Although, in fact, there are 4 main types of drive - all-wheel drive is usually divided into 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (when the car has more than two axles).
Which of these drive options is better: all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, depends on the driving style, the nature and surface of the road on which you will be driving, the type of car itself (is it a sports car or a full-fledged SUV) and a number of other conditions. But what type of drive is right for you, what are the differences between rear, front and all-wheel drive and how do they all work. Let's look at the differences between these types of drives separately, and at the end we will provide a summary table with the pros and cons of each type.
Front-wheel drive
The bulk of cars in our country, and in most countries of the world, produced since the late 1990s, use front-wheel drive. First of all, this is due to the cosmic efficiency of front-wheel drive and its relative cheapness. The front-wheel drive of the car ensures that the engine, transmission and power drive are located in one compact housing, which is conveniently located under the hood, freeing up the rest of the useful part of the car for passengers and cargo.
Front-wheel drive
This allows, of course, to offer more interior space while maintaining the compactness and budget of the car. Almost all front-wheel drive cars have engines mounted transversely to the length of the car - thus, the torsion of the engine is transmitted to the torsion of the wheels as compactly as possible - with fewer unnecessary parts, gearboxes and other things.
Pros of front-wheel drive:
- Front-wheel drive has additional benefits in snow and rain: the weight of the engine directly above the drive wheels gives the car better traction on slippery roads. Thus, a front-wheel drive car is much less susceptible to skidding, and the critical speed at which the car begins to skid is higher than that of a rear-wheel drive car, all other things being equal. This is perhaps the main advantage of front-wheel drive.
- Compactness. As mentioned above, the location of the engine next to the drive wheels greatly simplifies the design of the car and provides much more free space both under the hood and in the cabin and under the bottom.
- Compactness determines budget - a front-wheel drive car is also much cheaper to design and build than a rear-wheel drive and, even more so, all-wheel drive.
Disadvantages of front-wheel drive:
- Although, despite the fact that a front-wheel drive car is less susceptible to skidding of the rear axle, if a front-wheel drive car goes into a skid, then the car is much more difficult to get out of this skid due to the same design.
- And one more thing about skidding - if you remember the driving school course, then when the rear axle on a front-wheel drive skids, you should increase the gas supply to get out of the skid. And this is instinctively impossible for some drivers. The thing is that in an emergency panic situation, many drivers - especially inexperienced ones - press the brake, which is not acceptable for a front-wheel drive car and only aggravates the skid.
- Since the drive wheels are also rotary, this introduces restrictions, firstly, on the maximum angle of rotation of the wheels, and on the wear of an increased number of mechanisms - primarily the so-called “grenade”, which provides drive to the turned wheels .
- Since the main components are located under the hood in front of the car, front-wheel drive makes its own adjustments to the wear of the brake mechanisms. The fact is that when braking, the main weight of the car is transferred forward (when moving forward, of course). This means that the already heavy front of the car works even harder on braking, which leads to much faster wear of the brake mechanisms on the front axle of the car - primarily the brake pads. Often the rear pads are changed when the front pads have already been replaced twice.
- For the same reason, the transfer of weight forward, on the contrary, when accelerating the car, its weight is transferred to the rear wheels, which determines the worse grip on the road of the driving front wheels. Thus, we find that front-wheel drive is more prone to slipping, which is simply a tragedy on charged, powerful cars. This is why most sports cars are rear-wheel drive.
Rear drive
Rear-wheel drive most often means that the engine at the front, located longitudinally along the length of the car, sends its torque to the rear wheels through a long driveshaft. Meanwhile, the most simplified components of rear-wheel drive make it cheaper overall than front-wheel drive, contrary to the statement in the pros of front-wheel drive above, however, if you include all the high technology in modern rear-wheel drive, then such cars end up being much more expensive.
Rear drive
Previously, for a long time, almost all cars were rear-wheel drive, because it seemed a very simple design due to the fact that mechanics and vehicle designers were even vaguely aware of how to equip a car with front-wheel drive and still leave the front wheels turning.
