What is 4x2 wheel drive?

A 4x2 wheel drive refers to the setup of a driveline in a vehicle, typically in light trucks. It indicates that the vehicle has four tires, with two of them at most providing power.

In most light trucks, the back wheels provide the power while the front ones are used for steering. A 4x2 can also be used for 4x4 trucks with the front axle disengaged from the engine. The advantages of this setup are simplicity and durability. However, 4x2 vehicles perform worse in extreme terrain and may not have sufficient traction necessary to keep the vehicle from getting stuck in ice, snow or mud.