What Are Front-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive?
1 Answers
Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles connect the engine to the transmission, which then directly transmits power to the front wheels via two drive shafts. On the other hand, rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicles are powered by the rear wheels. Depending on the engine's position, RWD can be further categorized into front-engine rear-wheel drive, mid-engine rear-wheel drive, and rear-engine rear-wheel drive. Simply put, the structural difference between the two is that FWD vehicles pull the car, while RWD vehicles push it. The engine difference between FWD and RWD lies in the fact that RWD vehicles typically use longitudinally mounted engines, which occupy significant rear passenger space and add weight to the vehicle. The inclusion of a driveshaft also increases power loss. In contrast, most FWD vehicles employ front-mounted engines, positioned further forward, which improves cooling conditions. This design helps reduce unnecessary power loss and lowers fuel consumption. Handling is a major advantage of RWD vehicles. In FWD vehicles, the front wheels handle both steering and driving, which can lead to compromised performance, especially during sharp turns where understeer (or 'pushing') is common. RWD vehicles, due to their heavier rear ends, are more affected by inertia and can be prone to oversteer (or 'fishtailing') on icy or snowy roads.