Pros of rear wheel drive:
- Rear-wheel drive has its main key advantage - performance. Since when accelerating a car, inertia transfers a significant portion of its (the car’s) weight to the rear wheels, which are the drive wheels, then the likelihood of them slipping is much less than in the case of front-wheel drive. That's why most sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, Ferrari, Lamborghini, muscle cars like the Dodge Challenger, performance sedans like the BMW 3 Series, and large luxury cars like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class use it. rear drive.
- In front-wheel drive, one set of wheels provides both vehicle movement and steering. Rear-wheel drive allows these responsibilities to be shared between the front and rear wheels, and spreading heavy mechanical components along the entire length of the car allows its weight to be distributed more evenly between the front and rear wheels, improving handling.
- Despite the fact that rear-wheel drive is easier to skid on a slippery road, it is rear-wheel drive that is also easier to get out of a skid, for which in the vast majority of cases it is enough to simply stop transferring the drive to them, but, on the contrary, release the gas pedal and let the engine speed slow down the drive rear axle.
- Since the front wheels are not simultaneously driven, the simplicity of the design allows them to be turned at a larger angle, which reduces the overall turning radius of the machine.
- Drifting - of course, where would it be without this plus! It is rear-wheel drive that provides this opportunity, thanks to the rear wheels slipping and the front wheels turning.
Disadvantages of rear-wheel drive:
- The main disadvantage is that rear-wheel drive with a front engine requires a transmission "tunnel" that runs down the center of the car, taking up valuable interior space, although this is of less importance in larger cars.
- Rear-wheel drive may also be less preferable for driving in rain and snow. The thing is that since when turning it is the rear axle that is more susceptible to skidding, then the drive to these rear wheels makes them slip more on a slippery road, which only increases the likelihood of skidding. Therefore, in theory, rear-wheel drive is easier to skid (which is why drifting is only possible with rear-wheel drive). Although nowadays electronic stability control systems (ESP) perfectly eliminate this problem, although not completely.
- Another significant disadvantage of rear-wheel drive is that when cornering, more effort is required from the engine, because the rear wheels push the car forward, while the front wheels are turned to the side, which causes a slight loss of power.
By the way, not all rear-wheel drive cars have an engine in front. Some high-performance cars have the engine in the middle or in the rear. These cars include Ferrari, Lamborghini and other cars. And, of course, it would be crazy to place the engine in the middle or rear in such cars, while they would be front-wheel drive.
Rear-wheel drive with mid-engine arrangement
Meanwhile, almost all trucks are equipped with rear-wheel drive, since when they are loaded, the bulk of the weight also falls on the rear, which reduces the possibility of slipping of the drive wheels.
Four-wheel drive
Technically, all-wheel drive can be divided into three subgroups: permanent all-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and adaptive all-wheel drive. All of these systems have the ability to deliver power to all four wheels of the vehicle, which improves traction in bad weather and on rough terrain, and are more commonly found on off-road vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Land Cruiser. All types of all-wheel drive also offer much better traction, allowing the car to take tight corners at higher speeds, which is why you can find all-wheel drive performance sedans such as the Audi RS7 on sale, for example.
All-wheel drive (with gearbox or automatic all-wheel drive system)
Adaptive all-wheel drive most commonly found on SUVs, crossovers, and sports cars (and some family cars and minivans). This system can transfer power from the engine between the front and rear wheels as needed. Moreover, most SUVs transmit 100% of the engine power to the front wheels; but when they start to lose traction (on slippery roads, for example), power begins to shift to the rear wheels. Moreover, power distribution does not always occur in 50/50 shares, although it is close to this value
Plug-in all-wheel drive- this is the simplest type of all-wheel drive, which is implemented on SUVs such as the Jeep Wrangler, Ford F-150 and the good old Niva. These systems have a device called transfer gearbox, which allows the front axle to be connected (or, conversely, manually disconnected from the transmission). Most of the time, the car drives in rear-wheel drive mode; but when more traction is needed, the driver manually shifts to four wheels using a special lever.
Permanent all-wheel drive. In such an all-wheel drive system, all wheels have traction from the engine at all times. Today this system is rarely installed on modern cars.
