2WD, 4WD, or AWD: Which Is Best for You?

• 2WD comes standard in most new vehicles.
• 4WD brings impressive off-road ability and hauling utility.
• Most SUVs, and some minivans and cars, are offered with an AWD system that operates in the background.
• AWD is not meant for towing or for serious off-road use.

If you’re looking for a new car, you’ve probably run across a simple fact: Some cars are 2-wheel drive (2WD), while others are 4-wheel or all-wheel drive (4WD or AWD). So what’s the difference? Should you get 4WD to be safe? Can you use 2WD in the snow? We’ll explain the basics of each system and provide the optimal usage for each one.

• What Is 2WD?
• What Is 4WD and How Does It Work?
• What Is AWD and How Does It Work?
• Which Is Better for You?
• Our Take

What Is 2WD?

A 2-wheel drive car is one in which only two of the car’s wheels actually receive power. The other two are essentially along for the ride, though having four wheels on the ground obviously makes the car more stable than if there were just three. (See: that tricycle you toppled over in your driveway when you were still in diapers).

Most new vehicles come standard with 2-wheel drive, though which two wheels receive that power varies according to several considerations. For example, cost to build, weight issues, packaging needs, fuel efficiency, and performance goals all influence whether the front or the rear wheels do the work. 

Sedans, minivans, and crossover SUVs with no ambitions for heavy towing or serious off-roading, like the Nissan Kicks and the Toyota Corolla Cross, are typically front-wheel drive (FWD). The front wheels steer and accelerate, which may seem like a lot of work. However, a car with front-wheel drive can weigh less than one with rear-wheel drive (RWD), and it provides better traction in snow. More on that in a bit.

Rear-wheel drive, predominant into the mid-1980s, is now almost exclusive to higher-end and sportier cars, (Audi A6 and Ford Mustang) as well as pickups and off-road-oriented SUVs, like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Most new passenger cars come standard with front-wheel drive because it improves fuel efficiency. There is less driveline loss or wasted energy. In short, a front-wheel-drive car has the engine and drive wheels close to one another, which also means less weight. Moreover, the engine weight over the front drive wheels helps with traction, especially in the snow.

RELATED: Snow Tires vs. All-Season Tires: Which Should You Choose?

Don’t write off rear-wheel drive, though. Power sent solely to the rear wheels results in more neutral, balanced handling that makes cars like a BMW 3 Series more fun to drive than a Toyota Camry. Today’s rear-wheel-drive cars are better in inclement weather than ever before. That is due largely to efficient traction control systems and vast leaps forward in tire technology. Still, front-wheel drive definitely has the upper hand when it comes to deeper snow.

What Is 4WD and How Does It Work?

Four-wheel drive is a catchall term for two different types of systems that sound similar but actually work quite differently in practice.

Conventional 4-wheel drive systems, such as those found in pickup trucks or off-road SUVs, like the Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Wrangler, often have a 2-wheel drive mode for normal dry pavement use. Systems such as Ford’s ControlTrac or Jeep’s Selec-Trac also include an automatic 4-wheel drive mode engineered for use on dry or wet pavement.

From there, these systems typically also include a slippery-terrain-only 4-wheel-drive mode that locks the axles together (meaning the front and rear wheels turn at the same speed), which can result in serious driveline damage if engaged on the pavement. A low-range, used for ultra-low-speed off-roading or tugging a boat out of a lake, is usually included, too.

These systems send power primarily to the rear wheels on the pavement but can adjust as needed without any driver input. Simpler systems use gears that detect slip and transfer power around. More advanced systems make extensive use of various electronic sensors.

A 4-wheel-drive system provides impressive off-road ability and hauling utility; however, it’s typically found in vehicles that burn a lot more fuel, such as pickups and bulky SUVs.

What Is AWD and How Does It Work?

All-wheel drive systems are far more common today. Most SUVs, and some minivans and cars, are fitted with an all-wheel drive system that seamlessly operates in the background. In these setups, power (torque) is typically supplied primarily to the front wheels. Then, as wheel slippage occurs, torque is transferred to the rear wheels as needed.

All-wheel drive systems usually operate efficiently and transparently without driver input. Occasionally, automakers will offer something like “4WD Lock,” designed to be helpful in deep snow. However, that’s about as complicated as these systems get during normal usage.

The upside to all-wheel drive comes in its simplicity and fuel efficiency, because there’s nothing extra for the driver to do as the all-wheel drive system smoothly transfers torque among the wheels. Although convenient and effective in foul weather, it is not meant for towing or serious off-road abuse.

Which Is Better for You?

If you live in a sunny climate and don’t plan to go skiing or venture down an unpaved road, a vehicle with 2-wheel drive will likely work just fine for you. Most drivers won’t notice the handling differences between rear-wheel and front-wheel drive. Picking 2-wheel drive will save you money at purchase and at the fuel pump. Furthermore, unless you live in the snowbelt, carefully selected tires rated for winter duty will go a long way toward instilling more confidence when driving a 2-wheel drive vehicle in the snow.

A 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle isn’t automatically safer than one with 2-wheel drive, particularly on dry pavement. Safety, more often than not, is a function of driver experience and skill. However, when the pavement gets sloppy, all four wheels sharing the load can be a big plus.

Pro tip: In foul weather, all-wheel and 4-wheel drive will help your vehicle gain traction from a standstill and sustain momentum once your vehicle is moving, but it will provide no advantage when braking. Braking distances in snow or on ice are all about the tires. What the tires are made of, and their tread design make the difference when applying the brakes on slippery surfaces.

Our Take

Unless you are going to tow heavier loads or go seriously off-road, our advice is to stick with 2-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and save yourself some money. With some vehicles like the Mazda SUVs and nearly every Subaru, all-wheel drive is standard. Lots of other vehicles offer all-wheel drive as an option. When optional, it will add $1,200-$2,000 to the purchase price. The good news is, all-wheel drive systems have become so sophisticated and efficient that they don’t have a major effect on fuel economy. In other words, your mileage will be nearly as good with all-wheel drive as with 2-wheel drive.

At the end of the day, we say go with the most affordable option available to fulfill your needs. 

See all the AWD and 4WD SUVs and Trucks available to buy today.