 4WD or AWD is really just marketing. We owned a 2008 Jeep grand Cherokee labelled as 4WD, but it was in fact a fully computer controlled system that sent power to all 4 wheels all the time, adjusting the amount to each wheel based on traction. However, it did have a small handle you could pull to lock the differentials, which would be good for getting out of deep snow or mud or something. In that mode all 4 wheels were given equal power, you were limited to low gears only and the manual said it should never be used on regular, dry roads or for any regular driving. That is similar to what you are describing as 4WD. Also older technology did indeed require the driver to manually enable 4WD mode for when it was appropriate and otherwise it would only be 2WD and that’s what you should use for normal street driving. But since the introduction of multiple differentials in theses systems to allow every wheel to spin at different speeds and have different amounts of power sent to each one, as well as the inclusion of computerized traction control, the distinction between 4WD and AWD has become blurred. 4WD and 4x4 branding is usually still used on trucks and SUVs that used to have the traditional style of manually enabled 4WD and are more often used for off road and such, while AWD branding is used more on cars, crossovers and lighter duty SUVs typically used only in the city. But in reality all modern vehicles with either label are full time computer controlled systems. However, they are not all identical and different manufacturers will use different systems on the mechanical side that offer different features depending on the purpose and target market.
Yes, my F150 has 4x4 auto, standard 4x4 high and 4x4 low. It also has different transmission modes with one of them for ice/snow/rain which acts as traction control in all drive configurations.
Wow! video is very misleading, people with very little knowledge about car's layout are gonna believe this, people please do your homework before choosing a car platform.
I've spun all 4 wheels in 4wd in Low 4wd with front and rear lockers engaged. That's what low traction situations can do. When on the bitumen I don't drive in a manner likely to spin wheels because my 4wd isn't a fun vehicle to have out of control on the road around other people. In the bush it's great to be out of control.
Great explanation. My 2000 Honda CR-V with AWD stands up to any adverse weather Florida throws at me while giving me confidence to maneuver it however I want without fear that it will slide or roll over or lose traction. Love that little SUV! But yeah, hate that low gas mileage it delivers. lol
2000 CR-V is not AWD. It directs all torque to front wheels and uses automatic system based on two hydraulic pumps to engage rear wheels in case of traction loss on front axle.
There are many imprecisions in this Video. The Guy Talking says ge never Spun the Tires because if AWD... Very much incorrect statement. TRACTION CONTROL and the STABILITY CONTROL are the ones that prevent Slipping and Sliding. If you Disable the Stability Control and the Traction Control, and AWD will Slip off the line, not a lot, but it will... The issue happens if you Slide an AWD, in which case as you try to Control the Slide, you will find yourself without Traction Power as the Slipping Tire is wasting all the Power away leaving you with no Traction, hence you're out of Control and likely crash! Search online, and watch how many Videos of People doing Burnout and Donuts with AWD Cars there are... Once you disable the Stability Control and Traction Control, AWD slide like crazy and on the Snow: they get stuck in a flat parking lot because all 3 Differentials are open
CrazySteTV You have to drive a Subaru in order to understand... Yes, the traction control/stability control have a LOT to do with not slipping. Most cars today come with traction control, and still slip. Not the Subarus, like I said...you have to drive one, then you'll see for yourself.
Val Sagaon hello Val, Drove one Yesterday... The Traction Control has everything to do with it. Turned it off, and we started smoking the parking lot ;-) You can see it in many videos too: th-cam.com/video/dFFQ467r35w/w-d-xo.html
This is correct. A completely open AWD system( or a permanent 4WD with the diffs unlocked) will only spin one wheel in the right conditions. Which is why Limited-slip and locking differentials as well a a good traction control system are pretty important in reducing wheel slip. Those are what make the difference
★★★ *FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIDEO / FACT UPDATES* ★★★
*1) Was this a sponsored Ad by Subaru?* - No. I just happen to own a 2006 Subaru Outback at the time of making this video and was curious about how AWD differed from 4WD. So I researched it for myself and afterwards decided to make this video covering what I learned. Just to clarify further I no longer own the Subaru Outback, I now have a 2018 FWD Hyundai SUV as of 1/7/2020.
*2) Here are all 4 drive trains in a nut shell.*
► FWD = Fuel Economy & Slippery Roads
► RWD = Performance
► AWD = All Weather Conditions
& Minor Off Road
► 4WD = For Serious Off Road
*3) You have not covered every kind of drive train and 4 wheel drive system* - Correct, this is more a laymans overviews of the 4 types of drive trains. with the main goal of explaining the main difference between AWD & FWD.
*4) In this video I do state how I got poor fuel economy from my Subaru outback* - But after a fuel comprehensive service and some long distance drives, bedding it all in, I averaged 450 klms in suburb driving and 650 klms in country driving. Which was much better than the original 350 klms for Suburb driving i was getting when I bought it second hand.
Want me to hear you advert?
Pay me first. Shame on Subaru. !
This is not the official terminology.
1)AWD means All Wheel Drive. It literally means that all wheels are driven. I know, the meaning of a term doesn't necessarily have to match the meaning of the words it consists of but still there's no limitations for the automaker to call any 4x4 system AWD or 4WD and it would still technically be correct.
2)There're different opinions among automotive journalists on whether the center differential setup like in the Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse is considered AWD or 4WD.
3)This 4WD/AWD division doesn't really give you any information about how effective this system is. For example, SUVs like the Nissan Patrol Y62 (if I remember correctly) or some of the specs of modern Mercedes GLE and GLS are excellent off road despite having weird automatic coupling units between the axles. On the lower side of the budget, we have Renault Duster that almost outperforms russian UAZ Patriot - a classic part-time 4WD SUV with ladder frame and solid axles (at least it had been so before they started offering a rear differential lock on the UAZ).
4)Most automakers have their own AWD/4WD systems with cool names like 4X-Motion, Quadra Drive, Super Select, Quattro, etc. We know much more about them than just the type of connection between the axles. Some vehicles even have their signature setups like Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has it's unique part-time 4x4 with both axle lockers and Toyota Land Cruiser has that boring Torsen differential with not even an LSD in the rear. Do you really need to classify them as AWD or 4WD when we already know so much about them?
5)There's much better term to describe what you call 4WD - part-time 4WD or (this will sound confusing) part-time AWD. This is much more accurate, especially considering that one of those two categories (AWD or 4WD) have to include center differential 4x4 which is very different from the part-time setup or the coupling unit 4x4.
6)Finally, there are cases when there's more than 4 wheels (or less), which makes 4WD acronym even more stupid. Of course you can say "6WD" but it doesn't sound right. I know, this is commercial truck territory but why would you use something inconsistent like "4WD", especially if it rarely gives you any useful information?
You also gave a little bit inaccurate description of torque distribution.
1)Let's first look at how differential works. Open diff always splits torque 50:50. It's a little counterintuitive but it's what really happens. If one of the wheels loses traction it becomes incapable of applying torque to the ground. If it's in the air it consumes almost 0 Nm of torque, if it slides it has some small amount of torque as sliding friction coefficient is smaller than the static one. Since the other wheel has exactly the same amount of torque as the spinning one, the car lose performance and in case when the spinning wheel is in the air, the amount of torque on that other wheel is not enough to move the vehicle and it gets stuck.
Locked diff always sends torque to the wheel WITH traction. Not 50:50 how many journalists say. To have an easier time to understand it, imagine the solid cylindrical axle with 3 gears in random places on it. One gear is connected to some electric motor, one is connected to the load and one rotates freely. The motor generates 10 Nm of torque, which torque is consumed by the load to make the axle spin at constant speed? Yes, 10 Nm. The same thing is with the wheels. If only one wheel moves the vehicle it means it has 100% of the torque. Not 50% or 25%.
