The term “four-wheel drive” is often used to describe a vehicle with a four-wheel-drive system. The system allows the vehicle’s engine to send power to all four wheels, but it does not necessarily need four driven wheels.
Four-wheel drive systems may also be referred to as all-wheel drive (AWD) when the system is intended for use on improved surfaces such as gravel roads or snow.
The term 4WD is also occasionally used. It can be confusing because in industry, the term “4×4” refers specifically to a different style of off-road vehicle; these vehicles are also called “four by fours”. in this article we are going to see how 4×4 competes against 4×2 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
what is 4×2 drivetrain?
As the name suggests, this drivetrain offers four large wheels with two of them being powered. This is known as a 4×2 drivetrain. power and torque is sent to 2 wheels whether to the front or back wheels of the vehicle.
what is 4×4 drivetrain?
The 4×4 designation indicates that four wheels are powering the vehicle. There are two different types of four-wheel drive: on-demand and permanent.
Permanent refers to one configuration where power is constantly sent to all four wheels regardless of road conditions, where on-demand offers intermittent power based on trajectory and road quality.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4×2 vs 4×4
The major difference between the 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrain is the axles. With a 4×2 drivetrain, only two of the wheels are given torque, usually to the front wheel axis or rear wheel axis. On a 4×4 drivetrain, all four of the wheels are given torque.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) are 4×4 drivetrains. In most cases, vehicles with a 4×2 designation have better fuel economy than those with the same vehicle in a 4×4 design because fewer wheels need to be operating continuously at higher speeds in order for it to move forward.
This allows more fuel efficiency. However, 4×2 vehicles cannot move as effectively in off-road conditions as 4×4 vehicles. This is because the front and rear wheel axis have different traction levels.
The front-wheel runs on the road surface, while the rear wheel runs on a less slippery surface, such as dirt or sand. Many 4×2 vehicles that are used for off-road purposes are equipped with locking differentials that keep both wheels operating at equal levels to achieve both power and low-traction capabilities.
While this is effective during off-roading situations, it can often be more dangerous on paved surfaces because the driver will not be able to feel whether a tire has lost traction because of uneven surface.
Is it better to drive in 2WD (4×2) or 4WD (4×4)?
The choice between 2WD and 4WD mostly depends on how you will use your grand cherokee. For daily usage, most people drive either in 4×2 or 4×4. However, if you spend most of your time off-road or in the dirt, a 4×4 is much better off-road than a 2WD Jeep Grand cherokee.
The 4×2 drivetrain is better than the 4×4 drivetrain if you do not do much off-roading. However, if you do a lot of off-roading, then it would be better to have a 4×4 drivetrain but it is still possible to go with the 4×2 drivetrain.
A four-wheel drive vehicle is a vehicle with four wheels that cannot spin independently because all are connected with an axle.
When the driver presses on one of the pedals, power gets to all four wheels and keeps them spinning together. The vehicle then has the power of all four wheels.
The reason why people buy four-wheel drive vehicles is that they feel safer and more secure in slippery roads and snowy areas.
However, out of the four-wheel drive systems, only some are more engaging than others. For example, the 4×4 system is called automatic; this means that it is simple to use but it lacks the high engagement features and comfort which makes it hard for tough situations. The 4×4 system can also be a little difficult to break at times.
Are two different drivetrains needed for different terrains?
Two different drivetrains are only needed when using two vehicles at the same time: In this scenario, both of the vehicles must be capable of handling both paved and unpaved terrain.
4×2 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- They are very economical which can save a lot of cost in the long run.
Cons:
- They are not good for off-road driving.
- They do not have an adequate amount of torque when compared to 4×4 drivetrain.
- The locking differentials on the four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles is better for off-road driving than a front-wheel drive vehicle with lockable differentials.
4×4 Pros and Cons
Pros:
- They can handle both terrain types provided that the 4×4 drivetrain is adequate to the terrain.
- Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles are much more expensive to repair than a rear wheel drive vehicle.
- They can do better in off-road situation than rear wheel drive vehicles.
- They are good for higher speeds on asphalt roads but it is not advisable to travel over 100mph due to risk of poor traction and slide of the vehicle when it loses grip on road surfaces.
Cons:
- The vehicle can only be as efficient as the terrain it is used in because there are scenarios where all four wheels do not receive torque, which can be an issue when used in an off-road situation.
- The cost of maintenance on 4×4 vehicles is typically higher than that of a 4×2 vehicle.
- The speed of the vehicle is restricted to 110% with a V8 engine due to traction control which can be risky when trying to get out of your driveway fast or go fast over bumps or rough roads.
Jeep grand cherokee 4×2 vs 4×4 conclusion
We hope that you have found this article on jeep grand cherokee 4×2 vs 4×4 helpful. This has been a big decision for many people and we have tried to help by providing information on both of the models.
