What you want to know about four-wheel drive car

All-wheel drive, AWD, 4x4, four-wheel drive for cars - different names, but basically it's the same thing! Here, we have collected common questions and answers regarding what four-wheel drive means, its pros and cons, and also the question of the four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid, does it exist?

What is a four wheel drive car?

Four-wheel drive on cars means, in short, that the car has drive on all four wheels and not just the front or rear wheels. However, the power is not equal on all four wheels when the car is driven forward, but part of the four-wheel drive means that the power is distributed to the wheels where it is needed to cope with the current situation. How? The power from the engine goes to a central differential which distributes the power from between the car's front and rear wheels.

Four-wheel drive or not? That's the question!

In order to know whether a four-wheel drive car is right for you, it can be good to keep track of the various pros and cons. Historically, four-wheel drive has often been used in vehicles for tougher environments, but is now increasingly common in city cars as well.

Advantages:

• Practical for those who often drive with a trailer

• Overall, the car is considered safer than a two-wheel drive car as it has a better grip on the roadway, which is also appreciated on winter road conditions

• Driving pleasure! Many perceive a four-wheel drive car as more fun to drive

Disadvantages:

• Often draws more fuel (exception for a four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid, see more below)

• More expensive purchase than a front or rear wheel drive car

• More components on a car can increase the risk of parts breaking

Good to know about four-wheel drive plug-in hybrids

A four-wheel drive plug-in hybrid generally works a little differently compared to a car with only a combustion engine. Where a car with a combustion engine has a central differential that connects all the car's wheels, in order to be able to distribute the power where it is needed most, a plug-in hybrid instead has two separate differentials. The car's front and rear wheels are instead connected via a computer and thus distributes the power to the different parts of the car. This in turn can create a slight delay, which is perceived as the car not being as reactive.

Our best-selling* four-wheel drive plug-in hybrids:

• Mitsubishi Outlander

• Volvo V60

• Toyota RAV4

• Lexus NX

• Volvo XC60

*Sales in 2020

A small four-wheel drive car, does it exist?

As demand increases, so does the supply of four-wheel-drive models, although the majority of four-wheel-drive cars are still generally larger. A small four-wheel drive car is often cheaper to own than a larger one.

Popular small cars with four-wheel drive:

• Fiat Panda 4x4

• Suzuki Jimny

• Suzuki Swift 4x4

• Audi A3 Quattro

• Mercedes A-Class 4matic