2)Same thing occurs in AWD system. Yes, they are often incapable of sending all 100% of the torque to the rear wheels let alone to the one of the rear wheels. But what system tries to do is not necessarily distribute torque 50:50, it sends the needed amount just to make the ride better. It can be 5%, 20% or even 100% - any number within it's capability is possible. When the coupling unit is completely locked it act like the locked center differential and sends torque in exact same proportion as traction that axles have.
3)That wet spinning wheel problem is only partially dictated by the AWD system type. Yes, of course, having all that torque distributed between two axles makes wheels less prone to slide but what also matters is the open differentials in axles. When the diff is open your total traction equals double the traction on wheel with the least grip and when the diff is locked the total traction equals the sum of left and right wheels.
Part of the reason why Subaru is so dang good in rain is that it not only distributes torque to the rear wheels but it also can apply brakes to an individual wheel to add a little bit of load on it so that the other wheel with better traction can consume more torque (I remind you that it can only have the exact same amount as the sliding wheel has which, in this case, is increased by that brake application - it's like we add an artificial load to an unloaded wheel in order for the other one being able to take more torque and put it to the ground).
Convert your measurements American and UK
@@ldmtag I agree with most of what you said. But my interpretation is that the transfer case is what distinguishes 4WD from AWD. In 4WD, both the front and rear output shafts will ALWAYS turn at the same ratio to one another (almost always an equal 1:1 speed ratio). But AWD allows for speed differences (essentially, a differential within the transfer case)
4WD = Design for serious off road
AWD = Design for all weather city drive
In the end the Toyota Land Cruiser is an AWD 🙂
@@amypablo9470 Either works, you don't need high torque to go through water and snow
@@amypablo9470 AWD will give you better handling on wet roads and when making tight turns blah blah. If your going to be seeing 2-3" of snow and you want to 'make' your own road then 4x4 like a real man, in that case F-250 Diesel 4x4 lifted 6" and since your in NY get a couple smoke stacks so you let your neighbors know you miss the 1800s and riding on a coal train.
@@davey3765 LOL. I like your 4x4 reasoning with the neighbors. That's exactly why I have that on my ram 2500hd
Demon Plays wrong, it's a full time 4wd which means it runs like an awd in normal situation but is a true 4wd since it has center diff lock and a low range transfer case. Totally different from awd which is purely electronic
4WD is direct transfer case and AWD is controlled by centre diff.
The system you explained for AWD is Subaru’s symmetrical awd system which is only correct for Subaru vehicles with open diffs. Mine has a rear lsd and definitely can get sideways. AWD systems differ with manufacturers such as Mitsubishi’s active yaw system.
Some 4wd vehicles have permanent 4wd. Most modern 4wd are complemented by LSD, locked diff and 4WD engagement options.
Thanks, there are just too many incorrect simplifications in this video
thank god other people understand this video sucks
It's also this lack of central Diff that makes using 4wd systems on tarmac bad, because your front axle and back axle are locked together they can't slip when the front wheels take a shorter or longer path than the rear wheels. This causes the central axle to have a big twist in it. while being fine off road because there is enough slip and give in the dirt to allow the central axle not gain too much twist.
This video focuses too much on electronic traction control. there is no reason why AWD can't be 100% mechanical, or a reason why 4wd's cant introduce theses management systems and no have a locked central diff.
center
@@aaronsymes7000 what? A 4wd system has a front and rear diff, plus a transfer box from the gearbox. Its fine on tarmac as both diffs work independently and quite offen have an open diff on the front. I own 4 4wd vehicles, 2 rally cars, a hilux (with selectable 4wd) and a new landrover defender. Ive also owned awd vehicles with independent clutch packs for power transfer to each individual wheel.
😢😅😊
you posted a better video and explanation then major car manufacturers selling their product.
Good job!
My mom bought one of the first Foresters from Japan (98 or 99) and still has it. The car was made when Subaru was starting to make everything all wheel drive, though hers might be a mechanical viscous linkage than computer controlled. I'm not sure. What I do know is that the car remains a delight to drive and has held up very well. People in Maine love that car.
the system in those early Subarus was very much mechanical. not 100% sure about that specific forester but more than likely it's a set 50/50 split or a variable 60/40 split, reacting mechanically to loss of grip. pretty cool.
Lived in Maine my whole life and I agree some people love Subaru because they have that tanky build. My gram has one in mid 90s one my uncle's still has it to this day just wicked rusty.
My Land Rover has something similar in the form of a haldex unit.
@@MistaTofMaine My mom's Forester is white and primer now. It looks like a damn Dalmatian, and that's because my father decided to clean it with a pressure washer...
Lol so true... Maine and Massachusetts love foresters.
I thought I was watching an ad before the video, then realized that WAS the video when it ended.
Some 4wd vehicles (Defender, Hummer, some Landcruisers and others) are permanent 4wd not part time. They have a centre differential so the front and rear axles are always driven. This gives much better on road stability than a part time system. The centre diff can be manually locked for off roading so they don't get stuck if one wheel starts spinning.
Thanks for saving me the trouble of writing this
for instance, Mitsubishi Pajero with super select transmission allows driving 4x4 all the time
4Runner limited for the win!
👍🤙
IOW AWD
This video is a perfect example of "when a little knowledge is dangerous". Lots of misunderstood "facts" about 4WD/AWD here.
I was thinking that it was a really good example of the "Almost right" phenomena.
4WD BLEAUS!! HAULING 150& 250'S AND 2500'S CANT HANDLE AWD: THE TECH WILL BE DEVELOPED. IV BEEN DRIVING AWD FOR 22YEARS, 600K+, IN 6 MONTHS OF ICE AND SNOW ON WINDING, NARROW, HILLY N CNTRL PENNSYLVANIA ROADS ON FOUR STUDDED SNOW TIRES IN WINTER TO BE INDOMITABLE FOR COMMUTING, ALPINE AND X-COUNTY SKIING, BUT ESP SNOW FAT BIKING ON ST FOREST AND ST GAME LAND ROADS, I.E., BACKCOUNTRY.
@@tonylang7526 your post would be easier to read if you didn't use all capital letters
@@davgpol Even then, it doesn't make much sense. Seems like it's more about boasting about driving experience than making any point
4wd while in 2wd... has the same milage as a 2wd.. the front diff is completely disengaged! So its false when they say its less fuel efficient
The driving in the snow looks so soothing and calming!
omg the animations of all the drive options helped me understand sOO much thank you!!
This video is sponsored by Subaru.
well only from the point of view that I drive one and i wanted to use footage of the car i know, if I drove another all wheel drive brand I would have talked about that
DJQ 15. Couldn't be because the explination is not applicable becayse Subaru is and allways has been front wheel drive that adds the rear axle when needed or selected. This guy is clueless. Haha
Dandahermit Seals let's see some proof, I know for a fact my sti it's 80%rear and 20% front unless otherwise, and other Subarus use a similar center diff system. Mazda however does have what you are talking about and so does honda
The idea that the car has a FWD bias is laughable, as is the idea that a viscous coupling can "sense which axle has the most grip and distribute torque accordingly". As, indeed is that the transmission changes its behaviour between "normal and dry road conditions" or "wet, muddy or icy conditions".
As above the centre diff on non-DCCD Imprezas is a conventional planet and bevel gear unit. It cannot split its torque anything other than 50/50. Find a knackered one and take it apart - it's easy enough to see how they work that way.
There are plenty of videos on the net demonstrating that power does indeed get diverted away from the wheels without traction, for example one wheel lifted off the ground. I have a 03 WRX which uses the older purely viscous differentials and even on that car going up hill on a sheet of ice never leaves one or two wheels spinning.
The Videography and production in this is AMAZING dude, very well done
Yeah but they have so much missinformation
The definitive answer. Strap yourself in. This gets weird.
