AWD vs 4WD... Which is Best? 

Of course according to SAE International Standard J1952 the preferred term for all of these systems is AWD and divided into 3 main categories which are Part-Time AWD, Full-Time AWD and On-Demand AWD. These split further into a total of 8 sub-categories of AWD.

Get to the freaking point faster dude.....you could have deleted the 1st 3 minutes of this video

This is also super misleading: 5:50 You make it sound as if simply driving in 4WD locks the rotation of all 4 wheels...it doesn't. It only locks the speed of the 2 front wheels to the 2 rear wheels. For example, your front left wheel can still turn faster than your front right wheel while in 4wd. Only locking the differentials can force the wheels to share rotational speeds

ramble on you still never got to the point...

All wheels drive=AWD AWD=4WD AWD=6WD AWD=8WD Not is 4x4!.stupid AWD=10WD

This is what I was looking for. Thank you

Thank you

When it works. You get a star for brevity and efficiency.

Actually constant power to both front rear differentials, most vehicles have open differential so the power will go to one side depending on traction on the other tire

Not true 4wd only uses two wheels at once the power switches at the front and back differentials

Thank you

Thank you

Thank you

Bro..I press this when I wad half way to the video..😂😂

He didn't say anything about gearbox and locking deferential...moron

Bingo. 4wd is better for off road. AWD is better for road use

fat lie

@Jose Carranza Polio 4x4

Great anology. I think “awd: on-roaders” is more appropriate as 90% of the awd/4x4 owners probably never venture off paved roads.

Although you see Jeep Wranglers, running in the sand, climbing mountains, mudding, etc. have you seen Subaru in rally races ? which includes racing on gravel roads, snowy roads, and other difficult tracks, terrains, and environments during the WRC races ? Also Subaru also has the Baja pick up truck, which gets raced in the desert, etc. Subaru makes extremely well built and extremely capable full time awd system which works amazing. Even in places that gets tons on snow, such as Russia, they drive and love Subarus. Now that is Subaru quality and awesomeness. I do like the Jeep Wranglers too, as well as the GM suv and pick ups, Suburban / Tahoe, Silverado, which has the option to activate the 4X4 from 2WD. But for me, for the lighter vehicle category Subaru takes the cake. But for me, for the heavier vehicle category, Jeep Wrangler, Chevy SUV and Pick ups, takes the cake.

Soft roaders : crv and rav4, it's not a true awd, like the subaru, both the crv and rav4 are more front wheel based / oriented systems. Light but capable off roader vehicle Subaru. ( symmetrical awd ). Heavy vehicle off roader 4X4 off road Jeep Wrangler, since it was built for it. I have seen the older GM 4X4 pick up and large suv do quite well in the city and the countryside even with the thick snow. Ford Raptor in the other hand could be a worthy match for the offroad Jeep Wrangler.

Awd on a truck platform with a real locking rear diff. That's much better

I agree with you 100% he just made be complicated if I never knew the difference I wouldn't get it from this video

They get to put more ads in videos (more profit) when the video is longer than 8 minutes. Used to be 10 minutes. It's the reason why a bunch of videos were 10:02 long. Now, they're all 8:02. Bunch of filler content.

Baaas. Correct. Too many stories here.

Exactly. RU-vidrs do that shit on purpose because they want to drag out the topics as much as possible, they want to meet or pass the 10min mark of video duration for the YT algorithm+ADs.

I just came to the comments to check what he is trying to say

I have a CRV as well. Does well in snow and on ice, but we must realize that these cars, and most others (like Rav 4), are not true AWD systems. They are slip and grip systems. That is, they are normally FWD vehicles. When the front wheels detect slip the rear wheels will "kick in" temporarily to give you traction. Subaru, on the other hand, is a true AWD car, in that all 4 wheels are under power at all times. So when we are talking about, and comparing AWD to 4WD we almost have to specify slip and grip or true AWD.

@@alansach8437 what about acuras SHAWD

I agree. I own a 2016 AWD Honda CRV and have not had a single issue with this year make and model with 80,000 miles on it. Handles like a sports car in turns wet or dry and super dependable.