Pros of all-wheel drive
- Of course, the main advantage of all-wheel drive is cross-country ability.
- Much better handling, which allows you to take turns faster and feel more confident on slippery roads.
Disadvantages of all-wheel drive
- The main disadvantage of all all-wheel drive systems is their additional mechanical complexity and, as a result, the high cost of production and design.
- All four-wheel drive vehicles tend to be less fuel efficient, as they require driving not only twice as many wheels as front or rear wheel drive, but also different types of gearboxes and shafts.
- The tires of all-wheel drive cars are worn out all four, and not in pairs.
What's best for you?
The vast majority of cars (and, believe it or not, many crossovers) are front-wheel drive. It's a suitable choice for most drivers as it offers good traction in bad weather and decent interior space.
If you're a sports car fan or live in an area where the weather is generally nice, you're advised to consider rear-wheel drive. Although there are many good front-wheel drive sports cars (such as the Volkswagen GTI).
If you live where it rains and has a lot of snow, where most of the roads are dirt or completely off-road, then an SUV with all-wheel drive is your choice. Many rear-wheel drive premium sedans are offered with all-wheel drive, just as many crossovers and SUVs can have front- or rear-wheel drive in basic versions, and all-wheel drive in more expensive versions.
Which is better: rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive - comparison table
Let's look at the gradation of ratings (bad, satisfactorily, good , excellent ) various aspects and characteristics of all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive.
| Conditions | Front-wheel drive | Rear drive | Four-wheel drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget car | Great | Fine | Badly |
| Handling on dry roads | Great | Great | Great |
| Handling on slippery roads | Fine | Satisfactorily | Great |
| Passability on washed-out clay and snow | Satisfactorily | Satisfactorily | Great |
| Behavior in powerful cars | Badly | Fine | Great |
| Complexity of design, total weight of the system | Great | Satisfactorily | Badly |
| Braking efficiency | Satisfactorily | Great | Great |
| Maneuverability | Satisfactorily | Great | Satisfactorily |
| Loss of power (resulting in increased fuel consumption) | Great | Satisfactorily | Badly |
Further improvement of permanent all-wheel drive led to the emergence of electronically controlled systems with transfer and redistribution of torque.
The result of all this evolution was the exchange rate stability, stabilization, traction control and torque distribution systems, which are implemented electronically. These systems receive signals from ABS sensors, which control the speed of each specific wheel. The more expensive and modern the car, the more complex circuits can be used on it: tracking the steering angle, body roll of the car, its speed, even the vibration frequency of the wheels. The car completely collects all the information about its behavior on the road, and the computer processes it and, based on this, regulates the transmission of torque to one or another axle through an electronically controlled clutch, which replaced the differential.
Such all-wheel drive transmissions are called torque on-demand (literally, torque on demand). On modern high-speed cars this is an invention that is very worthy of attention.
Early schemes (twenty years ago) sometimes could not behave quite adequately; there were cases with a strong delay in the activation of the clutches (when, already in a turn, the second bridge was suddenly suddenly connected), since at the first stage of development the clutches worked after the fact. The speed of processing signals from sensors and the redistribution of torque depended on the time of passage of these signals to the brain of the machine. Modern data transmission technologies, optical fiber and powerful processors that instantly process information have all negated the initial shortcomings. Nowadays, electronic systems have virtually no serious flaws in behavior; with the addition of new sensors and new parameters, they almost always work ahead.
But there is one “but”: this type of all-wheel drive transmission is only suitable for use on asphalt with occasional minimal off-road conditions, like a moderately broken dirt road.
Most electronic clutches are not designed for off-road use; when they slip, they overheat and simply stop working. Moreover, for this you don’t need to knead the rut for half a day; ten minutes of the ice drift, beloved by many, may be enough. And if you overheat it regularly, it may completely fail.
Almost all systems use the car’s brake mechanisms to slow down slipping wheels, and dirt and sand, which are inevitable off-road, greatly contribute to the rapid wear of pads and brake discs, which, in addition to the cost of new spare parts, has a bad effect on the brakes themselves.
