Front-Wheel Drive vs Rear-Wheel Drive
The drivetrain in your vehicle makes all the difference. You’ve probably heard of vehicles that run on four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Others are only two-wheel drive, but either the front set or rear set of wheels are what’s making the vehicle move. So what’s the difference between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive?
What is Front-Wheel Drive?
Front-wheel drive, or FWD, simply refers to the drivetrain being given to the front wheels. You probably already knew that though, but what makes this a better drivetrain? It all has to do with fuel efficiency, production cost, and traction. Since the heavy weight of the engine is in the front, FWD can be the more efficient option. FWD is usually reserved for cars and SUVs, and as such contributes to them having better fuel efficiency.
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What is Rear-Wheel Drive?
This one needs no explaining, but we’ll say it anyway: rear-wheel drive is when the vehicle is powered by the rear wheels. After seeing the benefits of front-wheel drive, you may wonder what the purpose of this drivetrain is. Rear-wheel drive, or RWD, is a better choice for sports cars, as it offers better acceleration than FWD. That’s because as you accelerate rapidly, the inertia shifts the weight to the rear of the vehicle initially, which means RWD will give you better traction in these situations. RWD is the preferred drivetrain for pickups, since they tend to carry more weight in the back when towing a trailer or hauling cargo in the box.
The drivetrain your vehicle uses is entirely dependent on what type of vehicle you drive, which means one isn’t necessarily better than the other in general. Luckily, there isn’t much to worry about in your end if you’re shopping for a vehicle. For more tips and tricks, get in touch with the team here at Hall Cars!