This is good to know because I want to get a new Honda Ridgeline despite it being an unpopular choice 😅. I'm not made of money so I couldn't get the more pricy options that include 4x4/4wd. The base model only has AWD and I wasn't sure if it was enough to comfortably operate in Colorado. I don't plan to go off road or any crazy stuff, I just don't wanna slip like Honda Civic Si does. I want to feel safe.

2019 honda pilot awd i confirm great sporty comfortable reliable

Sounds like a stupid way to live.

@@jstravelers4094 We Love it.

@@jstravelers4094 What kind of comment is that?!!! They live in the country, have little traffic, little noise and enjoy peace and quiet. You must live in your mommy's cellar with your teddy bear snuggled in the wet corner of your bed that you pee in each night. How do you like that comment? Then, quit with the "one liner" condescending comments. Sheeezzz, you need to grow up.

@@Doc1855Sounds like a beautiful way to livr

@@lanemcnally5159 Yes, thank you. We live in a beautiful area

*wheeeeeeeee!*

🤣🤣🤣

LOL

Lol

😂

YES! You are exactly right. You have saved me from writing it myself! Thank you

So the 2 front and 3 back wheels can go at different speeds?

exactly! AWD is just 4WD with traction control in a nut shell. but 4WD doesnt make 4 wheels rotate at the same speed, its just absurd.

@@inggillazuardi8487 Unless you have lockers, 3 wheels slipping means you not going anywhere ( the fourth wont get any power, the others are spinning) Re think... If a front wheel and a back wheel is slipping then you are not going anywhere.

@@alanhilder1883 correct, thats why in 4wd truck u will find differential lock button when u stuck, in toyotas at least.

Agreed, in every rear wheel car I ever had my dad taught me to throw in a couple 20-30lbs sand/salt bags in the trunk for the winter, spread them out as far out as possible to get the weight over the rears. Living thru CDN winters, rarely ever got stuck, but if I did I had some sand or salt on hand to help get some extra traction to free myself. Cheers & congrats on 2mil+ miles accident free! 👍🍻🇨🇦

Yup, a loaded semi can do better on snow/ice covered road than many AWD SUVs. It's more accurate to say though that it comes down to pounds per square inch. Essentially that we have and need well over 100PSI in our tires. A typical FWD car with some fat sporty tires is going to do worse than a typical front engine RWD car with narrow tires. A modern sporty 4WD pickup with fat 40psi tires, will do worse than an old school narrow tire pickup with 80psi tires. In the semi truck world rigs with super single tires do worse because they have a lower pounds per inch requirement. I kind of drive truck in the snow for a living all winter. The worst offenders I see stuck all the time are doubles with super singles, they've sabotaged themselves that equipment choice.

Exactly

lol as a canadian driver i couldnt have said it better,

I’ve driven up snowladen mountains and in blizzards with my FWD Mits Galant! Surprise!

Lol me too 😂😂😂😂 until I checked closer and realized it's actually a railgun!

LAME@@vanderwallstronghold8905

Your boyfriend....."Mr Honda" is so proud of you.

@@jstravelers4094I stand by my well-reasoned position on the Ridgeline. Even more so perhaps because I've had it for more than a year now and it hasn't disappointed, creeper comments notwithstanding...

lmfaooo don't give up

Keep grinding 💯

Save and get an STI have 50g remaining

Great just $89,996 more to go 😁

Dude I got Php 1. $1= Php 48

Unless you have limited slips

So what's the difference between 4WD and AWD if not for the locked differential? do 4WD not have the ability to continuously change the power sent to different wheels like AWD? And doesn't ANW send equal power to all wheels when driving on normal road (unless you're turning or going up a hill)?

Lockers can be selectable or automatic. Diffs can also be welded. LSDs and torque-biasing diffs can act similarly to lockers. TCS can also vector torque.

​​@@fury9947 4WD locks the center diff. AWD allows for a bit of differentiation between front and rear drivelines. Most 4WDs also offer a low gear. The Suzuki SX4 did not. Some vehicles can lock the axle diffs, for the ultimate in traction. Jeep SelecTrac, and similar systems, provide both 4WD AND AWD. SelecTrac also provides 2High, as well as 4Low.

@@RKmndo AND? what's that? Also is a vehicle has both 4WD and AWD doesn't that make it a full-time 4WD?

What car do you have

name the car please

@@duychien94 Nissan Rogue.

