4x4 2WD the same as any other not 4x4 car?

Any

Hi,
This might be a stupid question to many, but here it goes.

I might need to be changing cars due to new job and I am considering a car that will be able to deal with snow for the couple of days we get it.

I am now confused with all the choices and equipment of 4x4 cars... (I would quite like small SUV, I live in the hills).

For example Kia Sportage... Theoreticaly it is 4x4 car, but unless you buy the very expensive one it is actually only 2WD..
So unless I buy the real 4WD the driving is the same like in any other car and I might as well get Ford Focus for example?

(this is nor about make of the car, this is about the characteristics of driving experience please).

Do you know what I mean?
I don't understand how car can be 4x4 but then say 2WD..
Oh and this is not discussion about winter tyres either please. I am just asking what this means.

notanewuser

A 2WD SUV is not a 4x4.

Only a 4WD car is a 4x4.

The terminology is used wrongly.

So is the assumption that a 4WD car is always better in inclement conditions - it's not (especially if the driver hasn't a clue).

Any

I was suspecting that it is just the way they use the terminology.

Thank you. I come from a country where we have snow third of the year and know a bit about how to behave with it and what the 4WD could give me.

fivetide

Basically just because it looks like a 4x4 doesn't mean it is.

Quite a few run as 2wd to save fuel though. You only engage 4x4 when needed.

What sort of budget are you on? Looking new or used?

cootuk

Why not just get winter tyres rather than a 4x4 where you don't know how to drive one properly.

The only real benefit of a larger 4x4 in winter is the higher ground clearance so there's less chance of your front spoiler acting like a snowplough.

The 2WD fakes are all about image - lower running costs than a full 4x4 but all the image.

Any

fivetide wrote: »

Basically just because it looks like a 4x4 doesn't mean it is.

Quite a few run as 2wd to save fuel though. You only engage 4x4 when needed.

What sort of budget are you on? Looking new or used?

Yes, I was thinking about those too. But no idea which one are those, as you see the terminology is confusing me.
Usually buy up to 3 yrs old, I was looking probably around £17k, but not sure that will be achievable now I know what 4x4 2WD really means..
The "real" 4x4 sem a bit more expensive.

notanewuser

You can probably pick up a mitsubishi outlander for that sort of money. My dad has just bought one and it has 2WD, 4WD and 4WD lock settings (not sure of model but can ask).

Any

notanewuser wrote: »

You can probably pick up a mitsubishi outlander for that sort of money. My dad has just bought one and it has 2WD, 4WD and 4WD lock settings (not sure of model but can ask).

That really is rather massive!!:o
I was thinking more about smallish one, we have no children or pets.

notanewuser

Any wrote: »

That really is rather massive!!:o
I was thinking more about smallish one, we have no children or pets.

I think it's the same size as a sportage (which you said you were thinking of). It's the shogun that's huge!!

Any

notanewuser wrote: »

I think it's the same size as a sportage (which you said you were thinking of). It's the shogun that's huge!!

Ah, I just googled it and it showed me 7 seater:D I will look again.

I was quite taken by the Suzuki SX4Cross, I used to have Swift as my second car ever and I loved it (and with all seasons tyres it quite class on snow). The only problem is that the cross 4WD goes over £21k new and it is too new model to get it as used...

notanewuser

It is 7 seater, but the 2 seats in the boot aren't proper seats and are a bit pointless in my opinion.