Improved acceleration: compromised stopping and steering.
Many people that drive all-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles tend to drive them a bit faster—especially in the snow—than those that drive 2-wheel drive vehicles (rear or front wheel drive).
An all-wheel-drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. Four-wheel drive vehicles (4WD) are vehicles with a powertrain that provides the same amount of power to each of its wheels, which means they spin at the same rate. Two wheel drive (2WD) means that either the front wheels (FWD) or the rear wheels (RWD) are able to get power from the engine and the other wheels just get pushed or pulled along.
What we’re talking about here is simply where the power from the engine goes and therefore the differences are in a vehicle's performance/its ability to accelerate. When traction is being applied to 4 wheels vs just 2 wheels it makes sense that the vehicles with power to 4 wheels will accelerate better (and faster) than a vehicle with 2 wheels getting power. This phenomenon is most noticeable in slippery conditions like snow.
You might assume that cars that accelerate faster in the snow will also be able to stop and steer better as well, but this is NOT the case. Whether AWD, 4WD or 2WD, each wheel on the vehicle will have brakes, and generally only the front two wheels are able to steer. So braking and steering is the same across the board, but since the AWD and 4WD vehicles tend to be going faster in snowy conditions, they’ll actually have less steering control and a longer braking distance.
On top of all this, AWD and 4WD vehicles are often bigger, heavier, and higher than many 2WD vehicles, which will also make stopping and steering more difficult. This is why we so regularly see SUV’s and trucks off the side of the highway during the first snowstorm.
I may prefer an AWD or 4WD vehicle if I have to drive in the snow. I don’t want to get stuck and I want to have the ability to accelerate when I need to. BUT… Just because I have the ability to accelerate faster and reach higher speeds doesn't mean I should do so. In fact, having a heavier and higher vehicle in which I’m less aware of how slippery it is out because it accelerates better, actually means I should probably be driving slower than others, to maintain the same amount of control.