Those AWD systems are standard in most vehicles, as well as stability control.

@@Dazlidorne Isn't Nissan rouge known for it's transmission problems?

Get full time 4 wd. Best solution!

You are 100% correct . God bless you

@@kr9713 if money wasnt an issue. Lol

@@kr9713 "get truck fellar"

Saved like 6 mins mate thanks

Someone is thinking about trophy cars😅...... while most of us will die without seeing one

Has to do with weight also. Less weight up front means less nose diving. Makes them better for jumping and more so the landing.

And they carry so much momentum when they are blasting across Baja it doesn’t matter if they have 4WD/AWD or not

These all have incredible amounts of horse power too

Yup which is why I see trucks and 4x4s slipping all over the road when it snows, and they think they can plow through

i guess thats the reason why the Audi quattro S1 E2 rally car was 4x4

@@aftermarket5531 that makes sense bc 4x4 are more appropriate for extreme conditions like rallye racing. But for on-road usage in wet roads and light snow, awd is a better solution. But then all these mechanical systems pale in comparison to the sophisticated and fast acting ev awd systems.

Never had issues in my 4wd but I prefer awd on the road tbh.

@@aftermarket5531 lol I read that as season 1 episode 2. What's wrong with me?

So what is my 2012 Rav4 XTR? As far as I can tell from reading it is driving all 4 wheels all the time but in normal conditions it favours the power to the front, I'm guessing 60-40 split. Then there's the switch on the dash (diff lock) which I understand to use an electrical signal to lock the drive somehow to make the power closer to 50-50, maybe 51-49. Maybe I'm way off but it seems to work.

@@SalemikTUBE The RAV4 has a transverse engine with a FWD based AWD system, it can send 40-50% power to the rear if the system senses it needs it. But you probably have modes that can bypass the sensors and have the power sent in the rear in a semi-permanent fashion (40-50% power to the rear, if you have a rear diff then that 40-50% can be split 20-25 per wheel or 40-50 per wheel if needed) until you accelerate to a specific speed or switch modes. Its all in the car’s brain. All the coding. Do this when this happens, do that if this happens, do this and that if this sensor detects this and that. Gibberish to us but computers do these calculations in micro/nano seconds. RAV4 will favor FWD because of its mounting position (transverse) and transmission. That special edition RAV4 you have probably has an E-diff or 2 that bypasses the “traditional system” it has like in the regular RAV4, it doesn’t really “lock” your differential, but its doing its best to keep both sides left right turning at the same pace. the e-diff will make sure you get more torque where needed. Its like a beefier traction control in a way and Toyota’s Marketing made it seems super off road capable. Its all in the ECU and TCU. (Engine+transmission control units) working together. Its not a true diff locker like 4X4 but it’s sufficient if you go camping in a light off-road trail. Dont go rock climbing or hill climbing, not enough power per wheel unless you tune it (may void warranty). If you want that extra “umph” of power without warranty issues, check to see if an OEM style K&N filter exists for your specification, they let the vehicle breathe way better. Also, if its a “direct injection” vehicle, consider an Oil Catch Can to minimize carbon built up. Not sure but some Toyotas have dual injection, ported and direct, if thats what you can, skip the catch can. Hope I answered you question, let me know if you need more info.

@@SalemikTUBE but since its a 2012, the XTR can just be extra mods here and there, nothing to do with e-diffs and all that talk.

Very informative and intellectual.. One question.. have a 2017 rav4 awd with an echo option but I don’t know exactly how this system mechanically works .. please some information.. Also please some additional information to minimize fuel consumption.. Cheers..

So is the audi quatrro Considered a 4 wheel drive

There's even better explanation. Differentiating AWD and 4WD is stupid. It tells nothing about the effectiveness of the system and its architecture. Just learn how each system works and don't pollute your brain with useless thinking. Just part time AWD, coupling unit AWD, 3 differential permanent AWD, Super Select part-time 3 differential AWD... - it's not that hard to remember all these, especially when you're about to spend $50k+ on a brand new vehicle. Imagine buying Wrangler Sport instead of a Rubicon because "Idk, it's 4WD too but it's cheaper, must be some dealership's bullshit". THEY ARE NOT THE SAME NOR EQUALLY GOOD, EVEN THE FREAKING LOW GEAR RATIOS ARE DIFFERENT!

