Four-wheel drive is more and more common in cars, trucks and SUVs on the roads of McHenry County these days. With the winters we face, they make good sense. Four-wheel drive can go a long way to helping you get your car, truck or SUV going on ice- and snow-covered Midwestern highways.

There are serious advantages to a four-wheel drive car, truck or SUV. These benefits also, generally, apply to all-wheel drive vehicles. But, there are also drawbacks.

What are the benefits?

1. Traction: Clearly, having four wheels turn when you’re trying to get going on a slippery surface is better than having one or two drive wheels turning. With the snow and ice we regularly find on McHenry County roads, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive frequently comes in handy. It also comes in happy during other seasons when we take our vehicles off paved roads, on purpose or by accident (hopefully not the latter).
2. Breaking: A car, truck or SUV with all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive, can maintain better control when you have to break hard. There is a caveat to this, which we’ll discuss later, but, in ideal situations, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are a benefit in an emergency breaking situation.

What are the disadvantages?

1. Cost: As an extra feature on your new car, truck or SUV, all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive can add significantly to the purchase price of your vehicle. The cost of repairing your vehicle’s all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system is also, potentially, significant. Good maintenance can help mitigate these repair costs but an all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system is still another expensive part of a vehicle that can break.
2. Fuel Efficiency: It takes more fuel to drive a vehicle using all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
3. Breaking: All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive does not help you stop faster. However, since they help drivers get going faster, there is a false sense, for many drivers, that they can also stop faster if their car, truck or SUV has all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. This is particularly true in a McHenry County winter. Drivers can overdrive their vehicles and wind up in the ditch with a surprised look on their face.