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A four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle is one in which the engine powers all four wheels either part of the time or all of the time. Most cars have two-wheel drive, which means either the front or back wheels are powered by the engine.

Four-wheel drive, which we'll refer to as 4WD, is optional on many SUVs and there are pluses and minuses to this pricey and complex feature.




If you already know the difference between driveline types, but are unsure as to which best suits your needs, you can read Four-Wheel Drive Demystified on the ForbesAutos.com/cars.com co-branded site to find out more.

As the chart below illustrates, SUVs with 4WD drive are more expensive than their two-wheel-drive counterparts.