@@ldmtag there's only three that I know of, part time AWD, full time AWD and 4WD. hell, id argue that the part time AWD from the Hondas is actually 4WD, because there is NO center Dif, just a viscous coupling. 4WD VS AWD is super simple, and not classing the systems biased on their characteristics/topology is idiotic. None of the classes you stated make any sense, nor actually exist. There's three that do exist: AWD, Part time AWD, and 4WD. Anything else is incorrect. does that mean that quattro and DCCD are the same? NO! but they are in the same class, AWD.

@@thenewhalogod Actually 4. Part-time 4WD like many 4x4s or full time like the luxury trucks/suvs. Or for the hardcore vehicles like the Trackhawk or the Ram TRX.

i was going to say that. guy is nuts if he thinks running in 4 wheel drive will have all four wheels locked together even in a curve. that would quickly ruin your tires as the inside tires would be scuffing as the radius is larger on the outside of a curve than the inside.

True, trying to turn a fully locked real 4wd on street all you get it chirp chirp chirp. Need that differential wheel spin. But have to say electronic brake assist has come a long way, till it overheats or an abs sensor wire gets clipped.

Tires are important.

So far no one seems to have gotten the definitions correct (not even the video poster). AWD is for cars and some SUVs... and it means there is possibly power to front and rear (depends on center differential type). 4wd, or 4w4 is for SUVs and trucks, and means it has the ability to possibly send power to front and rear (depending on the center differential type), and.... AND it has LOW RANGE. So the 4WD and AWD can be in part time, full time (open diff), full time (limited slip diff), and select-able (both). The only industry standard difference between the two is a Low Range Gear set on the transfer-case. THAT IS IT. Plain and simple. Now traction side to side is a completely different issue. The axle diffs (front or rear) can have open, limited slip, locked, spooled/welded, and select-able. Each brand is different, as are all the aftermarket options. The systems can also be implemented or supplemented by ABS/computer controlled braking systems to create or aid in the limited slip feature of the axles, and/or even the center differential functionality. So to make it short and sweet.... the difference between AWD and 4WD is if it has a Low range unit on the Xcase.... that is literally it.

AWD systems are NOT all created equal. Most modern Subaru systems are NOT FWD-based.

​@@musicfan9309 You don't seem to have gotten the definition quite correct either. AWD allows differentiation between the front and rear drivelines. 4WD does not. Some 4WDs don't offer low gearing. Some vehicles are equipped with both 4WD AND AWD, like the Jeep XJ SelecTrac or the Suzuki SX4.

This. Auto 4wd has been around for over 20 years. Even the 2020+ gmc 2500's are auto 4wd. But no front locker so only 3 spinning. There's way too many variables for a fair comparison. Also I'm always in auto 4wd, even on dry roads.

@@gill998 '99 Suburban (OBS) here. I don't see the point of using it on dry roads, I've got decent tires and putting it on auto hurts the fuel economy marginally.

@@abyssalreclass I have AT tires that grab the road well, but when pulling out from a stop it doesn't take much to break them loose. I'd much rather have the ability to put it all on the pavement. I have never noticed a decrease in fuel economy, I have tried to get better economy in 2wd even changing my driving style, but my best milage is still in 4auto.

@@gill998 Do you have a pickup truck or an SUV? If its a truck, then you probably have very little weight over the rear axle, which will cause grip issues.

A Defender is an off-road Icon! They are set apart from the rest,,,,except for the Jeep Wrangler,,,Toyota Landrcruiser,,,,I have one too,,,,front and rear differential that can lock,,,,with the ability to crawl over rocks, muds, sand and snow. And totally comfortable. Cheeers

@@georgetidd8972 ayyy sweet! Mine has the ARB locker on both diffs for extra fun! 😈

I had a 1981 Ford Bronco and was told if I put the Bronco in 4WD or 4H on pavement, it could bust an axle. Is that true? The 4WD Bronco worked great on dirt or snow, but I never took the chance on putting the Bronco in 4WD on pavement.

