2WD vs. 4WD

Many people struggle when face to choose a 2-wheels drive or a 4-wheels drive SUV. If the SUV just runs in the urban areas, in order to seek the higher chassis, bigger space, only as a means of transportation to work, selecting a 2-wheels drive is sufficient. Even if you choose the four-wheels drive, basically you will not use it. In other words, you buy a four-wheels drive function for decoration, only for high cost, and high fuel consumption.

If you occasionally will play outside, you can consider a four-wheels drive. However, it is not necessary, because even the a 2-wheels drive has been able to cope with the vast majority of road conditions and weather conditions. The purpose of 4-wheels drive is not the usual "use", but to "just in case", after all, it is worthy as long as there is one time it can make you out of woods.

Four-wheels drive with all four wheels generating driving force has a higher security. If a 2-wheels drive travel in some muddy or slippery road, and the drive wheels slip, you cannot move the car. If it is a four-wheels drive encounter this situation, there are two more wheels to generate power, you can easily get rid of the trouble. In some snow or slippery roads, 4-wheels drive is not prone to slip.

In the SUV's four-wheels drive type, there are three common modes, namely, full-time 4WD, part-time 4WD, and automatic 4WD. Full-time 4WD (or permanent 4WD) means the vehicle is constantly providing power to all four wheels. Driver can enjoy the full-time maximum traction without handling it. Part-time 4WD means the driver can manually shift drive mode between 2WD and 4WD. Automatic 4WD is that system judges and make a choice for when to use a 4WD. Something needs to be noticed that full-time 4WD provides less mobility off-road than part-time 4WD does, because full-time 4WD allows a set of wheels to spin if they don't have traction. Part-time 4WD systems should not be driven on dry, smooth road surfaces when in 4WD mode, or it will soon need repairs. Automatic 4WD vehicles are not recommended for serious off-road driving. In this case, the system cannot judge wisely as human.