The more sophisticated the system, the more vulnerable it is, so you need to choose a car wisely, realizing that even purely city cars designed for asphalt are quite capable of driving onto country roads. But you need to understand which ones exactly. An accidental break in one wire of the ABS sensor will disable the system because it will stop receiving information from the outside. Or you get fuel that is not of very high quality - also a trip to the service center, because the “lower” may no longer turn on. Other “electronic brains” can completely turn off the car and put it in service mode.
Cars with torque on-demand - Cadillac Escalade, Ford Explorer, Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV4 (after 2006), Kia Sportage (after 2004), Mitsubishi Outlander XL, Nissan Murano, Nissan X-Trail .
In conclusion, I would like to give simple advice: if you choose a car only for off-road use, then part-time will be an excellent option. If we are talking about moving mainly within urban areas, then AWD will be quite enough. Well, permanent full is good in any situation.
A four-wheel drive car is now taken for granted: all drive wheels supposedly provide great road safety and confidence in your abilities. That is why, if we have money, we buy all-wheel drive crossovers for ourselves and our wives. However, even to a first approximation, there are quite a lot of all-wheel drive systems, and they are fundamentally different from each other.
When choosing a car and aiming for “all-wheel drive”, you need to have a very good idea of where and why the car will be used. Probably 90% of buyers do not intend to leave the normal road into forests, fields, or climb mountains and cross fords. Why do you need a car with all driving wheels? Firstly, it gives confidence in the rain on slippery roads; secondly, they buy a car with an eye to using it during long winters; Finally, with all-wheel drive it’s easier to get off the asphalt and drive half a kilometer to the dacha along a dirt road and over potholes.
The simplest thing you can remember, and then close this article: the above three problems are completely solved by a car with a drive on only one axle. It is desirable, however, that it be with a manual transmission. Well, it would be nice to have more ground clearance.
Let's say this solution to the problem does not satisfy you. Then the second consideration: an all-wheel drive crossover is not at all equal to a real SUV. The wheels of these cars are driven, let's say, in fundamentally different ways. And third: yes, the indicated need for all-wheel drive can be satisfied by purchasing a crossover. You just don’t need to travel on real off-road terrain with a car like this. And on the road, don’t get carried away by speed.
So, how does the all-wheel drive of a crossover work in general terms? Almost always you drive such a car in... single-wheel drive mode, only one axle works for movement. Most often - the front one, because almost all not too expensive crossovers are built on the platforms of ordinary hatchbacks. All-wheel drive only appears when the drive wheels slip - this moment is recognized by the electronics, which connects the second axle to help. Slipping in this case does not mean that you stand still and grind the asphalt for a long time - we are talking literally about milliseconds. It’s unlikely that the buyer is interested in the technology, let’s just say that a special clutch transfers the torque between the axes - and it is dynamically distributed at each moment of time. This device itself may have a different design.
Now about the off-road capabilities: if the scheme fully corresponds to the description above, there are practically none. To overcome minimal off-road conditions, you have to add additional functionality. For example, the clutch is given the ability to partially or completely lock. The methods may be different, but, again, most often this is done by electronics. Also, the design can use a self-locking differential or a viscous clutch.
Why is blocking needed? A loose clutch (or loose differential) will prevent the car from moving if one of the wheels completely loses traction. And the blocking will make the wheel spin, which is still able to pull you out. In this case, the clutch overheats very quickly, so you won’t be able to slip for a long time with such a system.
As with any design, there are many nuances. The main one is that the clutch in an advanced automatically connected all-wheel drive can work according to a preventive algorithm, without waiting for the wheels to slip. Here, a small percentage of torque will always be supplied to the second axis. In other words, you actually get permanent all-wheel drive! This is how Audi systems with a Torsen differential work, as well as, for example, some BMW or Mercedes-Benz systems.
Let us repeat: almost all crossovers and all-wheel drive passenger cars have this type of all-wheel drive. Pros: the car really gives you some confidence on slippery roads. Cons: This same confidence can lead you to choose the wrong speed for driving in difficult conditions. The result may be curbside. Also because the nature of such a car in a turn - whether it will be prone to drift or drift at this dangerous moment, or whether it will be neutral - is quite difficult to predict. As well as to give the car “off-road”, handling is improved with the help of electronics - the main auxiliary system here is ESP.
