While many cars come with all-wheel drive, four-wheel drive is the domain of trucks and a select few SUVs. A number of other elements are needed, too, for a vehicle to be classified as one of the ...

You can find new 4-wheel-drive trucks and SUVs in just about every shape and size, from small, compact crossovers, to the most reliable full-size pickups. So their characteristics can vary wildly.

However, other terms—specifically, “four-wheel-drive” (4WD or 4x4) and “all-wheel-drive” (AWD)—can be a bit more confusing. Here’s what to know about the difference between the two.

If I were looking only at full-size four-wheel drive vans and trucks built within the last few years, I’d say this: most 4×4 vans built within the last decade were not designed for off-road use.

A full-time four-wheel drive system only offers 4-hi and 4-lo; there is no option to disconnect the front axle completely. All this flexibility is what makes four-wheel drive so potent off-road.