What is the difference between 2wd and front wheel drive

While there are important differences between the two, both 4WD and AWD are drivetrain types that transfer power from the engine to all four wheels of your vehicle. All-wheel drive is typically applied to drivetrains that include a differential between the front and rear drive shafts. We recommend 2WD for most drivers who drive in mild climates without a lot of snow. Whether or not you should buy a 2WD or 4WD vehicle depends entirely on your driving conditions and how you intend to use the vehicle.

Drivers who go off-roading or live in areas with a lot of snow may want to think about the added benefit of 4WD and how comfortable they feel driving in snow without the assistance of 4WD or AWD. For most drivers in most conditions, however, 2WD is all you need. Click here for more information on the advantages and disadvantages of four-wheel and all-wheel drive. Since the engine only needs to power two wheels, they are cheaper to purchase and get better fuel economy than either 4WD or AWD.

Source: Wikimedia Commons. If most of your driving is in dry or rainy conditions, a front-wheel drive system is all you need. Most modern front-wheel drive systems contain anti-lock braking ABS and traction control, making them perfectly suitable for light snow conditions as well.

We sell a large inventory of front-wheel drive , rear-wheel drive , four-wheel drive , and all-wheel drive vehicles. Shop our complete online inventory. Front-wheel drive vs. Four-wheel drive is for off-roading and rugged terrain, while all-wheel drive is more for sloppy or snowy road conditions.

All-wheel drive is always on and the computer on the car will decide when to deliver power to different wheels. All wheels are capable of actuation at any time, but the timing depends on the condition. If one wheel begins to slip, the car will send more power to it in a corrective action. Extra traction and control are automatically applied without the driver knowing it.

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Jan 17, If snow days are few and far between where you live, a FWD vehicle should be more than sufficient. If, however; you find yourself swamped by the snow for months out of the year, an AWD vehicle might be a necessary upgrade. All-wheel drive vehicles tend to be better in the snow because by powering all four of the wheels, the car has more torque when moving forward, especially at slower speeds. This could be a lifesaver if you find yourself walking out to go to work in the morning and your car is surrounded by three feet of snow.

So bad road conditions should still be approached with caution. If you have to drive through snow, stay away from RWD vehicles, as they tend to lose control when the conditions get slick. This does not necessarily include trucks. Even though most trucks are RWD, they can still maintain traction because of how their weight is distributed. Offroading is something some people will never have to do in their daily lives, but this is a serious factor of daily living for enthusiasts.

Off-roading with a 2WD vehicle is going to prove to be difficult, but mild off-roading could be accomplished as long as your vehicle has the proper ground clearance. Tho only RWD vehicle that will be able to drive on anything but a smooth dirt road is a truck.

Trucks work well for off-roading because of their ample amounts of ground clearance and the fact that they typically sport bigger, beefier tires. Both of the front wheels will spin on a FWD vehicle. Consequently, on a RWD vehicle, both of the back wheels will turn.