Now - about off-road all-wheel drive. Here the second axle is connected manually by the driver. On the road you drive in a single-wheel drive, and if you need to go to some problem area, you turn it into full gear yourself. There is no center differential, so one of the center differentials must be locked. And, of course, with such a scheme, all-wheel drive must be turned off immediately on the road - it is not designed for operation at high speeds.
Finally, a classic of the genre - honest all-wheel drive. Ideally, these are not just three differentials - an interaxle and two cross-axle differentials, but also a reduction gear and all the locks. And, of course, auxiliary electronics. With such a set of properties, the car can really both stand on the road and overcome off-road conditions.
We would also like to mention extremely advanced systems: for example, Mitsubishi’s Super Select allows you to choose from many all-wheel drive operating modes, one that is suitable for both highway and off-road use. Some Jeep models can be ordered with significantly different types of all-wheel drive. Finally, the systems in the Subaru Impreza WRX STi or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution are each worthy of a separate large article.
Many motorists debate which car is best with rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. Some people have long been of the opinion that all-wheel drive is the best, front-wheel drive is nothing, and rear-wheel drive is not worth talking about.
Suppose, if, after all, some of the drives are better than others, then why do automakers produce cars with other drives? The drive, as such, does not mean everything in a vehicle. Why then are all racing cars rear wheel drive?
If we say anything about new car models, then the main advantage of rear-wheel drive is the ability to curb a large number of “horses”. But the main disadvantage of rear-wheel drive cars is that when driving them, the possibility of skidding increases.
The question itself arises: how do front-wheel drive cars differ from rear-wheel drive cars? When the vehicle is driving on a straight road, there doesn’t seem to be much difference, but as soon as it takes a sharp turn, it is felt immediately.
A front-wheel drive car turns in a straight line, while a rear-wheel drive car turns sharper, causing its rear to skid. A front-wheel drive car may skid the front axle, but it is better to drive them on a slippery road, since the car does not throw from one side to the other and does not wobble. Therefore, on straight sections, it is better to pull the car than to push it.
What happens if both drives are combined?
Most likely, the result will be an ideal all-wheel drive car. All SUVs are equipped with this type of drive, as it makes them passable. However, it should be remembered that all-wheel drive borrows its shortcomings from the front and rear.
All dealerships insist that an all-wheel drive car is the safest and most reliable in extreme situations. But if an all-wheel drive car performs perfectly during acceleration and braking, then on sharp turns they do not behave in the most appropriate way.
The type of drive should be selected based on what the vehicle is being purchased for and the conditions in which it is intended to be used. The behavior of the drives is affected by driving conditions. As a rule, rear-wheel drive cars are used for drifting, front-wheel drive cars for cross-country racing, and all-wheel drive cars for rallying.
Therefore, you can be sure that any type of drive is safe and very comfortable for an experienced driver, because both himself and the safety of other people depend on his driving skills. Every motorist should be able to skillfully control his “iron friend,” and then any of the listed drives will be the best choice for him.
Pros of all-wheel drive
The advantage of all-wheel drive vehicles is increased cross-country ability. In addition, they have good dynamics and are more reliable on slippery roads.
True, it should be said that all the advantages of all-wheel drive can be fully visible if the driver “feels” his car properly. In other words, a lot depends on his professionalism.
Disadvantages of all-wheel drive
Negative quality of all-wheel drive, severe wear of transmission elements and noise. This can be explained by the design of the all-wheel drive system.
Pros of front-wheel drive
The weight of the engine above the drive wheels allows the car to better grip on slippery roads. A front-wheel drive car skids less often.
Disadvantages of front-wheel drive
If a front-wheel drive car goes into a skid, it is more difficult to get it out of it due to this same design.
Since the drive wheels are swivel, this naturally introduces some restrictions on their rotation angle.
Pros of rear wheel drive
The engine and gearbox are suspended on soft elements and the body does not feel their vibration. This creates comfort for the driver. The steering wheel does not feel any reactive influences during acceleration, and the drive wheels practically do not slip.
