Understanding Front-Wheel, Four-Wheel, and All-Wheel Drive in Your Vehicle

Understanding Front-Wheel, Four-Wheel, and All-Wheel Drive in Your Vehicle

If you’re in the market for a new Chevy Blazer in Chicago, one option you’ll have to choose from is a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel-drive system. Though not available on the Blazer, when you add four-wheel drive to the mix, these terms can quickly become confusing and overwhelming. To ensure you understand what you’re buying, we offer this simple explanation of these terms.

Front-Wheel Drive

Front-wheel drive systems provide power to the front two wheels at all times. In normal driving conditions, front-wheel drive vehicles provide adequate grip to navigate the road safely. In addition, front-wheel drive vehicles tend to weigh slightly less than their multi-wheel counterparts, meaning you can usually achieve better fuel economy with a front-wheel drive car.

Four-Wheel Drive

A four-wheel drive system provides power to all four wheels when the driver selects this function. Under normal conditions, the vehicle operates in front-wheel-drive mode. However, when extra grip and power is required, such as in off-road conditions, the four-wheel drive mode can be selected, providing power to all four wheels in such a way that the vehicle can more easily navigate rough terrain and obstacles. Four-wheel drive is typically only found on larger vehicles that are built on a truck frame.

All-Wheel Drive

Just like four-wheel drive, an all-wheel-drive system provides power to all four wheels of the vehicle. However, whereas four-wheel drive requires the driver to select the four-wheel drive mode before engaging all four tires, all-wheel drive vehicles are always providing power to all four wheels. This power provides extra traction in difficult driving conditions and can help you accelerate more smoothly if you find yourself in an emergency.

What’s Right for Me?

As you consider your options for your new Chevy Blazer in Chicago, it’s important to understand that either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive systems are perfectly capable of transporting you safely where you need to go. Advanced braking, traction, and safety systems ensure that even in the most difficult of driving conditions you can have confidence, no matter how many wheels are receiving power. For further assistance as you make your selection, contact the experts at Hawk Chevrolet Bridgeview online.