I looked into terminology and 4WD means torque can go to 4 wheels. And AWD means ALL wheels can get torque. Nothing to do with difs, however in the US there has been a trend to advertise active centre diff management as AWD.
So there may be a regional difference here.
The world AWD and 4WD same for 4wheel cars.
US -> active torque splitting is AWD, open centre diff or locked centre diff or LSD with no active torque splitting is 4WD.
So probably by the regular/old/world definition all 4X4s are 4WD and AWD. But in the US a 4x4 is a 4WD but may or may not be AWD depending on of it has active centre diff management (active torque splitting).
Hope this helps clear up all the disagreements.
AWD may be less slightly gas mileage, but believe me in rain, snow or icy weather (even in flat terrain) the driving stability & reliability of getting to your destination is worth it. Also, I haven't been stuck in the mud or snow once since using either a AWD or 4WD vehicle.
Maybe youre talking about off roading but in 20 years of driving purely FWD cars ive never lost control of the vehicle. For most weather related accidents AWD or 4WD wont really have an impact. In fact what has been a minor issue is the fact that in snowy or icy conditions these drive Systems are capable of accelerating your car better and give false sense of security because braking performance is the same no matter how many wheels are powered.
@@TheDude50447 you are almost right, but for people who live in somewhere has heavy snow weather condition. I still will suggest get a AWD car. Even we are not talking about off road. But AWD can help you get out from some snow dilemma
@@alanying5823 yeah of course. If i would live 100km further south in the alps here in germany i would consider awd as well and many people there actually buy awd or 4wd cars. But the Video makes it Sound like its worth it just for when it rains
@@TheDude50447 true, if there are no special weather condition and some driving requirements, AWD might only have very small different which you barely can feel the difference compare FWD. And AWD will cost more gas that is for sure.
@@alanying5823 aware this thread is a year old but I enjoy bringing up dead topics, but I've got rwd and vs my cousin who's got 4-matic his is definitely more planted in the heavy rainfall we have here in fl, so another pro to awd
Bed time story Subaru edition
Lmfao
@Leroy Brown thanks
Lol.
😴😴😴😴
Subaru AWD sucks. Lmfao. Jeep AWD is superior.
I've watched at least 3 or 4 of these AWD vs 4WD videos this week and your video is the only one that kept my interest long enough and or was simple enough for me to understand. Good video!
here for me a 01 forester costs as much as a 2011
Mate, what are you on about?.There are full time 4wd vehicles. Look at Toyota range. The difference is that 4WD have low range while AWD only have high range. MOST of AWD are predominantly run on front wheels only. Rear wheels are engaged when certain conditions are met. Wheel spin has nothing to do with 4WD or AWD. This depends on what type differentials are used and traction control if equipped. Shitty AWD will spin one tyre. Good 4WD will not spin one wheel. Subaru cars have fancy diff and traction control settings which prevents single wheel spin. There are AWD cars that are over 2,5 tonnes in weight and have far more complex drive train then a conventional 4WD. Delete this video and dont confuse people.
Andruhevich i agree, theres to much bullshit in this video
Absolutely correct!
Agree! In hanggliding community, we go off road to climb mountain tops. Most of pilots own 4WD. Few have AWD. I have chance to drive both AWD and 4WD(lots times in 4L mode). 4WD cars climb off-road hills far more better than AWD cars. I currently own a base model of Outback 2011 model (2.4L?). It got wheel spins sometimes when climbing steep off road hills where I never had problems when I used to drive a Nissan Pathfinder 2001 4WD (3.5L).
Well Ike Fun, then you have a 4WD system. Technically any AWD vehicle is an 4WD when the drive is engaged to all four wheels. Daaah. 4WD is just a more complex version of AWD. And no need to be angry. Just because someone may have a diability or injury does not make their knowege less relevant.
PS: Ike Fun was reported for harrassment and bullying. LOL
Look A lot of people may frown on the idea of having a Subaru buts its a reason they get repeat customer purchases but I own my first and they are amazing I purchased it mainly for the cargo space that my dogs need. They are amazing vehicles..I blow by everybody in the rain and snow. They probably think im aggressive but now its just unreal how stable they are when you accelerate and even accelerating during a turn the car will not betray you the confidence that this car gives you is unmatched. A guy who designs and builds all wheel dive systems for Mercedes told me Subaru makes the best,period..and don't let that boxer engine fool you it can run. Go test drive a Subaru Accent its a beautifully made car almost drives itself...
Absolutely Agree! I bought a Legacy last year & it’s (so far) the best car I’ve ever owned! It’s gets 500miles a tank about the time the fuel light comes on & driving it in the snow this past year made me Not regret my purchase at all.
@@maltpatriot4919 sweet, enjoy!
Very useful. Thanks. I now grasp why I love my 2014 Crosstrek and why it hardly ever gets more than 23-25 mpg. By the way. I am on my third Subaru. Number one, 2000 Forester, made 185,000 miles and was by far the safest-feeling snow car, and I was commuting several hundred miles every two weeks over the Appalachian Mountains for almost four years. Two was a 2006 Impreza, which was the most fun to drive but the worst snow car.It also made 185,000 miles. It's snow advantage was I could practice my drift skills on country roads with good sight lines more or less safely. My third is a 2015 Crosstrek which is better on snow than the Impreza but still not up to the Forester. The Subaru Crosstrek is a good car: basically an Impreza with bigger tires and more road clearance. All in all, I rate Subaru very high.
I drove my '23 Crosstrek 6-speed from Manchester, TN to Atlanta, including the climb over Monteagle and averaged 42 mpg (US gallons) for the trip. It's closer to 30 around town, but fuel consumption is one of the Crosstrek's strong suits.
Thank you for taking the time on this subject, 👍I have get my hands on a Suzuki sx4 2018 AWD 🤗 a month ago and like the way it works 🧐I live in a Island 100 x 35 miles ( Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 ) roads here are good and we have nice Beach's whit nice yellow and white Sand ⛱️ ( there some black sand to in some areas ) and nice off road places to test that AWD...in the hills ⛰️ ( 2,450 ft to 4,300 ft ) will see how this little car ( Suzuki sx4 AWD 2018 ) work them next weekend..😎🏝️🇵🇷
“4 wheel drive is not on all the time”
80 series land cruiser - “hold my beer”
01 defender. My 4wd is on all the time.
'99 series 1 Discovery...my 4wd is on all the time!
Hummer h3..but its like 4x4,but how I understand 4wd and 4x4 it’s the same
chris K ;))
@@johnlatsch9720 HOW ? MY RIBICON WONT TURN CORNERS WHEN ENGAGED !!
After not being stuck in the snow storm in Lake Tahoe, while other 4wheels drive & cars were stuck in the snow, I’m forever a Subaru driver for life.
The extra cost in gas is worth your family life
Gas mileage aside, my Subaru is exactly what you described. Reliable and sure footed.
Will I buy another? More than likely. Gas mileage isn’t an issue. Safety and reliability are.
This video is misinformation! You effectively explain Electronic Traction Control. Not All-Wheel Drive.
Four-Wheel Drive uses a direct transfer case. All-Wheel Drive uses a center differential.
Seriously, do the research before posting this amateur shill video....
FourDollaRacing yea the ETC bit threw me off for a second. My 92 Eclipse had awd but didn't do all that fancy shit in the rain and snow.
Youre 100% correct
Just a change to the title would be enough. This doesn’t explain the mechanical difference between 4w and AW.
Also the fuel economy its not always direct with the size of the engine, since a heavier car with a smaller engine will require a bit more revs to move and it uses more fuel
FourDollaRacing
"Four-Wheel Drive uses a direct transfer case. All-Wheel Drive uses a center differential."
