7 Reasons I Choose Cars with AWD or 4WD— And You Can’t Make Me Feel Bad About It
I'm tired of acting like AWD or 4WD drivetrains don't have advantages in all climates and seasons. Here's why I'll always advocate for either system.
Having lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 27 years of my life, many people questioned my purchase of a 2011 Subaru Forester before moving to Monterey, California, for college. Family and friends would ask me, “Why do you need AWD on the coast?” Even though I camped regularly, went to the mountains for fishing trips, and spent every birthday in the snowy Yosemite Valley, I’d get the occasional, “Are you sure you need AWD to commute?” For many, the perception behind AWD or 4WD was that it was a waste of money.
When my sister bought her 2023 Toyota 4Runner a few months ago, she was criticized similarly. “Why did you buy a 4WD SUV when you live in Southern California?” or, “Don’t you think 4WD is overkill for your lifestyle?”
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The Reasons for AWD or 4WD are Real, People!
As the wife of a mechanic and a lifelong car lover, here’s what I have to say to the people who ask those questions: hush up. There are several reasons people pick AWD or 4WD cars over front or rear wheel drive, and it’s about time we stop pretending there aren’t good reasons to choose them.
There are advantages to both systems, even if you live in regions that don’t call for them, like the San Francisco Bay Area or Southern California. Delete that paragraph you’re planning on putting in the comments section, because I’m going to list solid, legit reasons AWD or 4WD cars/trucks/SUVs are assets, not burdens.
What’s the Difference Between AWD vs. 4WD?
If you’re a car person, you know that the terms “all-wheel drive” and “four-wheel drive” are not interchangeable, despite many car shows and magazines suggesting otherwise. They’re very different systems with similar purposes, but each system’s operative methods are vastly different.
For one, all-wheel drive is self-explanatory: all four wheels are drive wheels, which means each wheel has a physical and permanent connection to the power put out by the engine and translated by the transmission. So, when you start from a stop, all four wheels receive the same amount of energy to move the car forward as opposed to only the two front or rear wheels propelling it forward.
Most AWD systems have independent axles on the front and rear, allowing all four tires to spin at different speeds when traction is slippery. Let’s say you hit some snow on the way to your Airbnb in the mountains. AWD will brake a slipping wheel and distribute the engine’s power to wheels that aren’t slipping, enhancing traction.
It’s also usually permanently activated, though some systems, including many produced by Chevrolet, now allow the driver to choose between 2WD and AWD. The main disadvantage of an always-active AWD system is a dip in overall mileage. That’s where four-wheel drive comes in handy, as many 4WD systems can be manually switched into 4WD as needed. So, when it’s not in use, it’s two-wheel drive.
When 4WD is active, all four wheels spin at the same speed, making it especially handy in deep snow and mud. The main disadvantage of 4WD is that it becomes tricky while driving at speed, as highway driving requires all four wheels to spin at different speeds, so traditional 4WD systems can struggle when not being used off-road. AWD is more versatile, but 4WD is more effective.
Now that I’ve talked you to death, let’s discuss why I always encourage people to buy AWD or 4WD-equipped vehicles.
1. Nothing Can Rain on an AWD or 4WD Car’s Parade (Literally)
Since all-wheel drive is always active, the occasional surprise rain or snowstorm doesn’t disrupt anything, thanks to enhanced traction when the going gets tough. As a Subaru owner in Central Oregon, there have been several times I thanked the AWD Gods it was there and ready for a surprise downpour or snowy day.
Four-wheel drive is great then too, especially if you have an “intelligent” or “full-time” 4WD system, like the kind seen in the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Bronco, Land Rover Discovery and others, that essentially act as AWD system until slipping is detected and can lock into four-wheel drive at the press of a button.
Either system can be a lifesaver in places with mild climates, too, since any climate is susceptible to surprise or winter, spring, and fall storms. All-wheel drive especially enhances traction in the rain, inspiring confidence and enhancing passenger safety, thanks to a much lower risk of sliding out (provided you don’t drive like a maniac and your tires aren’t bald, of course).
2. All-Wheel Drive Adds to Sporty Performance, Too
When it comes to performance, there are many advantages to all-wheel drive over front or rear-wheel drive (look at Rally cars—most trophy winners in the WRC were AWD). The first benefit is that legendary AWD launch. Since all four wheels are drive wheels with AWD, starting from a stop, or launching, is substantially quicker than a front or rear-wheel drive car because the car is a lot less likely to lose traction off the line.
Down the road, all four tires having power at once helps keep a car stable in cornering, helping to mitigate both understeer and oversteer. Torque vectoring, as seen in the Audi RS3, VW Golf R, and the Toyota Corolla GR, selectively applies power to individual wheels as needed, making them serious competition on the track as it maintains grip, improves cornering, and enhances acceleration.
The Subaru WRX, Nissan GT-R, Ford Focus RS, and Jaguar F-Type are all performance-oriented cars that benefit greatly from AWD being part of the equation. Of course, sports cars aren’t the only ones that benefit from the performance advantages of AWD—SUVs and trucks are more stable, too.
3. Of Course, We Can’t Talk About AWD or 4WD Without Mentioning Off-Road Advantages
I can feel a bunch of dude-bros gearing up to tell me that an AWD or 4WD system won’t make a difference when the tarmac turns to dirt, mud, snow, or gravel without proper tires. If a front or rear-wheel drive car has, say, all-terrain tires while an AWD or 4WD has summer tires equipped, there’s a very high chance the front or rear-wheel drive car would perform better off-road.
