A 4x4 car, also called four-wheel drive (4WD), can send its engine's power to all four wheels instead of just two. That extra grip helps most on mud, wet grass, gravel and snow.
Yet the badge alone won't tell you how the system behaves on the road, or whether you need one at all.
How does four-wheel drive work?
Four-wheel drive works through a transfer box, a part that splits the engine's power between the front and rear axles. Modern systems can shift more of that power to whichever end has better grip.
What types of four-wheel-drive system are there?
Four-wheel-drive systems come in three main types, and they differ in who switches them on and which wheels drive the car day to day.
- Permanent (full-time): a permanent system drives all four wheels all the time. It gives the most grip in poor conditions, but it also uses the most fuel.
- Selectable (part-time): a selectable system drives two wheels until you engage four-wheel drive for mud, snow or a steep track, using a lever, dial or button. Many also add low-range gears, which are extra-short gears for pulling slowly up steep or rough ground. Pick-ups and rugged off-roaders often use this setup.
- Automatic (on-demand): an automatic system drives two wheels most of the time and sends power to the other two when it senses a wheel slipping.
Most modern cars that can drive all four wheels use an automatic system.
Is a 4x4 the same as all-wheel drive?
A 4x4 and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) car both drive all four wheels, but the labels usually point to different systems. AWD tends to mean an automatic system, while a traditional 4x4 is selectable and often has low-range gears, as on the Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes G-Class.
Car makers don't use the names consistently, though, so neither label proves how a particular car behaves. Its spec sheet or handbook will say, with words such as permanent, selectable, low range or on demand.
| AWD | Selectable 4x4 | Permanent 4WD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who switches it on | The car, automatically | You | Nobody, it's always on |
| Wheels driven day to day | Two or four, depending on the model | Two | Four |
| Low-range gears | Rarely | Usually | On some models |
| Fuel use | Lowest of the three | Low in two-wheel drive, higher in 4WD | Highest |
| Best for | Wet roads and the odd snowy lane | Mud, steep tracks and heavy towing | Mixed driving all year, on and off road |
If all-wheel drive sounds like enough, start with the best used AWD cars.
Is every SUV a 4x4?
An SUV counts as a 4x4 only if it drives all four wheels, because the name describes how a car is driven, not the shape of its body. Plenty of SUVs drive only two, including most small SUVs and crossovers, even when the styling looks ready for a field.
Large premium SUVs usually have four-wheel drive as standard. And four-wheel drive isn't limited to SUVs, since fast estates, hot hatches and saloons often use it to put their power down without wheelspin.
The crossover vs SUV comparison explains how those two differ. For a lower, longer alternative, see how an estate compares with an SUV.
Do you need a 4x4 in the UK?
Most UK drivers don't need a 4x4, because two-wheel drive copes well with tarmac roads in normal British weather. A 4x4 is worth paying for if you:
- Live off the main roads: a 4x4 copes with unmade lanes, farm tracks and long private drives that are rarely gritted.
- Have a steep drive: four driven wheels can usually set off on a wet or icy slope without spinning.
- Tow regularly: four driven wheels make a caravan, trailer or horsebox easier to pull, especially across a wet field or up a slipway.
If towing is the main job, the best SUVs for towing lists models with the highest towing limits.
Does a 4x4 help in snow and ice?
A 4x4 helps you set off in snow, but on ice it brakes and steers no better than any other car on the same tyres. Tyres make the bigger difference, so a two-wheel-drive car on winter tyres usually copes with ice and packed snow better than a 4x4 on standard ones.
Ground clearance (the gap between the road and the underside of the car) matters in deep snow. A lower car can end up resting on the snow with its wheels spinning. For model picks, see the best cars for snow and ice.
Are 4x4s more expensive to run?
A 4x4 usually uses more fuel than the same car with two-wheel drive, because the extra shafts and gears add weight and friction. It often costs more to buy, too.
Road tax and insurance groups depend on a car's emissions, price, repair costs and performance rather than its drive system. But many big 4x4s cost more than £40,000 new, which adds an extra yearly charge from the second to the sixth year. See the current vehicle tax rates on gov.uk.
So the repayment is only part of the monthly bill. The Carplus car finance eligibility checker shows a likely repayment using a soft search, and this guide to what it costs to run a car covers the rest.
What to check when buying a used 4x4
A used 4x4 needs the usual checks on any used car, plus three that come from the four-wheel-drive hardware.
- Service history: the record should show the transfer box and axle oils changed when the maker recommends.
- Underneath: heavy rust, dents or caked mud under the car can point to hard off-road use.
- Test drive: on a selectable 4x4, switch four-wheel drive and low range on and off to check both engage cleanly.
Timing helps as well. Demand for 4x4s peaks before winter, so buying a used car in summer can cost you less.
Can you buy a 4x4 on finance?
Most 4x4s can be bought on car finance, new or used, if a lender is happy the repayments fit your budget. Hire Purchase (HP) car finance makes the 4x4 yours after the last payment. Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) keeps monthly payments lower, but you pay a final lump sum, the 'balloon payment', if you want to keep the car.
A used 4x4 is usually an easier fit than a new one, as Carplus arranges finance on cars from £4,000 to £40,000 with up to 120,000 miles . You can browse used SUVs and 4x4s on finance or start with the best four-wheel-drive SUVs to buy.
Until the final payment, the lender owns the car and can take it back if repayments stop.
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