ive always wondering the difference if there is any?

 

My understanding is that AWD usually refers to full-time AWD that is engaged all of the time, no matter what the road conditions. A 4-wheel drive vehicle has a transfer case and does not usually have a center differential to allow the front or rear drive wheels to rotate at different speeds. This doesn't matter if the vehicle is driven in slippery conditions like dirt, mud, snow, or ice, but could cause some drivetrain failures if driven continuously on pavement while negotiating corners. All full-time all-wheel drive vehicles have a center differential to allow a difference between front and rear wheel speed variance when driving on pavement.

This is my understanding of the differences between what is commonly referred to as AWD and 4WD.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/four-wheel-drive.htm <---- 4WD

http://www.subaru-global.com/about/awd/index.html <--- all wheel drive

hope that helps u understnad

 

It's basically just marketing, although as a "general" rule of thumb 4WD refers to a set up with a geared transfer case, allowing for a low range.