Why are small cars mostly front-wheel drive?
1 Answers
Small cars predominantly use front-wheel drive due to lower manufacturing costs and higher efficiency. Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FF): When the engine drives the front axle, it can be mounted transversely or longitudinally, and positioned outside the wheelbase, within the wheelbase, or above the front axle. Different layouts affect vehicle performance. This configuration is primarily adopted in passenger vehicles with engines under 2.5L displacement. FF cars typically feature a transversely mounted engine connected to a compact transaxle. Front-engine, four-wheel-drive (F4): F4 denotes an engine positioned at the front that powers all four wheels. With torque distributed to all wheels, F4 delivers superior handling compared to front- or rear-wheel-drive setups, making it the preferred choice for rally cars and off-road vehicles.