Is On-Demand Four-Wheel Drive Useful?

[Branden]

On-demand four-wheel drive is useful. Here are the specific details about on-demand four-wheel drive: On-demand four-wheel drive can be switched: On-demand four-wheel drive, also known as real-time four-wheel drive, is a driving technology developed in recent years that allows switching between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive controlled by a computer chip. Features of on-demand four-wheel drive: It inherits the advantages of full-time four-wheel drive and part-time four-wheel drive while compensating for their shortcomings. Automatic recognition: It automatically identifies the driving environment and controls the switching between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive based on changes in the driving conditions. On rough or hilly terrains, the vehicle automatically sets to four-wheel drive mode for greater traction, while on flat urban roads, it switches to two-wheel drive to reduce fuel consumption.

[StZoey]

Our team was just discussing this during our recent trip to Tibet. For city driving, the on-demand 4WD system is indeed worry-free - the computer can instantly engage four-wheel drive when crossing waterlogged roads, saving at least 1L/100km compared to traditional full-time 4WD. But once when I drove a friend's urban SUV on muddy post-rain roads, the front wheels kept spinning before the rear wheels finally engaged, nearly getting us stuck. The mechanic said electronic clutch response times typically hover around 100 milliseconds - enough time for a vehicle to slide downhill. If you frequently drive off-road, I'd recommend opting directly for a part-time 4WD system with low-range gearing, or checking for models equipped with mechanical differential locks.

[PaulDella]

Last time a friend asked if it was worth spending an extra 20k for AWD, I said it depends on what roads you usually drive. Having driven in Northeast China for five years, I can confirm that RWD cars with winter tires still handle slopes steadily in winter. But on those icy mountain switchbacks, AWD cars clearly take corners more effortlessly, with barely any ESP intervention. However, friends in the south definitely don't need it—the extra weight just hampers acceleration. Once when inspecting a used car for a client, the rear differential oil of a part-time AWD system hadn't been changed in five years, and the clutch plates had sintered—the repair cost alone offset three years' worth of fuel savings.

[HaydenLee]

Real experience driving six different 4WD vehicles: Urban commuting feels like weight training, burning 10% more fuel just for psychological comfort. But during Qingming Festival when climbing steep hills to visit ancestral graves in the countryside, while front-wheel-drive cars were digging pits and eating dust, I could feel the rear wheels pushing steadily. The key lies in transfer case reliability - the electronically controlled clutch of a certain German brand costs 8,000 yuan per repair, less durable than Japanese gear structures. In terms of off-road capability, on-demand 4WD can't match hardcore off-roaders, but it's about 30% better than 2WD.