Quiz: What is the primary difference between all-wheel drive (AWD) February 12, 2025 by Alex Turner What is the primary difference between all-wheel drive (AWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD)? Discover more about Vehicle Engine and Automobile at our home page. A) AWD is designed for on-road use and automatically distributes power to all wheels, while 4WD is intended for off-road conditions and can be manually engaged or disengaged. B) AWD systems are always active, providing constant power to all wheels, whereas 4WD systems are typically only active during specific driving conditions. C) AWD vehicles have better fuel efficiency than 4WD vehicles due to their lighter weight and simpler mechanics. D) 4WD systems provide better handling on paved roads compared to AWD systems, which are optimized for rough terrain. Submit Answer