However, if both cars had the same all-season or all-terrain tires equipped, the AWD or 4WD car would go farther, struggle less, and be able to tackle more difficult obstacles than a non-AWD or 4WD car.
Off-road, AWD is the preferred system for dirt, light snow, shallow mud, and moderately rocky trails. Four-wheel drive is best for deep snow, deep mud, and hardcore rock crawling, as all four wheels need to spin at the same speed to help the car traverse difficult trails or dislodge itself.
As a camper, fisher, hiker, and general lover of the great outdoors, AWD was a must for me, because if a trail looked a little sketchy, I was able to trust my Subaru to get me there. I didn’t have to turn around out of fear of damaging my SUV. Same thing with any 4WD system—I trust that the system is tough enough to traverse anything by simply pressing a button.
4. Both Systems Boost Acceleration on Ice and Snow
If you live in an area that snows, you can get by with a front or rear-wheel drive car on proper snow tires. However, there is an important safety aspect to having either AWD or 4WD in a snowy climate: starting from a stop. On snow and ice, you’re less likely to lose traction with AWD or with 4WD activated, because all four wheels are moving at the same time to move the car forward.
With either front or rear-wheel drive, the front or rear tires spin at identical speeds, but the non-drive wheels don’t, increasing the likelihood of losing traction and spinning out. AWD and 4WD also help maintain traction when turning on snow or ice, too, while FWD or RWD cars tend to spin out.
Similar to the note about off-road advantages, an AWD or 4WD is only as effective as the tires equipped, so make sure you fit your car with the correct tires for the scenario to stay safe.
READ MORE: 10 Things My Family Adored about the 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige
5. Four-Wheel Drive Can Make Towing-Capable Trucks and SUVs More Effective
Yes, I know that 2WD trucks always have a higher towing rating than 4WD trucks, thanks to the added weight of 4WD systems (you know, a transfer case, extra driveshafts, and heavy differentials). A 2WD truck is lighter overall, helping give it a higher towing capacity.
However, 4WD can be an excellent companion for trucks or SUVs when towing. If you’re heading over a mountain pass and some snow blows through, putting the truck or SUV in 4Hi can help maintain traction, making it safer to tow in the snow. Additionally, if you happen to be going up an incline and the truck seems to be struggling, putting it in 4WD enhances traction.
That’s because all four wheels spinning at the same rate helps keep the truck/SUV stable when towing in tricky conditions. It’s also helpful in heavy rain or on icy roads, too. Heavy loads become less risky when you have 4WD to help.
6. Both Systems Inspire Confidence And a Sense of Adventure
Before my Subaru, I paid $1,200 for a beat-up Toyota Corolla—it was rusty, slow (but efficient), didn’t have A/C, ABS, or power windows. It was also front-wheel drive, so being the adventurer that I was, I felt very limited by the Corolla’s capabilities. If it started raining, I felt nervous that I could lose traction and slide out from a lack of traction.
I spent less time in the mountains, and when I did, I was sure to leave when the sun was still up in case it rained or a spring/summer storm blew through. That’s why, after saving up enough, I bought my Subaru. With AWD at the ready (and yes, at the cost of a few miles to the gallon), I felt confident to go anywhere because my car could handle anything.
I felt safe in the rain, safe in the snow, and safe driving on muddy/slippery roads, too. My sense of adventure returned, and I enjoyed driving again. Now, was AWD necessary living in the SF Bay Area? Probably not. But for me, having it there in case I needed it made all the difference in the world. When I needed it, I had it, and I was grateful for it every single time.
Just a few years ago, my husband and I were driving through Colorado. Snow wasn’t forecasted, but when we began climbing up the mountain pass, it dumped snow. All the AWD and 4WD cars were climbing the snowy roads without issue. The FWD or RWD cars, however, were all dangerously slipping and sliding down the pass.
It’s why my sister bought her Toyota 4Runner. Living in the Sierra Nevada mountains, she needed something that could handle the unpredictable winter, spring, and fall weather. It helped her feel like she could go anywhere, no matter the weather, and it eased a lot of anxiety and stress. It’s like having a multi-tool in your purse. You’re always ready and prepared for anything, just like an AWD or 4WD car.
7. Even in Dry Conditions, AWD Helps Keep a Car Stable and Accelerate More Effectively
There have been plenty of sunny days driving through the city that made me grateful for AWD. Since all four wheels are driven by the engine’s power, accelerating on tarmac is even, smooth, and quick. One day, I was driving in San Francisco when I noticed that a car wasn’t stopping for the red light that protected me.
I hit the gas to escape the intersection, and because of AWD, I didn’t have any wheel spin in the front or rear tires, keeping my SUV stable and giving it that extra oomph to get away.
Sure, you could argue that a FWD or RWD could have escaped too with decent tires, and you’d be right. But the risk of wheelspin from either configuration is enough for me, especially since I have two toddlers to consider while I drive, too. I’m happy to drop the extra cash and say farewell to those few miles per gallon if it means I’ll be that much safer in all conditions, not just some.
So, next time someone tells you it’s pointless to drive an AWD or 4WD car, point them my way. I’m happy to correct their thinking.
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