Toyota AWD vs 4WD

All wheel drive and four wheel drive can be a large deciding factor in choosing your next vehicle. But, knowing the difference between the two and how each one would benefit your lifestyle is another important question. The AWD and 4WD technology in your Toyota is premier to other drivetrains. Today, we will explore which option would be most suitable for your needs; and which one wins the AWD vs 4WD debate.

Toyota All Wheel Drive

All wheel drive is a very beneficial drivetrain to have in your SUV or car. The majority of Toyota vehicles comes equipped with all wheel drive, including:

•  Prius
• Camry
• Highlander
• Highlander Hybrid
• RAV4
• RAV4 Hybrid
• Sienna
• Sequoia
• Corolla Cross
• Venza
• 4Runner

The idea behind all wheel drive is that it thinks for itself. You do not have to put your vehicle into AWD, it just knows when to use it. All wheel drive also does a great job with balancing fuel economy. Since you do not have to manually switch your vehicle into AWD, it does not use more fuel to power the drivetrain. It allows for extra traction in snow, rain, gravel, and more.

Each model and trim also has different features that factor into how it performs on different terrains. The Toyota RAV4 LE will perform differently than the TRD OFF-ROAD will. The first three trims: LE, XLE, and XLE Premium have AWD. Next, the Adventure, TRD OFF-ROAD, and Limited trims have a dynamic torque-vectoring all wheel drive. As for the Hybrid models, they have all wheel drive integrated management. The main thing that these drivetrains have in common is that they do all the work for you when it comes to traction.

Toyota Four Wheel Drive

4WD is a drivetrain built for off-road adventures. It refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. This means that the power is divided between the front and back wheels at the same time. Compared to all wheel drive, it is mostly available on larger SUVs and trucks. 4WD can also be found on vehicles with a higher towing capacity to help the vehicle get through tough terrain when towing. They also come in two types: full-time and part-time.

The Toyota vehicles that are equipped with four wheel drive are:

• Tacoma
• Tundra
• 4Runner
• Sequoia
• Land Cruiser

Which is right for you?

Choosing which drivetrain is right for really comes down to one thing: your lifestyle. If you tend to go exploring the backcountry, chances are you will want a 4WD. However, if you want a more practical vehicle for an everyday driver, AWD may just be the way to go.