And we could have saved watching the video ; )
1:16 It really depends on what type of AWD setup you have, some are FWD biased while others are RWD biased. Some will send 70% to the front axles while others will send 70% to the rear axles. This can vary depending on where traction is needed.
Do you happen to know the bias in a 2004 subaru inpreza
@@HMASbogan I think it's near 50/50. It only changes when it detects slippage.
The definitive answer. Strap yourself in. This gets weird.
I looked into terminology and 4WD means torque can go to 4 wheels. And AWD means ALL wheels can get torque. Nothing to do with difs, however in the US there has been a trend to advertise active centre diff management as AWD.
So there may be a regional difference here.
The world AWD and 4WD same for 4wheel cars.
US -> active torque splitting is AWD, open centre diff or locked centre diff or LSD with no active torque splitting is 4WD.
So probably by the regular/old/world definition all 4X4s are 4WD and AWD. But in the US a 4x4 is a 4WD but may or may not be AWD depending on of it has active centre diff management (active torque splitting).
Hope this helps clear up all the disagreements.
Yeah. There's more to it. A car doesn't just slip Bec it's a 4wd or Awd like in this video. It can still slip if it's any of those as when one of the tyres enters a slippery surface the car's engine tend to power that wheels with lesser traction , which is what differentials are for while cornering. It can happen in any wheel drive. Its prevented when the differential are advanced LSD or electric ones as they sense these high changes in traction and accordingly sent power to wheels inorder to not slip. Thus this video is not accurate
Exactly this.
I have an RD1 / first generation CR-V (97-01) and it's in FWD mode until the front wheels detect slippage, then you'll feel the rear pick up and push. The pros to this is reliability and significantly less wear and tear on these non-electronic system so long as you routinely replace the differential fluid. The cons to this is that when I need that additional power from the rear on those snowy, icy roads, I have no choice but to wait for it to engage. At least with this Honda AWD system, that's the only downside to a FWD-based AWD system.
“Since owning my subaru I have never slipped a tire” … proceeds to show all tires slipping in his driveway at 1 mph
I would add a more "it depends" caveat to the fuel efficiency aspect. Having driven Subarus (and other cars over the years) I can attest to the fact that your gas mileage varies considerably on how you drive it. Having owned both an STI and an Outback, I can say the mileage on both varied significantly. Both cars could get really good MPG's if you drove them without stomping on the gas and with a light foot, and both cars could get really ratty mileage if you "lead-footed" your way through the tank. So it just depended.
Having also owned a Jeep while living in Colorado I can also attest that AWD is pretty hard to beat for everyday driving, if you live in snow country. The video is correct there. The trade offs are worth it, compared to 4WD in the Jeep - unless you are really off-roading in the high country.
The other caveat I would add is that it's not impossible to spin an AWD Subaru - Colorado winters are proof of that.
Utah also
But a 2WD will always win in fuel efficiency over an AWD, given same driving style. The AWD system inherently costs some efficiency. This was the point being made in the video.
All you have to do is look at EPA estimates for a car model that is available in both FWD only and also AWD. The AWD nearly always have worse MPG. It takes more energy to move 4 wheels than 2, especially with the drivetrain drag and power loss delivering it to the wheels.
A few years ago I drove in convoy with a friend from Adelaide to Melbourne in Australia. By the not-most-direct route we took, it was a trip of about 850km. We were in almost identical 1999-2003 series Subaru Outbacks, both manual transmission, although mine is an early-series models with fully mechanical A/4WD, while my friend's car is the mid-series updated version, which I think was one of the first models to get the electonically-tweaked "Symmetrical" system. We knew we'd have to stop for fuel somewhere on the way, but it was my friend who called the stop, and that's simply because of the way he drives.
On a separate note, I've had some - thankfully rare - hairy moments in both of my Outbacks on wet roads; heavy understeer in the earlier model, and full four-wheel drift in the subsequent model, with not a lot of throttle applied.
Footnote: the guy who made this video must have an incredibly heavy foot to only get 450km and 350km from a 60-litre tank in urban driving in FWD & AWD respectively. From the same tank capacity in my '98 Outback, I could easily achieve 550km or more in the same situation, and more than 700km on the highway. The slightly later model I currently have, with a 64-litre tank, adds about 50km to the range.
The Subaru boxer engine is well known for its great appetite… my Mazda CX30 AWD uses +/- 0,5 l/100kms extra fuel, which is totally reasonable for the added safety.
I learned so much in 5 minutes. Thanks.
I'm not sure if the information here is completely accurate. 4WD system mentioned here is a part time 4x4 where the user has to manually engage 4wd or 2wd. But there is also. Full time 4wd which stays on all the time that dynamically switches between 2wd and 4wd using a clutch pack. 4wd also uses a transfer case and usually has High or Low gear in 4wd mode.
The "full time 4wd you refer to like some landcruiser etc is actually awd. And there are subarus with hi and low range.
You can't compare Mitsubishi Galant to a Subaru outback and say the gas mileage difference is solely because of the awd system. Yes all-wheel drive will affect gas mileage, but Subaru's use boxer engines which are notoriously bad for gas mileage. Also, the outback is nowhere near as aerodynamic as your Mitsubishi Galant, and that plays a huge role in gas mileage. The outback is also heavier than the Galant...
Exactly the education i need for my decision on my next car.. thank you for spending time to make this!
I can see why this guy got 7 million views. This voice is so relaxing that it put me to sleep.
ahmm
Unfortunately most of what this video said is wrong.
Many modern 4WD are always on. The mechanical difference is in a 4WD system there is a transfer case while in an AWD system there's a center differential. This means 4WD is more robust than an AWD system.
Some AWD systems also have permanent PTU which never disconnects, previous gen front biased Explorer does, only rear clutches on each side of diff keep it off in 2wd or when not needed in auto, but bottom line is what you said, the final delivery to wheels is computer controlled therefor less robust then transfer case type
It seems there are just too many versions of each and both definitely have some versions of 2wd...i really don't know of anything recent with only 4wd, even cheap 4wd trucks have 2wd mode
Wow you're completely incorrect. Most trucks have rear wheel until 4wd is turned on. And I had a WRX that was AWD and had front AND rear diffs
This is not a horrible explanation, but it’s really not correct either. The viscous coupler in the transfer case is the main difference between the two systems and there are some vehicles that are actually both AWD and 4WD, with switches to change between the modes. 80 series Land Cruisers are a good example. Look up FZJ80 center diff lock switch if you want to learn more. AWD systems don’t typically send power to the wheel with traction (as Subaru advertises), rather they limit the amount of difference in speed between the wheels (by limited slip differentials and/or brakes using the ABS system).
*The actual answer:*
4WD (4x4): The front and rear axles rotate locked at the same speed. Great for off-road, can be turned off when on road.
AWD: There is a centre differential or computer that varies power between front and rear. For general-purpose use
skyeyemx t
2:17 Have you tried better tires or lighter gasfoot?
I drive rearwheel drive car and have only twice slipped and those were 1: On ice with summer tires and 2: In 15 cm/6" slush on steep uphill.
And no, I don't drive "super carefully". I have heavy gasfoot but I know when to lighten it and always have good tires.
Depends on the car.
My parents could not even leave the driveway with the old front engine rearwheel drive car in the snow.
They needed to fill the trunk with bags of sand to have any grip on the rear wheels, even with fresh tires.
my guess would be people tend to not control how much pressure they put on the pedal, you can feel it when its gonna slip especially when you know your car and have good tires
but when its ultra slippery there is no point in arguing
You are correct Tires are crucial. I have a Subaru Legacy with low ratio box, so 10 forward gears. I was going up a very steep hill in the UK several years ago in low ratio second and in about 4 inches of snow, when I was caught and passed easily by a small Renault post van, Mail van I suppose in the US, Whilst I was struggling for grip with my Bridgestone Potenza summer tires, the front wheel drive van breezed past me with no difficulty. I think that the post vans here are fitted with winter tires in the hilly parts of northern England so as to get the mail to outlying areas, and what a difference they make.