@@69FOSTER You mess that up only if you use front or rear diff lock, provided the car has this feature, and take turns. When taking a turn, the wheels on the exterior have to cover more distance than the interior ones, so they rotate faster (this means "open differential"). If you lock the diff (the term is "locked differential"), either on front or rear, you make the wheels from that side rotate together at the same speed, even in turns, and that will mess up the system. If you don't have or don't engage diff lock, then the only downside of going 4wd on pavement is more fuel consumption. You can google open vs. locked differential, even here on YT there are videos with more details on the topic.

My dodge durango rt is awd and has a low setting 2015.

@@Brandtyboy1 very interesting! Thank you for that information. Leave it to Dodge (the best at engineering and understanding power)!

All V8 toyota 4runners have low and awd.

@@Hobblecreekkid Thank you, I had no idea. Then again i would never have spent any time in a Toyota ever in my life. So I'm glad you told me or i would never know that for sure.

​@@Brandtyboy1 Hey my 06 Dakota rt was setup the same way! That truck went through everything. Even pulled myself out of a ditch full of snow up to the doors. Crawled out in a matter of seconds. Awd spins can be a bitch if it catches you off guard. Lol

Well one thing I can say is that my AWD 2012 Subaru Legacy has no problems in 7 inches of snow. I was at work and we had a surprise blizzard and they hadn't plowed the streets when I was leaving so I had to drive home and it handled amazing. Best car I've ever driven in snow. Even was fun for a little drifting, too!

7inches of snow is child's play for anyone that is equipped with adequate tires and winter driving knowledge.

The difference is this: Guys who know what they're doing buy AWD. Guys who think they know what they're doing buy 4WD.

Very few have lsd.

You're mistaken when it comes to LSDs (it's a common misunderstanding and I mean no offense). Open differentials send power to the wheel with the least amount of traction which usually gives you one wheel drive on slippery surfaces (or under hard power) while the other wheel gets no power. In a 4wd truck with the center differential locked, if you have open front and rear diffs then you'll get the 2wd effect (the front and rear wheels with the least amount of traction will spin while the other two wheels get no power). Limited slip differentials work in a variety of ways (most commonly using clutch packs) but they have the advantage of allowing the inside and outside wheels to spin at different speeds going through a low speed turn like an open diff, but they also lock the wheels together of one wheel loses traction. This is also why you can slide a RWD vehicle with a limited slip through turns; if you mash the accelerator through a turn, it'll lock the wheels to prevent excessive wheel speed differences. A diff that is fully locked all the time will have an advantage in only the most extreme off road conditions, but otherwise having a limited slip gives you the best of both worlds. Edit: corrected some words and added a little more (possibly redundant) information to hopefully offer a better explanation.

@@SkyFoxMarine As a passer-by, I appreciate the information.

@@ELITEViRuZz no worries, I love educating as much as I love being educated. Knowing how things work is a passion that extends to more than just vehicle related things. I did fix a couple of words and added a little more information in hopes that it makes things clearer. Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

@@SkyFoxMarine Hey man, same. I'm fascinated with understanding the how and why behind almost everything. My brain feels packed with absolutely useless information, but when someone says "I wonder why..." And you're able to answer it for them, it makes it all worth it. Have a great weekend and great life man.

You own the wrong AWD vehicle. My AWD vehicle is as good or better than any 4WD vehicle I have driven. And you don't even need to think about it.

In theory you are correct but what your explaining is called a open differential. Once you put lockers do it acts like a welded diff. Off-road the only difference I see from a awd vs a 4wd is that the 4wd usually can go into 2wd while the awd is stuck being 4wd. But yea it doesn’t matter if your awd or 4wd once you lift a tire off the ground. If you don’t have lockers then all the power goes to the tire with less resistance which is the one in the air

U just jelly buy awd then get winter tires then thank me later fun experience

@@johnclassified36 eh, walmart has zip tie chains for ice, and the key to mastering 4wd is patience, not speed.

I have a awd from 1982 and it still goes through more rocks mud bushland then a 4x4

@@mrspacecadet4441 what model? Unless it's something roughly triple the market value of the time, a 4X4 would run it better.

