Back in college, I was riding with a friend on our way to go skiing when we abruptly spun off a snowy Maine road and skidded backwards through the (thankfully) empty parking lot of a paper mill.

The world of four-wheel-drive vehicles can be overwhelming for many buyers, especially when trying to distinguish between the different capabilities of utes and SUVs.

While both are useful when road conditions aren't the best, there are differences when it comes to AWD and 4WD. Here's what you need to know.