Thread: Whats the definition of a 4x4.

All these terms are more or less intercheangeable as no stringent classification or definition exists. To call a vehicle a 4x4 it needs four separate wheels, all of which are/can be driven.

In adverts often fancy names are used for basically three different concepts:

• Full-time (permanent) four-wheel-drive with transfer box
• Selectable four-wheel-drive
• Semi-permanent four-wheel-drive by means of a viscous coupling (or similar device)

They all can be designated as FWD, 4WD, 4X4, AWD and so on. Quite confusing...

My understanding was 4WD or 4x4 meant power could be delivered to both front and rear axles equally. Like when the CDL is engaged in a D2. Where as All Wheel Drive is when power is delivered in a ratio between the front and rear axles. Like in a Subaru or a D2 without the CDL engaged.

But I'm more than willing to be corrected on this if I'm wrong.

Depends on who is making the decision councils in sydney charge more for parking a 4x4 in front of your house but what about an all wheel drive toyota seca perhaps some one from nth sydney area can give an idea
many people are only interested in big wheeled 6 inch lifted scary 4x4 not all wheel drive taragos etc its discrimmination i tells ya

Originally Posted by dm_td5

My understanding was 4WD or 4x4 meant power could be delivered to both front and rear axles equally. Like when the CDL is engaged in a D2. Where as All Wheel Drive is when power is delivered in a ratio between the front and rear axles. Like in a Subaru or a D2 without the CDL engaged.

That's more or less how I look at it too. Although you can lock some subaru center diffs...which then makes it a 4WD I suppose

A four wheel drive is a vehicle that has the ability to provide drive to 4 wheels.

Traditionally it means a vehicle with 4 wheels all of which have the ability to be powered.

you can have 6x4 and its still technically a four wheel drive.

ignoring annoying technicalities like that one...

a 4x4 traditionally has 4 wheels of which one pair are driven all the time (typically the rears) and the others can have drive applied as required with high and low range and good ground clearance. This is now usually refereed to as part time four wheel drive and the 4x4 badge can be thrown at pretty much any configuration that drives all the wheels depending on how honest the marketing gurus are at the time.

so having covered the traditional 4x4 and labeling it as a part time four wheel drive heres the break down of the other primary types.

theres constant four wheel drive Pretty much the same deal as above except that under ideal circumstances all wheels will drive the vehicle forwards and you have a low range ratio and good ground clearance. Typically to prevent a single spinning wheel from sticking the vehicle there will be some kind of torque control in the form of a locking diff in the Tcase and/or electronics like traction control

All Wheel drive is typically a constant four wheel drive that doesnt have low range or enough ground clearance to be useful in rough terrain this class breaks down into 2 further classes..

The softroader which is basically an allwheel drive vehicle with a bit more than normal ground clearance usually with some electronics to help it along sometimes they'll have the equivelent to a tcase lock as well.

The second type is a little harder to class because its got a few different descriptions depending on whose marketing it but I like the subaru's term Symmetrical Drive System. basically its a sports car with all wheel drive theres usually no option to fully lock up the transfer case (or the part of the transmission that performs that function

So basically, it’s as clear as mud, and the tag 4x4 can be used and abused by any manufacture who thinks it will bring in sales.

Thanks folks.

That is pretty much the long and short of it...

yep its just like batteries...

someone who knows whats what knows where the truth is being manipulated by the marketers when they see it in the flesh.

What lead you to asking?