@@kirknay buy awd thank me later

friend of mine used to have this really old ass jeep that i loved. the thing was normally pure rear drive, but he could enable four wheel drive from inside, you had to actually lock the differential from the outside however. this thing was a beast too, really fun to just rear wheel drive on snow if you know what you're doing, but also basically unstoppable with the differential locked. we tied an old mattress to the crash bar on the front and used it to plow snow. our local fire station also used to have an old soviet military truck painted red, that thing was badass, got you in and out of anywhere, especially with the pump trailer detached. now we got this shit IVECO truck that only has rear wheel drive and has all the heavy equipment and a water tank on it, you drive this thing one metre off the road and it's fucked.

@windhelmguard5295 Went to a mudholing event one year with a guy who had an old willy's jeep.. unmodified. The other guys had brought a 4wd chevy tracker and his son a jacked up firefly on a stacked tracker frame. It was funny watching jacked up full sized chevys and fords getting stuck and these unmodified old vehicles passing them on mucky trails. Tracker got hung up once. That's it. Firefly had broken one of the bunch of wheel spacers to accommodate the 50 inch tires it had and had to be trailered out. Lol Winter driving is a different animal though. Having the right machine and experienced driving skill make all the difference. Do like the mattress thing though.. considered looking for something to mount to the bush bar on my ridgeline. 😜

With a dual speed manual transfer case and lockable center differential.

What would a tesla be? Permanent , non lockable?

@@jamesparson good question, idk. i assume allwheeldrive non lockable desribes it pretty good.

*n y o o o m*

No. I'm with you on this one. Jeeps are trash unless it's a 90's cherokee with the 4.0L

Nope. I've seen death wobble and what Fiat Chrysler has turned out. I'll pass.

There's me too.

I can’t stand jeeps

I'll pass on Jeeps. I think they're overhyped.

Not in 2' of snow. AWD is the best way to go unless you actually are OFF-ROAD.

@@jstravelers4094 snow isn't the problem, ice is.

Was that a bird?.... Did it hit a bird?

AWD is always better on public roadways. 4WD is for off roaders. It's that simple.

in FWD vehicles, you steer into the skid and speed up. in RWD vehicles, you steer into the skid and slow down. in AWD vehicles, you steer into the skid and hope

@@michaelheskett3119 not with either AWD or anything with traction control.

@@TheBeatenPaths you do realize that its still possible to lose traction with an AWD or TCS equipped vehicle, right?

I would rather have my AWD on icy roads...it makes you be awake all the time and be careful when boost kicks in and the backend wants to go to the front! :D

He's clearly Jeeple, he doesn't know much at all.

@@lolbuster01 I mean I drive a Jeep but I at least know😂😂.

ikr...a good sedan with snow tires is better than a 4x4 truck with bad tires

A Jeep XJ was shown to stop faster on ice in 4WD/AWD than when in 2WD.

Try AWD, with traction control, ABS, and snow tires. You'll out brake most "mud trucks". Had both, staying with AWD.

@@chriss377 mud tires are actually not great for snow. Also.... any 4wd vehicle will also have TCS and ABS.... That is like saying you like your AWD because it has an airbag. That stuff is standard bro.....

@@davedunks4647 I have a first gen Touareg with locking center and rear diffs. It's the best of both worlds. I have Blizzaks for winter. The Quattro system in my SUV still outperforms many newer cars and trucks. Most vehicles spend their whole life on the road where AWD really shines. You get more control at speed in a corner, the rain, the snow, and the ice. You have that extra grip ALL the time. Many new, FWD based AWD vehicles disengage the AWD above 25-35mph effectively giving up one the best parts of having AWD in an effort to save fuel. 4WD gives that up ALL of the time unless conditions are slick enough to stay in 4wd. The Touareg is really an AWD/4WD hybrid, all the benefits of both, no real downside except a small hit to fuel usage. Snow, keep going, getting deeper, lock the center diff, really deep lock the rear. Some rare ones also had locking fronts. Really hard to beat the only thing I would add is a 2wd option for long trips on dry roads to save fuel. I've owned everything from V8 muscle cars, a Porsche 911 rwd, lifted and not lifted trucks and Jeeps. None of them compare in all around performance to the Touareg/Cayenne/Q7 platform in my opinion. And my AWD does have airbags, in the suspension! Giving me something like 8 inches of range in ride height. The Touareg didn't take off in the US because at over 50k in 2004 it was more than most would spend on a VW, despite being the same running gear and suspension as the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. And you could get this beast with a V10 TDI that will drag a Duramax in a tug of war.