You are mixing up a lot of systems in your video. In modern cars, wheel spin is controlled by traction control (either through ABS, electronically controlled differentials, or by modulating the throttle for drive by wire setups), not the transmission configuration itself. Additionally, sending power to a slipping wheel is also not controlled by the transmission configuration itself, this is done again through a differential. An open diff sends power to the wheel of least resistance, a limit slip diff sends to the slower wheel (ie the wheel with grip), and a welded or locked diff sends to all wheels equally (like what you said was 4WD).
RWD is more efficient for acceleration than FWD but NOT more fuel efficient and AWD is the least fuel efficient option due to the energy loss. Driving in FWD until traction is lost is to regain some efficiency (this is pretty much all mechanical AWD systems and most newer ones still use this philosophy).
The only part that was close is how hard your ABS has to work is based on transmission configuration.
After all these things are considered, that will determine what can accelerate faster and have more grip (assuming the same engine power and torque curves and comparable tire grip).
The diagrams are nice, just the facts that are linked to them are all wrong
Nice comment, though that thing you mentioned about RWD being more efficient for acceleration is only true under certain conditions. Under the kinds of conditions talked about in the video (low grip) RWD is almost always slower. This is because nearly all cars have the engine in the front (or more specifically, they have more weight in the front) and thus more traction in the front tires. The reason your claim sometimes holds up is that when the car can accelerate hard enough to shift the weight of the car significantly back, that means FWD shifts weight and therefore traction OFF the driven wheels and RWD onto them. This, however, only applies if there is enough grip to get that kind of acceleration and that is not what is being talked about in the video and in fact, the video shows FWD, RWD and AWD accelerating in parallel in what seems to only be wet conditions (not low grip in the mind of an icelander, just normal lmao) and as expected, the RWD car is slowest.
In short, you're not exactly wrong, but in the context of the video you are definitely wrong on that one point.
Cheers!
@@fudjeo
You neglect to consider the crucial factor which is when and why the weight shifts. RWD is better when the weight shifts back, but when there is barely any grip, the weight barely shifts, so no advantage is gained. Quite the opposite.
Also, FWD does not have "a tiny wee bit" more traction, it has quite a heck of a lot more traction under near-zero acceleration.
I have a feeling that you may be thinking of a slightly rainy day as "low grip conditions", and thus you call me out for being wrong (and given the following, you're right), because you can still accelerate enough to shift the weight back and get more traction.
As a person that lives in a country that gets actual winters, though, RWD can be veeery slow to accelerate on ice. FWD is slow, too, but not as much. At least it's fun to kick out the rear :)
PS: Back when RWD was common, people used to put sandbags in the trunk. I always thought that was funny.
I was wondering how you made this into a 5 minute video oh and btw a lot of newer awd cars are front wheel bias and send traction to back wheels if needed
Reid Heine Tell him again!
This feels like a Subaru commercial lol
I love your video btw!!
He said "I've never spun my tires taking off or going around corners!" I say " Your doing it wrong, man!!!" :)
HE,S NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH !!LOL
Haha... He was in neutral all along
If he never spun his tires during takeoff or going around corners, how would he move?
Thank you for this video!! My AWD Cadillac turned off the AWD via a service light and I see the difference!! The Dealer must not have reset the computer when I had the fluid changed last year.
Wrong
There's also a full-time 4wd, which is awd all the time until you lock the center diff
Mine is like this, AWC.. 4WD is always on, just different modes. eco, auto and lock.
It is almost like you shouted
“WRONG!!!”
Like my 2012 Honda Pilot?
Theres a reason it usually has a way to be turned on and off. Your performance goes out the window when u have 4wd on. It sacrifices performance for that 4wd. Ive done enough farm work to figure out the differences.
I think you will find without the centre diff locked all wheels are still driven..
Over generalization of AWD and 4WD systems and not all are correct. Some AWD systems like Mercedes ones put most the power to the front wheels and not the rear wheels (and adjust as needed), while others put 1/3 to the front and 2/3 to the rear all the time. Also you can't compare an old car's fuel mileage/efficiency to a new one based on only how many cylinders it has and if its AWD or not. When it's that many years difference the technology difference in the engines makes a difference too. Plus some manufacturers just make engines that aren't as fuel economical as others.
2:17 I know exactly where that's at! I-70 and Wadsworth in Arvada Colorado. I drive past that exact intersection quite often, because i get my gasoline from the Costco, just up the street from there. Great video. Because i live in Colorado, the winters can get quite bad, and there's so much opportunity for off road driving, that AWD was #1 priority for my car. I ended up with a 2011 Subaru Outback, already drove it during snowy weather, and it is so nice to have AWD.
I know this is a year old but I get my gas there as well. Lived off of 75th and Wadsworth for about 5 years
Thanks for this easy-to-understand explanation! I made the switch to Subaru three years ago and have been driving a 2018 Impreza sedan(AWD base model). At first, like many things in life that involve change, I wasn't sure if I was a fan of the brand(boxer style engine, not many vehicle models to choose from, etc.) but it HAS been growing on me. I'm not far off from hitting 60,000 miles(had 20k when I purchased) so hoping for hopefully many more years ahead.
I was watching a long Subaru add!
ad
Great video! Just picked up a ‘23 Crosstrek with a 6-speed manual. Really enjoying the vehicle. Can really tell the difference with the AWD system. Don’t even have the engine broken in yet, so I’ll have to get back to you on observes gas mileage, but it’s rated at 22/29 mpg city/highway. We’ll see how well it does.
AWD also makes for great track acceleration, assuming you can get around the downside characteristics of FWD and RWD combined together (I.E understeer under heavy cornering)
That’s what the parking break is for.
@@BimmerWon brake, and I think you wouldn't use a parking brake instead of E brake, parking brake would... do bad ting
@@Anvarynn not a bad thing, a good thing. If understeer is a problem you need to make a parking break turn. Not only does the parking break help you do this but it also looks really cool while you do it. E-brakes are for betas while the lever-pull parking break is for true DKs.
@@BimmerWon You mean drifting. Most cars now are an electronic parking brake, it's not a handle you can jiggle up and down, so it wouldn't even help.
Nor would you ever want to have a controlled loss of grip during an actual race. Yes it looks cool, but you will absolutely get passed casually.
@@Anvarynn not when it comes to rally racing and you gotta do a 180 degree U-turn.
omg thats the best way to explain it, for the longes of time i didnt know the difference between 4wd and awd
Unfortunately there are multiple inaccurate/misleading descriptions in this video. A few examples are older AWD systems that utilize a viscous clutch and no electronics, full time 4WD, and front wheel drive based AWD systems. It’s not always that easy to label a vehicle AWD or 4WD.
+torsen etc
_"It’s not always that easy to label a vehicle AWD or 4WD."_
Really easy!
Transfer case --> 4WD
Center diff -->AWD.
bcubed72 Be sure to tell that to the pick-up truck manufacturers that install single speed transfer cases in their trucks and call it AWD. Or any BMW X-Drive. All have transfer cases and utilize front and rear driveshafts to deliver torque to the front and rear axles... just like other 4WD’s, but EVERYONE calls the BMW AWD, not 4WD. Also, “full-time 4WD” vehicles utilize a “center diff” in the transfer case that will allow for varying speeds of the front and rear axles, which is necessary when turning. For example, the Land Rover Discovery, which in some years, has a center diff lock. Like I said, it’s not always that easy to label a vehicle AWD or 4WD.
@@bcubed72 And be sure to tell that to Land Rover. My Discovery 2 and LR3 both have center diff lock and lo/hi transfer case.