Disadvantages of rear-wheel drive
Cars with rear-wheel drive are heavier and have poor cross-country ability in deep snow and mud.
Discussions about which car with which drive it is better to choose, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, fall into the category of debates about which gearbox is better - manual, robotic or automatic, or about the advantages of a gasoline engine over a diesel engine and vice versa.
But since car enthusiasts discuss the topic of drive year after year, it means that not everyone has yet realized what the advantages and disadvantages of each of the mentioned transmissions are. In this article we will talk about the pros and cons of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and let the reader, based on our arguments, make a choice for himself - a car with which transmission will suit him best.
Choice #1. Rear drive
If you just list the brands that produce rear-wheel drive cars, it will become clear why many motorists are seriously thinking about buying a car with this type of transmission. Just listen to these names - BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Bentley. Hands, as they say, are reaching out to take a firmer grip on the steering wheel of the cars of these companies.
Why do such well-known companies prefer rear-wheel drive? Of course, in their cohort there are models with other types of drives (front-wheel drive and, more often, all-wheel drive), but rear-wheel drive cars have become the most popular.
The answer is simple: it's all about comfort and better handling than cars with a front-wheel drive layout. Speaking of rear-wheel drive cars, one cannot fail to mention such sports cars as the Nissan Skyline, Toyota Celica, Honda NSX - icons of car racing fans. That is, we draw an intermediate conclusion: rear-wheel drive is chosen by lovers of comfort or high-speed driving.
Now let's briefly look at the design features of the rear-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive car design can have any engine configuration: front-engine, mid-engine or rear-engine. The power unit of such cars has a longitudinal or opposed arrangement. Torque from the engine is transmitted to the rear axle, which is the drive axle.
In addition to various engine configurations, a feature of a car with a rear-wheel drive layout is the presence of a cardan, and accordingly, a tunnel running along the bottom of the car and interfering with rear-row passengers sitting on the sofa in the middle. However, since most modern cars with rear-wheel drive are from the premium class, they have a 2+2 seating formula - that is, in the back there are two full-fledged seats, separated by a tunnel on which a table is placed.
Pros of rear wheel drive:
- almost complete absence of vibrations from the engine, which in rear-wheel drive cars has a longitudinal or opposed arrangement and is suspended on softening elements;
- greater loading of the rear axle during acceleration, which allows you to unload the front wheels and provide better traction with the road surface of the rear driving wheels without slipping;
- more controlled skidding of the car, which occurs at a relatively low speed than in cars with other types of drive, and, therefore, easier to correct - just release the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid;
- absence of reactive moments on the steering wheel when the car accelerates. This is explained by the fact that the front wheels, which are associated with the steering mechanism, are not driven;
- a wide variety of techniques for driving a rear-wheel drive car at speed - which is especially appreciated by racing fans;
reduced turning radius compared to a front-wheel drive car, which is explained by the absence of restrictions on the angles of rotation of the front wheels of a rear-wheel drive car by constant velocity joints; - optimal distribution of torque between the front and rear axles: the front wheels turn, and the rear wheels “push” the car forward.
Disadvantages of rear-wheel drive:
- the production cost of a rear-wheel drive car is higher than a front-wheel drive car due to a more complex design; — the presence of a massive driveshaft and a tunnel running from the engine to the rear axle conceals useful space in the cabin and increases the curb weight of the car;
- worse cross-country ability in loose snow compared to front- and all-wheel drive vehicles, and a greater tendency to skid on icy roads.
Choice #2 Front-wheel drive
Most modern cars have a front-wheel drive layout, mainly due to the simplicity of this design and lower production costs. In addition, front-wheel drive cars began to be equipped with more compact engines, located not lengthwise, as in rear-wheel drive cars, but across the body.
And the absence of a cardan in the design makes a front-wheel drive car, on the one hand, more compact, and on the other, it allows you to get more voluminous usable space in the cabin and luggage compartment of the car.
Since front-wheel drive cars are the most common, more economical and relatively cheap, more buyers choose them.
