All wheel Drive and part time AWD difference.

[Clodydeloady]

Good day all I am looking forward to buy the new 4 runner! I always had Jeeps with AWD, I don’t understand the part time AWD of Toyota? To get the real AWD you have to get the high end trim like LTD ect.. Does it means that the others are basically rear wheel drive unless you engage the 4 high or 4 low? Basically I could do burn out if I remove the Electronics anti slip? I’m trying to decide which Trim I’m going to choose. NEW with Toyota !

 

[kzrman]

Good day all I am looking forward to buy the new 4 runner! I always had Jeeps with AWD, I don’t understand the part time AWD of Toyota? To get the real AWD you have to get the high end trim like LTD ect.. Does it means that the others are basically rear wheel drive unless you engage the 4 high or 4 low? Basically I could do burn out if I remove the Electronics anti slip? I’m trying to decide which Trim I’m going to choose. NEW with Toyota !

For the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, the models that feature full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) include:

1. Platinum - Full-time 4WD with a center locking differential is standard.
2. Limited - Full-time 4WD with a center locking differential is available when equipped with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain.

Other trims like the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter come with part-time 4WD systems with advanced off-road capabilities but do not have the full-time 4WD setup.

If you don't manually put the lower models in to 4WD you are only getting rear wheel drive.

 

[zachavm]

AWD is a bit of a loaded term among the Truck and (body on frame) SUV crowd. It is mostly semantics, but the more accepted terminology here would be Full-Time 4WD. Basically the FT 4WD is the same as a traditional part time 4WD system with a center differential.

A traditional 4WD system will have Rear wheel drive (2 High), 4 wheel drive (4 High), and 4 wheel drive with a low gear for increased torque (4 Low). However, there is no center differential which means power is even distributed between the front and the back. This also means the front and back wheels cannot spin at different rates. So in high traction environments (almost all on-road) you can't use 4WD because it would cause binding in the drivetrain which would break things.

The Full-Time 4WD system just adds a center differential to allow power to transfer between the front and back. The "4 High" and "4 Low" situations are basically unchanged as that center diff will lock in those settings. Someone may correct me but the only major negative to this is that "2 High" may get better mpg than full-time 4wd. The other negative is that Toyota does not give the option to get both Full-Time 4WD and the off-road features like crawl control, MTS, locking rear diff, and disconnecting front sway bar.

Personally, I will be targeting trims with FT 4WD as it should provide MUCH better on road performance in bad weather. A part time 4WD system is really only good for off-road or very bad weather situations. You have to have bad traction everywhere and/or be going at slow speeds only.

 

[zachavm]

For the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, the models that feature full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) include:

1. Platinum - Full-time 4WD with a center locking differential is standard.
2. Limited - Full-time 4WD with a center locking differential is available when equipped with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain.

Other trims like the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter come with part-time 4WD systems with advanced off-road capabilities but do not have the full-time 4WD setup.

If you don't manually put the lower models in to 4WD you are only getting rear wheel drive.

The Limited prototype that was shown off was not the hybrid, but still had Full-Time 4WD. Thus, I expect it will be available without the i-Force Max.

 

[Clodydeloady]

For the 2025 Toyota 4Runner, the models that feature full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) include:

1. Platinum - Full-time 4WD with a center locking differential is standard.
2. Limited - Full-time 4WD with a center locking differential is available when equipped with the i-FORCE MAX powertrain.

Other trims like the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter come with part-time 4WD systems with advanced off-road capabilities but do not have the full-time 4WD setup.

If you don't manually put the lower models in to 4WD you are only getting rear wheel drive.

Ok so I I want an AWF limited I’m stock taking an Hybrid?
So I’m stock taking an Hybrids Ltd if I want AWD ?

 

[zachavm]

The Limited prototype that was shown off was not the hybrid, but still had Full-Time 4WD. Thus, I expect it will be available without the i-Force Max.

I'm uncertain now. Like I said the prototype was not a hybrid but had full-time 4WD. However, the press release seems to say it does require they hybrid. I think we will just have to wait for more information to say for sure.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/2025-toyota-4runner-refines-adventure-ready-heritage/#:~:text=The Limited is offered with an available a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential on i-FORCE MAX models, while this setup is standard on Platinum grades.

The Limited is offered with an available a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a center locking differential on i-FORCE MAX models, while this setup is standard on Platinum grades.

Note for the Tacoma the Limited Hybrid is the only trim that has FT 4WD too, so that suggests this above quote is correct.

 

[Scott2373]

Here ya go! Watch this and it will explain everything.

 

[zachavm]

@Scott2373 I came here to post that video. LOL. That is a great explanation of the differences between the two systems and why the FT 4WD system is superior in a lot of ways. On the land cruiser is is superior in virtually every way. On the 4Runner and Tacoma the only real negative is no option for more off-road features.