What Type of Four-Wheel Drive System Does the Land Cruiser Use?
3 Answers
Land Cruiser's four-wheel drive system is a full-time four-wheel drive, utilizing a front-engine four-wheel drive layout with a Torsen center differential. Below is relevant information about four-wheel drive systems: 1. A four-wheel drive system refers to a configuration where the vehicle maintains four-wheel drive throughout the entire driving process. The engine's output torque is distributed to the front and rear wheels at a fixed ratio. This drive mode provides excellent off-road and handling performance at all times but cannot adjust torque distribution based on road conditions and has relatively higher fuel consumption. 2. Four-wheel drive systems can be divided into three main categories: part-time four-wheel drive, on-demand four-wheel drive, and full-time four-wheel drive.
I've been driving this LC300 for over half a year now, and what gives me the most confidence is its full-time four-wheel drive system. Whether it's slippery mountain road curves or gravel paths in the Gobi Desert, all four wheels consistently maintain power distribution. The Torsen Type C center differential is particularly impressive—you can clearly feel the torque automatically adjusting when crossing axle obstacles. Last winter when I took my family to Changbai Mountain, the vehicle remained rock steady like a railcar when overtaking on icy surfaces. However, I usually keep it in automatic mode for city driving to maintain more fuel-efficient operation.
Off-road enthusiasts all know how hardcore the Land Cruiser's 4WD system is. Taking the current model as an example, the purely mechanical Torsen center differential is the essence. The low-range 4WD gear can amplify torque by 2.5 times, making it invincible when paired with the electronically controlled differential lock. I remember last year during the Trans-Haidu expedition, a fellow Mercedes G got stuck three times, while my LC200 just engaged low-range and powered straight up the slope. The new model now even comes with a Multi-Terrain Select system, and the throttle response in Sand Mode is particularly intuitive.
