Should You Have All-Wheel Drive?

When you’re in the auto industry for as long as we’ve been here at Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, you notice certain trends and hear a lot of the same questions over the years. One of the most common ones we get from our customers is them asking us, “Do I need all-wheel drive?” and that’s a good question to ask. When we are working with a customer here at our dealership, we’ll talk to them and ask them about where they drive and the kinds of conditions they find themselves in, then discover the answer with them.

If you are sitting there wondering this same question, looking at different vehicles that might meet your needs and thinking, “Do I need all-wheel drive?” then hopefully this will help you out. There are some different factors you should consider, and the answer will really depend on what you need overall. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about different drive types and gain some insight that can help answer your question.

To keep things simple, we’re going to primarily focus on SUVs since that is where you are often going to get different options for your vehicle’s drivetrain.

What is a Drivetrain?

First off, let’s start with the basics and look at what we’re even talking about when we say “all-wheel drive” or “rear-wheel drive.” If you already know this, feel free to skip ahead, but we want to make sure we’re all on the same page. Don’t worry – this won’t get too technical – it’s just a basic explanation.

To put it simply, the drivetrain (also called a powertrain) refers to the collection of parts that make your vehicle go. It starts with your engine, which generates power, and includes your transmission, driveshaft, axles, and the wheels of your vehicle. Basically, the engine of your SUV generates power – either through traditional internal combustion or from an electric battery – and the drivetrain transfers that power to your wheels to make them turn. When your wheels turn, your vehicle goes forward (or backward), and you get where you need to go.

Pretty simple, right? The reality of how all of those parts work together can get pretty complex, but you don’t need to worry about that when figuring out if you need all-wheel drive.

What are Different Drivetrain Types?

• There are four different types of drivetrains available on vehicles, though you’ll usually only see one or two of these offered on any SUV. The different types are based on how power is transferred from your vehicle’s engine to the wheels that propel you forward or back. To understand if you need all-wheel drive or not, it’s best to first understand the four different types and how they work.
• Front-Wheel Drive – Often abbreviated as FWD, front-wheel drive refers to a configuration in which power is transferred from your engine only to the front wheels of your vehicle. Basically, your engine generates power and your front wheels spin using that power, pulling your vehicle forward. Your rear wheels don’t really get any power; they spin because the front two spin and your vehicle moves.
• Rear-Wheel Drive – This is referred to as RWD and means that power is delivered from your engine to your two back wheels. The rear wheels spin due to this power and push your vehicle forward, while your front wheels are essentially just there for maneuverability. You see RWD offered on a lot of sports cars and high-performance vehicles.
• Four-Wheel Drive – Abbreviated as 4WD; four-wheel drive means that power is delivered from your engine to all four wheels under some conditions. With this type of drivetrain, your SUV can operate in 4×4 mode, so all four tires get power, or in RWD mode, so only your rear wheels get power. Generally, a 4WD vehicle operates in RWD most of the time, and you might have a manual option to activate 4×4 driving.
• All-Wheel Drive – Finally, we come to all-wheel drive, referred to as AWD. With all-wheel drive, all four wheels receive power from your engine at all times. There is no option to only use RWD because the vehicle is designed to power all four wheels at all times. Some SUVs can have part-time or automatic AWD, however, that really acts more like 4WD than true AWD.

Pros and Cons of Different Types

Now that you understand your four options, you probably wonder why someone would choose one over the other and if you need all-wheel drive. Here’s what you should keep in mind about each of these four options, their strengths, and weaknesses. Some of this is a generalization, and every vehicle has its own quirks that make it unique to drive, but it’s a good place to start.

• FWD typically gives you optimal fuel economy and can offer better emissions than other drivetrains. With a FWD SUV, the weight of the engine is right above the front wheels, which receive power from it, so they can maintain better traction in snow and bad weather. However, a lot of drivers don’t find FWD vehicles very fun to drive because they are being pulled by their wheels.
• RWD is often seen as “sportier” and more fun to drive since the vehicle is being pushed by the rear tires. This is why you see it in sports cars. Since the weight of the engine is not over the powered wheels, there can be traction issues with RWD, and it does not perform well in rain, snow, or muddy conditions.
• 4WD is popular because it gives you flexibility with some perks of RWD along with 4×4 functionality that lets it perform well in bad weather. An SUV with 4WD is a good choice if you like some casual off-roading, but you’re not too serious about it, and if you sometimes drive in bad weather, but not very often. Just be mindful of whether you are in 4×4 mode or RWD any time you deal with snow, rain, or mud.
• AWD is particularly popular for anyone that deals with rough road conditions, particularly snow, rain, and mud. Anyone that likes to go off-road will usually swear by AWD as it offers the best control and makes it easier to get through uneven terrain and sloppy conditions. An AWD vehicle usually gets lower fuel economy and all four wheels wear down quickly, so you typically need to replace them more frequently, plus an AWD vehicle can be more expensive than a 4WD or RWD option.

Do I Need All-Wheel Drive?

So now we come to the big question: do you need all-wheel drive? Really it comes down to what you typically drive in. If you drive a lot in bad weather, especially rain and snow, then you should strongly consider AWD. If you like to go off-roading a lot, not just once or twice every few years, then AWD is definitely what you should look for.

On the other hand, if you rarely drive in bad weather and you adamantly stay inside when we get snow around Atlanta, then 4WD or RWD should be fine. If you like to go off-road occasionally, then 4WD should be sufficient for your needs. Still not sure? Then contact us or stop by to talk with one of our knowledgeable and friendly salespeople today; we’ll work with you to find the perfect vehicle for your needs.