Boucher Kia Official Blog
Is All-Wheel Drive or Four-Wheel Drive Better for Snow in Southeast Wisconsin?
By Product Expert | Posted in General Information, Safety on Thursday, December 27th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
AWD Vs. 4WD in Snow
With the festive December season now in our rearview mirror, the bleak and cheerless portion of winter is our next stop. We’re not just being grim about the end of the beautiful lights, generosity and cozy feelings that accompany the holiday season. We’re also trying to honestly address the fact that snow, ice and frigid temperatures are often at their worst just following the beginning of the new year.
For us here in Southeast Wisconsin, we may not have it as bad as folks in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Ely, Minnesota or Rhinelander, Wisconsin, but we still must devote time, attention and care to the changing weather and how it affects our driving.
[READ MORE: How Often Should I Wash My Car During the Wisconsin Winter?]
One of the most effective ways drivers have found to add extra traction and control to their rides on snow or ice is with giving more than just two wheels control. Vehicles with AWD (all-wheel drive) and 4WD (four-wheel drive) replace the respective pushing or pulling of RWD (rear-wheel drive) or FWD (front-wheel drive) by allowing every wheel to receive engine power and drive the vehicle.
This lessens the impact of a single wheel, or even two wheels, suffering a loss of traction due to a slick spot in the road. It allows you to continue moving even if a couple of your wheels temporarily lose the ability to grip the road and move. Alongside winter tires, it’s a must-have in the volatile winters of Southeast Wisconsin.
[READ MORE: Where to Find Affordable Vehicles with AWD in Southeast Wisconsin]
If you’ve been shopping for a vehicle with such all-weather capability, you’ve probably seen those that are all-wheel drive and those that are four-wheel drive competing for your purchase. So what exactly is the difference? Let’s see!
What is the Difference Between AWD and 4WD?
Although they’re often used interchangeably, these terms have specific denotations. In most cases, all-wheel drive refers to a drivetrain that can divert engine torque to any of the four wheels when a primary drive wheel loses traction. Most AWD systems are biased to either the front axle or rear axle, usually driving with most of the torque going to that axle until a loss of traction is detected, at which point it diverts.
4WD or 4×4, on the other hand, often signifies a mechanical locking center differential which locks all four wheels together at the same speed. While this is great for crawling over a craggy mountain pass in your body-on-frame, off-road SUV, it isn’t suited for road driving where wheels need to move at different speeds to turn and accelerate properly.
Is AWD or 4WD Better for Snow?
In most cases, AWD is the better choice for snow. By allowing wheels to travel at different speeds, you’re able to maintain traction while turning. 4WD may be the ideal drivetrain for summiting Denali on the trail, but standard winter driving requires a lot more flexibility than a locking center differential provides.
Why is Kia’s AWD System the Best for Wisconsin Winter?
Unlike many competitors’ AWD systems, the Dynamax™ system utilized by the Kia Sportage and Kia Sorento give you maximum control with continuous monitoring. This means that rather than waiting for a loss of traction to divert power, power is always being sent to the rear wheels to help maintain traction and avoid catastrophic losses of vehicle control.
Additionally, Kia’s brilliant Dynamax™ system features Advanced Traction Cornering Control (ATCC) and a locking center differential for off-road fun. It’s the best of both worlds and puts AWD Kia vehicles somewhere between AWD and 4WD, pulling the best elements of both.
For more information on Kia vehicles or to schedule a test-drive with the winter road warriors: 2019 Kia Sportage and 2019 Kia Sorento, contact us today!
