AWD or 4WD: Which is Best for My Michigan Drive?

When you’re shopping for a new or new-to-you truck or SUV, you’ll often be met with choosing between all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.  Some people don’t know that there is a difference between the two, but one thing they have in common is that they both help with handling while driving in slippery and snowy conditions.  There are some important differences that can help you decide on which is best for your specific situation.  Then you can concentrate on choosing the best vehicle equipped with the correct drive mode for you. 

All-wheel drive (AWD) will consistently send out power to all four of the wheels.  It is especially transmitted to the wheels that require the most traction, regardless of the road conditions.  It will also provide better weight distribution between the whole vehicle due to the power being equal.  One downside of going with AWD is that there is a higher fuel consumption, thus you might notice decreased fuel efficiency.  The trade-off can be worth it though since it is ideal for slick and slippery road conditions. 

Four-wheel drive (4WD) is a more customizable type of drive.  You can choose between distributing the power between two-wheel drive or all four wheels.  This will especially help depending on your road conditions.  Driving with 2WD for most conditions allows for the best fuel efficiency, since fuel consumption is greater when you are sending power to more tires.  However, when road conditions require power to all wheels for greater traction, the 4WD can be easily engaged to meet this need.   

Let the Ram experts at Thelen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Bay City tell you more about the advantages of AWD and 4WD.

Tags: 4WD, AWD, Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram Heavy Duty
Posted in Ram 1500, Ram 2500, Ram 3500, Ram Heavy Duty, Thelen Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | No Comments »