Why not "AWD"?

[RPC]

Hey, this might be a dumb question but why does my 4Runner have "4WD" badges and not "AWD" ones? As it is full-time 4WD, wouldn't AWD be more accurate?

 

[jharris2]

Hey, this might be a dumb question but why does my 4Runner have "4WD" badges and not "AWD" ones? As it is full-time 4WD, wouldn't AWD be more accurate?

AWD doesn't have 4Lo, 4WD does.

 

[eskimochaos]

AWD doesn't have 4Lo, 4WD does.

Kinda correct. 4wd means that the front and rear wheels rotate at the same speed - in our case, when the center diff is locked.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I agree with jharris and eskimo. To me we have a 4wd vehicle with an AWD mode. Your V8 is in that mode all of the time and us V6 guys get to chose between 2wd, AWD or 4wd. It's a semantics game IMHO

 

[Merle]

Probably marketing with a little bit of on/off.

When I think 4WD, I think truck. When I see AWD, I see a teeny little Subaru.

On mine, it's operating in 2WD the majority of the time. Only when wheel slip is detected does it shift to 4WD. IIRC AWD is all the time.

 

[Uneek]

I see it as a full time 4WD. Alternatively, it could be AWD with low-range.

IMO, the distinction between 4WD and AWD is 4WD has low-range. But then the V6 4Runner's system is more complex, because it has 2WD and full time 4WD. So Toyota chose the name wisely, calling it "multi-mode 4WD".

I agree, cars and cross-overs typically use the AWD moniker, except the Highlander with its 4WD badge. Trucks typically use 4WD.

 

[RPC]

Thanks for the insight, you guys rule.