AWD vs. 4X4 Vehicles | Colorado Springs, CO

All-Wheel Drive vs. Four-Wheel Drive: Which One Do You Need for Your Daily Drive in Colorado Springs?

Choosing the right car, truck, or SUV often means narrowing down the features that matter the most to you. Here at Preferred Preowned North, we know that it can be a challenge to choose a vehicle, but we're happy to walk you through all the features, luxuries, and amenities that are available to each model. We also can discuss the differences between similar features, like all-wheel drive vs. four-wheel drive. While they seem very alike on the surface, both are designed for different situations that might suit your driving experience better. Take a look at the breakdown below to understand the differences! We are happy to answer any questions you might have on both as you choose the right drivetrain for your daily drive.

Benefits of All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

Aurora and Littleton drivers often have to deal with slick road conditions, enough so that the normal front or rear-wheel drive won't be able to keep you safe and secure while providing peace of mind in thick traffic situations. With all-wheel drive, you get the added benefit of additional confidence to navigate these tricky road conditions with a bit more ease. All-Wheel Drive is optimized for on-road use, which means it sends the engine's power to all four tires all of the time - making it the ideal choice for drivers who deal with snow-covered or rain-slicked roads. Many all-wheel drive systems seamlessly shuffle torque between the front and rear tires as needed and will automatically switch to two-wheel drive to help improve your fuel economy.

You might be wondering why all-wheel drive is the better option for your vehicle in Colorado Springs. This vehicle drivetrain system does offer some advantages over four-wheel drive. All-wheel drive systems can be used on pavement with no ill effect, as they are engineered to enable each tire to rotate at its own speed in turns - this feature isn't an option when you equip four-wheel drive. Most modern SUVs and passenger cars like the ones available at our dealership will equip all-wheel drive because it is the most likely need for drivers who need bad-weather security.

Benefits of Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)

Drivers who love conquering tough adventures and particularly slick surfaces, especially those in Colorado Springs who love making the trip to the mountains, will need the hardy resilience and capability of a Four-Wheel Drive system. These systems are intended for the roughest of road conditions and even excel when going off-road for more intense excitement around Englewood and Parker, CO. Four-wheel drive systems are typically put into use as a part-time system, with drivers needing to shift into and out of four-wheel drive.

Four-wheel drive guarantees that, in snow, mud, and sand, engine torque is always being sent to a least one front and one rear wheel without the need for a computer to predict or detect wheel slip. This means that there is more power being put to the ground in very slippery conditions that all-wheel drive systems might not be able to handle.

Which System is Right for You?

Both drivetrains offer a benefit for a different type of driver, and our inventory options will reflect which system works best for you. All-wheel drive, a system that you see in lineups like Honda, Nissan, Ford, and many other popular options, provides an on-pavement option that will deal with most rain-slicked and snow-covered roads. However, if you need a bit more performance for off-road adventures or heavy snowfall, four-wheel drive is ideal, with options like Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan and RAM trucks or the Jeep SUV lineup usually carrying these systems.

We are happy to help you explore these options at Preferred Preowned North, where we offer all-wheel and four-wheel drive SUVs, trucks and cars. Let us know what your daily drive looks like around Colorado Springs, and we will guide you to the perfect fit.