This classification describes a vehicle equipped with a four-wheel-drive system. The terminology dictates four total wheels and four driven wheels. It is universally used to describe off-road trucks, SUVs, and utility vehicles equipped with transfer cases that distribute torque to both axles.
Heard on the job
We need to get the 4x4 up on the lift to inspect the front differential for metal shavings.
Also heard as
- four-by-four
- Four-wheel-drive
- 4WD
Do not mix it up with
- 4WD: 4x4 describes the entire vehicle layout, while 4WD refers specifically to the mechanical system providing the power.
Related terms
4WD
A drivetrain configuration that sends engine torque to all four wheels simultaneously.
4x2
A vehicle configuration featuring four wheels where only two are driven by the engine.
Diff lock
A mechanism that forces both wheels on an axle to turn at the exact same speed.
Drivetrain
The complete group of components that generate power and deliver it to the road surface.