A little about the design features of such cars. As the name implies, the main feature of this type of drive is the transmission of torque from the power plant to the front wheels. The front-wheel drive layout allows you to create six variations of engine placement - three each in the longitudinal and transverse planes. The rear-wheel drive layout has four such variations.
Transversely mounted motors in front-wheel drive cars can be located in front of, above or behind the front axle. The longitudinally mounted engine also has exactly the same installation options. In addition, front-wheel drive cars have the opportunity to configure the power unit differently.
In a sequential arrangement, the main gear is located behind the engine, followed by the gearbox. In a parallel layout, the engine and transmission are on parallel axes and at the same height, and finally, in the so-called “floor” layout, the engine is located above the transmission.
Pros of front-wheel drive:
- relative cheapness of production and maintenance;
- the absence of a cardan and rear axle housing makes it possible to make the car more compact, lighter and more spacious both in the cabin and in the luggage compartment;
- better traction of the front wheels on slippery roads due to the fact that the engine and transmission are located next to each other, and not spaced apart, like in rear-wheel drive cars;
- better dynamics and efficiency of front-wheel drive cars due to lower curb weight;
- better cross-country ability in loose snow compared to rear-wheel drive vehicles due to the fact that the front wheels have optimal grip on the road surface due to the mass of the engine located in the front of the vehicle;
- excellent directional stability and a slight degree of understeer, in which a car entering a turn at speed tries to return to a straight trajectory on its own. This certainly affects the better safety of a front-wheel drive car.
Disadvantages of front-wheel drive:
- due to the location of the engine on the front axle and its rigid “coupling” with the frame, vibrations from the engine are transmitted to the body, which makes comfort inside the cabin lower than in a rear-wheel drive car;
- Reactive torques are transmitted to the steering wheel during acceleration, which complicates its control;
- There is a moment of wheel slipping when the car accelerates sharply. This happens due to the fact that when accelerating, the weight from the front axle transfers to the rear, the front wheels lose traction with the road surface;
- a large load on the front tires, which play the main role when accelerating, braking, and turning the car. Accordingly, their service life is reduced.
Choice #3 All-wheel drive
Perhaps the most desirable of all drives for Russians is all-wheel drive. It is perfect for driving on our less-than-ideal roads, and is a reliable assistant when overcoming off-road conditions. Currently, the popularity of all-wheel drive vehicles is growing.
Moreover, this applies to cars that use plug-in all-wheel drive systems, which allows such models to have good dynamics and be economical. The best option is crossovers, which have front-wheel drive as a base, and if necessary (off-road driving), the rear axle is also connected.
It turns out that all-wheel drive vehicles will appeal to those who often drive off-road.
A few words about the design features of all-wheel drive vehicles. All-wheel drive allows you to transmit torque to both axles simultaneously, which ensures optimal traction of the wheels with the road surface. There are three groups of all-wheel drive transmissions: permanent all-wheel drive, on-demand all-wheel drive and automatic all-wheel drive.
Permanent all-wheel drive in its design has a center differential with locks and a transfer case. The automatically connected all-wheel drive does not have a center differential in its design; only one axle is the drive (most often the rear), and the second is connected automatically as soon as the intelligent all-wheel drive system detects that the wheels of the drive axle have lost traction.
The on-demand all-wheel drive also does not have a center differential; the front axle is the drive, and the rear is connected through multi-plate clutches.
Pros of all-wheel drive:
- excellent traction of all wheels with the road surface, which ensures no slipping when starting on a slippery surface, as well as high cross-country ability of the vehicle;
- the best handling at high speed due to optimal weight distribution along the axles (typical for all-wheel drive sports cars);
- high reliability of the design (especially with permanent all-wheel drive);
- relative simplicity of design for cars with plug-in all-wheel drive (cars with permanent all-wheel drive have a more complex design);
Disadvantages of all-wheel drive:
- increased transmission noise;
- uncomfortable control when driving on city streets;
- the heavy weight of the all-wheel drive transmission, which directly affects the dynamics and efficiency of such a car;
- high cost of maintenance and repairs.
So, after weighing all the pros and cons of cars with rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, every car enthusiast can make his own, informed and subjective choice.