Yes it is. If you can control if it engaged, its 4x4, if T case has a shifter, it's a 4x4.
See how simple that is?
Subaru owner here, everything good they say about the AWD is true, it’s amazing. Had it in snow, mud and sand and always gets me through. The only downside is if you puncture a tire after they’re worn a little you have to replace all 4 tires. I had that happen once in 5 years, so it’s a trade off but for me it’s worth it.
Subaru allows a 2mm differance between tire wear, just so you know
@@jukeboxhd865 depending on the tires you have that’s probably about 8 to 12,000 miles of wear. So any more miles than that and you need 4 new tires.
@@ratkicker007 what about the process of "shaving" some tread off the new?
You don't have to replace all 4 tires when 1 tire needs replacement, that's complete bs. You just have to replace the 2 tires that share the same axel.
@@AcidRain1981 No you can't, or you can damage the center diff between front and rear axel.
I recently switched from my factory tires to Toyo Open County A/T 3 all terrain tires on my 2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R and that makes a huge difference ! Phenomenal performance !
Great video! Nice voice and tone and collage. Most obvious and understandable explanation of the terms. Thanks for your work!
“4WD is not on all the time”
Full-Time 4WD in My 2020 LX570 : am I joke you?
Or 4Runner 4th generation V8
Your car is all wheel drive not 4 wheel drive.
Learn the difference between the 2.
Only Subaru's AWD is always on. Other manufacturers' AWD will only engage when their systems sense tire slippage. Subaru claims theirs is better because it's always on, but I don't think this is an advantage because the systems that only engage if tires slip are able to do so at nearly the speed of light.
My Genesis G90 w/ AWD performed perfectly in the snowy conditions in Colorado last winter and its AWD only engages if it needs to. It worked awesome.
BS😄
Not true. All the cars with central diff has the all wheel drive always on. And not all the subarus have the central differential ;)
ur wrong not only subarus, for example 4wd audi a8s awd system is always on...
Audi Quattro is Always ON
ALL WHEEL FRIVE. HE'S TALKING ABOUT ALL WHEEL DRIVE. Defenders ar NOT by any way all wheel drive. So before saying "B.S.", you should at least get your driving licence. Like you literraly just saw a vid about AWD and 4WD and still can't get the difference?@Deans RC Life
Great video! Short and to-the-point. Very easy to understand. Thank you!
I’ll take AWD for commuting 4WD for work hunting fishing and general outdoor activities that will take you off road. Better throw in front and rear lockers for serious off road. FWD AWD RWD 4WD doesn’t matter on black ice or icy roads speed and driving smoothly matter more. 30 years of driving in northern Michigan. The other advantage of AWD SUVs Wagons is most sit a few inches higher than cars. This helps a ton when entering the road and you have piled up snow as the result of snow plows
there are some videos on youtube clearly showing an AWD car like an OUTBACK getting through an area a full blown 4x4 can't. I think AWD is good for all round use, and 4x4 for extreme off roading.
Something to consider: Your little 4cylinder engine has to work hard to carry that heavier drive train than the V6 did. There are situations where less power can mean slightly less efficiency.
Uhj
Yeah no i cant afford that. Not everyone can
I think the Galant V6 and the Outback 4cyl are the same capacity - 2.5 litres. Galant weights 1300 kg, the Subie 1550 kg.
Engine CAPACITY determines its load, not number of cylinders. A 3L V8 will work harder than a 4L straight 6.
@@michaelkeayes1914 A 2.5L engine of any kind should have ample performance and torque for a car below 1600kg. I know some want a 300hp engine for a 4-person car they then drive to Walmart and back but for decent normal driving a 2.5L engine should be more than enough - from where I see it a 2L should do too, unless you live in a very hilly area.
Biggest flaw of AWD or 4WD is that they have transfer case which throws power to each wheel as required however transfer case seldom is neglected as preventative service and ends up being a big problem
I completely agree with you. The best thing is to change the oil in the transfer case every 100 thousand kilometers. My W203 4matic has over 300 thousand kilometers and the system functions perfectly (I changed the oil twice). Best greetings from Switzerland.
Many AWD systems are different. Most common is primary front wheel drive with the rear wheels kicking in when the computer sees slippage. Typically a 60/40 split. Subaru on the other hand is a constant 50/50 split, always. It's why they do so well in snow.
Modern Subarus have adaptive split, not constant 50/50
Subaru splits vary by model. My Legacy is 60/40. The symmetrical design is why it's superior.
Infiniti got rwd and kicks in the front of needed and gives u better handling with rwd
I live in Norway so it's a no-brainer for me. Subaru is the only valid option (if you own one car).
Beautifully explained. Thanks for the info. I drive a Subaru WRX and I’ve never lost traction despite many hard accelerations and turns. Yep, fuel efficiency is not as good, especially with my lead foot.
Things are not as simple as that my 2007 jeep cherokee 2.8crd has the option of 2wd rear 4wd full time so ok to drive on the road 4wd part time for off road or snow then there is the 4wd low gear option if that does not cover everything it also has traction control to stop one wheel from spinning if you choose to use it. The only problem is you need to now how to use it all to get the best result unlike an all wheel drive where you just drive it and let the computer do the work and that is why I got my jeep so that I can be in chard not some bloody computer as for fuel consumption best not think about that.
weaton25 STI dccd
I have an AWD Chevy Trax premier and it's the first AWD I've ever owned it is awesome in the winter snow. Actually fun to play around in. You have to turn off the traction control and stable control to get all 4 wheels spinning.
Amazing videography here! Love those drone shots in the snow, amazing quality that could be on TV!
My Montero Sport is "awd" but has 4H and 4L. I'd love to hear an explanation of this.
That's only the gear reduction. 4H is the normal gear ratio for everyday driving. 4L is low range you can use whenever you need extra torque or have to drive very slowly.
It has three settings, awd, 4H and 4L.
In that case I would assum that 4H locks the center differential and 4L additionaly puts it in low range. AWD would be for roads, all wheels are powered but they can turn at different speeds, while in 4H/L front and rear drive shafts turn at the same speed.
Don't nail me down on this though, I drive a G-Wagon not a Montero/Pajero.
Usually the owners manual has some detailed information on the drivetrain and when to use which mode.
VorboteDesKrieg That would mean its actually Permanent or full time 4WD like a Range Rover or a Toyota Land Cruiser. They probably called it AWD to differentiate it from Part Time 4WD system. Also because it's AWD most of the time, as all Full time 4WD systems are. But when you lock the center differential(which is liklely what happens when you switch into 4H or 4L) it becomes 4WD, as it preforms just like a part time 4WD system would in the 4H and 4L settings.
Edit: Its also possible it uses a clutch pack instead of a center differential. Like you would find on most AWD systems that are 2wd most of the time. The clutch pack allows a variable amount of locking to control torque split typically between 100% to 50% torque to either the front(if its a fwd based system) or to the rear(if its a RWD based system). That being said some of these clutch pack based 4wd and awd systems can send 100% of the torque to either axle. And to make matters even more confusing is that systems with a conventional gear based center differential can also sometimes used clutches to control torque split as well. Even though they typically split torque at a more neutral rate(f/r 60/40-30/70) depending on the vehicle.
2:45 That's why you (usually) have two modes of 4WD, one with locked and another with unlocked differential.
locking differentials are actually pretty rare. the 2 modes are 4 high and 4 low. 4 high is high geared and 4 low is low gear. If you had a locking diff, it can be engage in 2wd and 4hi and 4lo
@@unstoppabull1428 every REAL 4WD has locking diffs so nothing rare about it
@@bjorn1583 percentage of 4wd vehicles with locking center and front difs is very low
@@adamedunn if you exclude all the fake city only 4wds you will see the percentage with lockable diffs is very high, if it dont have locking diffs it is not designed to go off road
I have a Ford Fusion 2016 AWD,
I really love it.
