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AWD today are really front wheel drive cars. The rear wheels engage when conditions require it. So if you are driving a RAV4, 95% of the time you are driving a FWD car.
It certainly can be a pain to get the details of each system. For example, I like the RAV4 system, where one can hit a button and "lock" in the rear axle proactively. That it "kicks out" above 35mph wouldn't bother me.
My son had a RAV4 but we were never aware of this feature.
The typical 4x4 has a high and low range 4WD setting. The AWD setting is just another setting on the transfer case. Strictly AWD vehicle has no driver input as to the range/settings. It's simply mechanically or electronically controlled. Driver has no input.
The typical 4x4 has a high and low range 4WD setting. The AWD setting is just another setting on the transfer case. Strictly AWD vehicle has no driver input as to the range/settings. It's simply mechanically or electronically controlled. Driver has no input.
Wrong. Jeep AWD systems come with manual overrides for snow or mud, that force the system into always-AWD mode. And the Cherokee even has an available low range transfer case for the FWD-biased AWD system.
Wrong. Jeep AWD systems come with manual overrides for snow or mud, that force the system into always-AWD mode. And the Cherokee even has an available low range transfer case for the FWD-biased AWD system.
Ok I'll give you that Jeep option. it's still a AWD of some sort. You cannot disengage the feature. In a traditional 4x4 you can disengage the t-case and you have a 2wd 4hi 4lo option and more recent AWD (with possibly low high setting). You can run in 2WD. In some cars like my wife's I can choose 2WD, AWD or auto AWD or 4hi 4lo. (The auto AWD is basically 2WD until AWD is needed. The AWD setting makes it AWD all the time. Has a bunch f weird traction control no slip system. I don't care for it.
A FWD with a optional AWD feature is not a 4x4. You can't disengage the t case and regardless if you have a low range you are still AWD. Most systems just don't give the driver a choice. Jeep has always had done weird complicated AWD options on their cars. You may have some limited input in some systems. But that's a pretty new feature.
AWD today are really front wheel drive cars. The rear wheels engage when conditions require it. So if you are driving a RAV4, 95% of the time you are driving a FWD car.
Some cars yes, most trucks NO.
The original AWD was a vehicle without the means to switch into a 4x4 low gear. However, that has been aborted over the years to mean almost anything the manufacture wants to say.
In my case the truck is RWD, during wet weather or light snow, I can switch to an AUTO mode which is a AWD. if the snow gets deeper or I head into the mud or the rocks, I can switch to 4x4 low or 4x4 high to keep it in 4x4 at all times.
I'll bet there are at least 20 different AWD type systems on the market today.
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