Thanks for information

Not at all the only use for 4wd is off road if you have ever seen or even better driven a car with a welded or locked rear diff you would have seen how bad they are on the road they are just bad at everything except going straight a 4wd is kind of the same you have locked the front and rear axles together so going straight on a smooth flat road you would know but anything the car will fight you however off road there is much less traction and the wheels can just slip a bit where needed

I would take a full time 4 wheel drive in the Landcruiser, Lexus LX and GX anyday over any AWD system. It has a real center differential and when shit hits the fan, it’ll get you out of anywhere!

Wrong on just about everything you stated

“If if aint broke, don’t fix it.”

That's actually pretty easy, although there's 2 meanings used for those, because marketing. A true symmetrical AWD system is physically symmetrical, in the sense that the driven axles at each end are the same length. This passively favors an even torque delivery between all the wheels. If you've ever driven a FWD (front wheel drive) with unequal length axles, you'll know what 'torque steer' is. That same passive bias created by the difference in axle lengths can cause one end of an AWD vehicle to accept or resist the application of torque. Most of the 'conventional' systems you see use a transversely mounted FWD vehicle as a basis, which may or may not have unequal length axles up front, and even if the front axles are the same length, they are usually shorter than those in the rear. Another factor in mechanical resistance to torque distribution is the 90 degree turn power has to make to get from the transaxle to the rear of the vehicle, which like the unequal axles, creates a passive torque bias. What that adds up to is that a lot of those 'conventional' AWD systems with the transverse drivetrain up front only deliver ~25% of the torque to the rear. That's enough to help with low traction a great deal, but not enough to seriously help with low traction due to loose surfaces (as opposed to hard surfaces with low friction, like wet or icy roads).

Don't bother. AWD is superior on public roads.

So far no one seems to have gotten the definitions correct (not even the video poster). AWD is for cars and some SUVs... and it means there is possibly power to front and rear (depends on center differential type). 4wd, or 4w4 is for SUVs and trucks, and means it has the ability to possibly send power to front and rear (depending on the center differential type), and.... AND it has LOW RANGE. So the 4WD and AWD can be in part time, full time (open diff), full time (limited slip diff), and select-able (both). The only industry standard difference between the two is a Low Range Gear set on the transfer-case. THAT IS IT. Plain and simple. Now traction side to side is a completely different issue. The axle diffs (front or rear) can have open, limited slip, locked, spooled/welded, and select-able. Each brand is different, as are all the aftermarket options. The systems can also be implemented or supplemented by ABS/computer controlled braking systems to create or aid in the limited slip feature of the axles, and/or even the center differential functionality. So to make it short and sweet.... the difference between AWD and 4WD is if it has a Low range unit on the Xcase.... that is literally it.

Most 4WD have the exact same gear ratio front and rear... if they have a different one due to limitations in the manufacturing of specific axles... it's off by a negligible amount, and you can HOPE it's faster speed in the front vs the rear, but not always and not necessarily... So a pair of axles can have a 4.10 and 4.11 combo, or a 3.54 and 3.55 combo... but that is negligible. Tire variation, wear, air-pressure, and weight over each axle (front vs rear) will have a greater affect on the ground speed of the rubber hitting the road. The only time two axles are very different in axle gear ratios are 4wd tractors with two different tire sizes.... and then the ratios are calculated to compensate for the tire diameter difference.

@@musicfan9309 To add to what you've said, most of the time when there is a difference in front vs rear ratios, it is because of a staggered tire size setup. The difference in ratios is to get the same effective road speed delivered from each end with the different circumference of tire. It really has nothing to do with 'pulling' you in a given direction - delivering thrust in loose materials is what does that, if you have the right tires to churn through those loose materials.

​@@musicfan9309 4WD locks the front and rear drivelines together. AWD allows some differentiation. Some 4WDs have no low-range. The Suzuki SX4 with rear driveline could be switched between 2WD, AWD, and 4WD. It had no low-range. Many modern CUVs lack low-range, even if they can clamp/lock the front and rear drivelines together.

@@RKmndo Wrong! Landrover Classic Range rover and Defender -> permanent 4x4, lockable central dif.