Stupid question of the week...........

[flip-flop]

................is there a difference between all wheel drive and four wheel drive?

[KebabMeister]

As long as both vehicles have 4 wheels then no. I think it's just a term certain car manufacturers use. However, some vehicles are able to switch between 2 & 4 wheel drive.

[Catso]

The only vehicles where there is no difference between the two are those with either AND 4 wheels.

[Catso]

Oops - cont'd

For all others, they are always different.

It would be very clever to be able to switch an all wheel drive vehicle from 2 wheel drive to 4 wheel drive.

[ugly_bob]

just a terminology difference.
AWD or 4x4
like ABS or ALB for Anti lock brakes.

[KebabMeister]

Good comparison uglybob. Honda used to use ALB but I believe they use ABS now too? Afterall, Bosch created the 'Anti Blockier System' so I think it should all be called that :)

[Monster-S]

There is a difference due to a 4x4 being able to change from 4x2 to 4x4 and All wheel drive is permanent.

[Jay70]

This is not a stupid question at all as there is actually a difference. With a 4WD drive car when you select 4WD both front and rear axles are driven simultaneously. With a AWD car such as a Subaru Impreza power is transfered to the axle wich has most grip and is only truly 4WD for a split second whilst power is transfered between axles. Normally a 4WD will have a low ratio gear box too and an AWD car wont. But even a 4WD is not trully 4WD unless you can lock the differential.

Hope this helps

[__LEE__]

awd = all four wheels can be driven
4x4 = all four wheels can be driven

so they are the same