The power is just awesome ❤
Great explanation. A lot of people don`t realise that 4WD and AWD are actually different! Also I would like to add that 4WD is actually the older system and is slowly being phased out for the more technically advanced AWD. I am now in my 40s and I have driven FWD and RWD most of my life. Since switching recently to AWD I have felt a lot more confident with my driving and more relaxed behind the wheel, considering I live in a country where most of the year round the roads are wet! AWD rules every time and I would never go back to FWD or RWD!
They're the same literally unspecifiable because there is so much variation. 4WD and AWD are just marketing terms
Little Miss leading some 4wd cars do not stop been 4wd they only turn off the center diff lock but all 4 wheels still have power to them unless one wheel out of 4 starts to slip much like a AWD in 4wd mode high it locks the center diff so now it takes two wheels to slip to get stuck one front one back you can also get 4wd with front center and back diff locks with all 3 diff locks it takes all 4 wheels to spin before you get stuck, some 4wd cars have 2wd mode but not all.
What a smartass
Taмфde SwaG lmao same
+Pнallus Erecтus
hahahahaha
Off road advantage of 4WD is low range not mentioned hear but very relevant
yes a good point
Mark Keech my AWD Subaru has low range. 😊
Older Subarus, like mine third gen Legacy has low range reduction. Usefull thing indeed.
Thought I was going to learn something here lol
any iq i gained by watching this video i have lost reading this comment
@@raamoo_ if you think this video boosted your IQ then you need to look up 4WD/AWD systems.
@@raamoo_ IQ doesn´t work like that. You might gain little iq by eating better, exercising and doing active problem solving but getting half-baked info with pretty pictures doesn´t have that effect.
@@teppo9585 I heard rock climbing really jumps up your IQ... especially when you fall off the cliff, that's usually the faster way to get smarter!
Word im still lost 😭
Ive driven them all. You can lose control with any of them! Dont think you wont!
I have a Chevrolet truck that is AWD and I love it, the safety the truck gives me is well worth any loss of money at the pump.
My 15 Silverado had a mode select for RWD, AWD, 4HI and 4LO. Excellent combination of choices, I do use AWD a decent amount in the winter when it has just started to snow and I dont want to have to be laser focused as I go along, but I'm always grateful I can just switch to RWD to hoon around, and I dont need to explain the use of 4WD in upstate New York, I'm never worried about even 2 feet of snow, just stick it an 4WD and go wherever I damn well please, even when the plows aren't out, and someones in a ditch
@@RedDeadSpearhead
AWD, is in 4 wheel drive all the time, there is no switching in and out of it.
MichaelofSC AWD runs on 2 wheels until there is slippage. The Subaru for example puts power to 2 wheels symmetrically, if the front left wheel is getting power the right rear wheel is as well. They are constantly bouncing power around to different wheels, not all 4 are getting power all at once, only 3 wheels will while the other will spin freely. Locking a vehicle into 4WD means all wheels are getting 25% of the power which is the absolute best for traction in rough conditions. So, AWD is never all 4 wheels getting equal power simultaneously, whereas as 4WD is. AWD is better for driving on tarmac and get better fuel efficiency and also corners a little better then locked 4WD
I have full time 4wd soooo... 4wd is not only part time.. difference is 4wd has a transfer case that's adjustable vs awd that only a computer can control.
What do you drive that’s full time 4wd?
@@JonAlycia I have a hummer h2. :)
The reason I bought an AWD was because it would transfer power from the front drive to the rear whenever it needed. A 4-Wheel drive couldn't do that automatically. So I would drive on rear normally, and had to switch to 4-wheel when it needed. In addition, I could not drive on 4-H or 4-low all the time, or risk damages. Subaru and the 4_Runner Limited are the only 4-wheel drive that could be driven full time.
subaru and the 4runner limited are both AWD though not 4x4
The information in this video is probably only about 30% accurate. There's is so much more to it than what is mentioned. First of all awd, 4wd, 4x4, etc, are all synonyms. Second of all they all work so differently depending on the brand and most are fwd driven. But it's true that subies are rwd driven and always on. Some brands use aldex differentials that only send power to the rear wheels when slip is detected, like my volvo for instance. And so on, and so on. Quattro, 4motion, volvo awd, Subaru, etc, it's all very different and will offer different advantages. Subaru offers one of the best performing awd system but is less fuel efficient but it's not true for all the awd systems some are pretty good in terms of fuel consumption. You may be good at editing videos but your content sucks. Btw the 2.5 in the outback has a power to weigh ration that is terrible. Don't expect a good fuel consumption anyhow.
"First of all awd, 4wd, 4x4, etc, are all synonyms"
- At last !!! Someone agrees with me.
IMO, "AWD" was just a marketing term to try and distance the perception of 4WD cars being as heavy on fuel as 4WD off roaders.
However, in the '80s, both Vauxhall & Ford advertised their cars (Granada Scorpio & Cavalier respectively) as "4WD".
I only have 4x4 vehicles. Because I need them to go to the beach to camp and fish. I also only have trucks, because I need ground clearance. Awd Subaru or any car is no good if it’s hung up on rocks and scraping on everything.
@@montanawhite5699
and your point is ?
I don't even know what a 'truck' is ! I'm quite sure that we don't get them in Europe, or if we do, no one really buys them.
Agreed a lot of the information in this video is utter BS.
An automatic Subaru is full time front wheel drive with a clutch that varies the drive to the rear through hydraulic pressure controlled by a computer.
Older 4wd Skylines are rear wheel drive with a similar system running the front, in fact you can lock them in rwd with a simple blade fuse.
Is a Lada Niva AWD, 4WD or 4x4?
Well actually it's all of them.
It depends on the manufacturer as to which term they choose to use, they are all fairly interchangeable.
Many 4wd vehicles have a center diff that allows them to be used in 4wd on and off road, for further traction some have a center diff lock and low ratio if required.
4wd- 4 wheels are driven
Awd- all wheels are driven
4x4- out of 4 wheels,4 wheels are driven
If veichle has 4 wheels,and all 4 are driven,that means 4wd=awd=4x4..
If it has 6 wheels and 4 are driven,than it is not awd.it is 4wd or 4x6..
If it has 6 wheels and all are driven,than is awd,6wd or 6x6.
What you are explaining in your video is different power transfering, between FULL TIME awd,4wd or 4x4,whatever you want to call it , and PERMANENT time awd,4wd 4x4..
Different car manufacturers put different designations...awd ,4wd, 4x4...
As i guy who drives Patrol,you should know this...and also it is more fun to drive permanent 4x4,4wd,awd,(whatever),as i also drive Patrol,waiting for snow to have a fun with back end ;)
Inaccurate. Insufficient information. 4WD is permanent on many vehicles. Some AWD systems don't give equal drive power to front and back
Been driving a Subaru for many years I live on a mountain ridge if it snows I am
the first to know. The Subaru Outback has always got me home despite the snow
or ice. While not perfect with a bit of skill and patience it will do the job.
this is bs the main difference your describing in the diffs, you seem to think 4wd's have locked diffs, they dont and if they have lockers people dont drive around with on.
AWD may split the power to the front wheels primarily as opposed to the rear wheels. There is a reason most cars are front wheel drive today. Besides room, manufacturing cost, and so on, efficiency is a primary reason.
So it's a advertising video for the Subaru AWD.
You have to change the video's title
Not really. Watch the whole video, he spends a good portion of it complaining about the poor gas mileage.
Shawn Elliott If you say so..
LOL They made 1,955,186 click with this title.
*clicks
The Subaru company link is sooo obvious ...
Interesting. I kind of always thought something like this was the case, but never knew for sure.
I have a GMC Acadia. What I like about the AWD system is that it _is_ designed to be left on all the time. However, it gives you the option to put it in FWD to save fuel. The real world result ends up being a 2-4 MPG boost, especially on long trips in warm, dry weather. We once drove an hour and a half out of town, and the car ended up getting about 31 miles per gallon. Not bad at all for a car as big as it is, weighing 4,100 pounds with a chunky V6 engine.
The only car makers with true AWD are Volvo, Audi and Subaru. The rest are 4 wheel assist and traction does not work like AWD. I took a Honda CIVIC out on a snowy day for a test drive and was spinning is many scenarios. Same day same conditions the Outback was stable and on track, no spins. So Acadia cannot be a true AWD as GM does not possess this technology.
@@hike2fish Honda Civic is front wheel drive only.
@hike2fish civic has always been front wheel drive einstein.
@@Kromsmitesyou meant CRV. Don’t have to be rude on a public forum. No harm meant.
@@hike2fishif you know enough about cars to be talking about these specifics then how do you not know enough about cars to remember which one you even drove?
I live in Northwestern Ontario. It’s essential to have either awd or 4x4. Especially in the winter time.
I miss my 2001 4runner. It had a lockable center differential so you could be in 2wd, awd, or 4wd. Along with a locking rear dif, it was great in all conditions
For what I'd give for a low mileage 3rd Gen 4Runner
Living in Ohio, I can say I’m Very happy with my Legacy! I do drive with a heavy foot yet still get 400+ miles on a tank by the time the fuel light comes on. This past year was my first winter with the car & while my neighbors had to dig their cars out after a fresh snow(6-7inches), I got in my car & drove out the neighborhood without much trouble(no I don’t have snow tires). I used to be a Only Ford/Chevy guy but this Subaru i bought Absolutely changed my mind!
With my Outback it had snowed so much the car was all but covered. My dad had to drive it, so he just cleared out the door, got in, and backed out no problem 😁 They're tough and capable little cars
I live in Florida so I personally think AWD is more useful since we get more rain
But hardly any hills and definitely no snow ! I live there too. Good for muddy dirt roads and what not if you live in more rural areas.
Thank you. I am now in the market for a new car and the car of choice for me is the Outlander. I have an older model and have been very happy with it. This has given me food for thought. Older outlander is a 4WD or 2WD and have only used the 4WD once in the 10 years I've had it.
The biggest advantage of AWD is that the driver can drive stupid without spinning out on slippery roads or losing friction when taking long curves too fast.
yes, i love not having to worry about speed around wet corners
@Dacia Sandero guys Dude probably lives in Texas and never has to deal with snow
my 2017 4runner limited full time 4 wheel drive has all of them :)
Which is why it gets 14-18 mpg
The poor fuel mileage is due to the added friction ie the extra mechanical stuff to be turned. Weight is not that big a deal. If you want to verify, take two identical car, Toyota pickup is easy, weigh them both and add the extra weight of 4WD to the bed of the 2WD and see if they get the same mileage. The 2WD will always get better mileage because it has less friction.
Actually in my research on the matter, there are a number of different systems that each work a bit differently and whether any given car is labelled as 4WD or AWD is really just marketing. We owned a 2008 Jeep grand Cherokee labelled as 4WD, but it was in fact a fully computer controlled system that sent power to all 4 wheels all the time, adjusting the amount to each wheel based on traction. However, it did have a small handle you could pull to lock the differentials, which would be good for getting out of deep snow or mud or something. In that mode all 4 wheels were given equal power, you were limited to low gears only and the manual said it should never be used on regular, dry roads or for any regular driving. That is similar to what you are describing as 4WD. Also older technology did indeed require the driver to manually enable 4WD mode for when it was appropriate and otherwise it would only be 2WD and that’s what you should use for normal street driving. But since the introduction of multiple differentials in theses systems to allow every wheel to spin at different speeds and have different amounts of power sent to each one, as well as the inclusion of computerized traction control, the distinction between 4WD and AWD has become blurred. 4WD and 4x4 branding is usually still used on trucks and SUVs that used to have the traditional style of manually enabled 4WD and are more often used for off road and such, while AWD branding is used more on cars, crossovers and lighter duty SUVs typically used only in the city. But in reality all modern vehicles with either label are full time computer controlled systems. However, they are not all identical and different manufacturers will use different systems on the mechanical side that offer different features depending on the purpose and target market.
I love how my jeep has awd and 4wd, (named part time and full time) i got a choice of three worlds, 4 if you count 4wd low
Yes, my F150 has 4x4 auto, standard 4x4 high and 4x4 low. It also has different transmission modes with one of them for ice/snow/rain which acts as traction control in all drive configurations.
Wow! video is very misleading, people with very little knowledge about car's layout are gonna believe this, people please do your homework before choosing a car platform.
David Gonzalez So, what was incorrect in the video?
Are you disputing Subarus AWD Platform? They have one of the best.
How is it misleading? If you know pease take us out of darkness :/
David Gonzalez explain yourr bs claim
I've spun all 4 wheels in 4wd in Low 4wd with front and rear lockers engaged. That's what low traction situations can do. When on the bitumen I don't drive in a manner likely to spin wheels because my 4wd isn't a fun vehicle to have out of control on the road around other people. In the bush it's great to be out of control.
Great explanation. My 2000 Honda CR-V with AWD stands up to any adverse weather Florida throws at me while giving me confidence to maneuver it however I want without fear that it will slide or roll over or lose traction. Love that little SUV! But yeah, hate that low gas mileage it delivers. lol
2000 CR-V is not AWD. It directs all torque to front wheels and uses automatic system based on two hydraulic pumps to engage rear wheels in case of traction loss on front axle.
There are many imprecisions in this Video.
The Guy Talking says ge never Spun the Tires because if AWD... Very much incorrect statement.
TRACTION CONTROL and the STABILITY CONTROL are the ones that prevent Slipping and Sliding.
If you Disable the Stability Control and the Traction Control, and AWD will Slip off the line, not a lot, but it will... The issue happens if you Slide an AWD, in which case as you try to Control the Slide, you will find yourself without Traction Power as the Slipping Tire is wasting all the Power away leaving you with no Traction, hence you're out of Control and likely crash!
Search online, and watch how many Videos of People doing Burnout and Donuts with AWD Cars there are... Once you disable the Stability Control and Traction Control, AWD slide like crazy and on the Snow: they get stuck in a flat parking lot because all 3 Differentials are open
CrazySteTV You have to drive a Subaru in order to understand...
Yes, the traction control/stability control have a LOT to do with not slipping. Most cars today come with traction control, and still slip. Not the Subarus, like I said...you have to drive one, then you'll see for yourself.
Val Sagaon hello Val,
Drove one Yesterday... The Traction Control has everything to do with it.
Turned it off, and we started smoking the parking lot ;-)
You can see it in many videos too:
th-cam.com/video/dFFQ467r35w/w-d-xo.html
I have never spun a tire in the winter with my Subaru, unless I wanted to..............
or get a torsen awd to not get stuck at snow
This is correct. A completely open AWD system( or a permanent 4WD with the diffs unlocked) will only spin one wheel in the right conditions. Which is why Limited-slip and locking differentials as well a a good traction control system are pretty important in reducing wheel slip. Those are what make the difference
"AWD gives a car a sporty feel"
*REEEs in bmw RWD*
BMW AWD are practically RWD until the car detects you slipping
Yup, and the cars today have drive modes.
If I want to save gas for a day or week, I just simply drive in ECO mode..... which rarely happens ! 😉
bnw owners are the most jokes you will ever find on planet Earth
I got an AWD E30 If it makes you feel better...
@@starboss1260 it should have been a AMG..... I feel sick about your selections.
Infiniti FX series, has AWD with an auto engaging transfer case - not permanent.
Very beautifully explained without the need to get into technical jargon.