When you’re considering a new vehicle there are several things to take into consideration. One of the most important is to find the right drivetrain for you to find new roads. Each has advantages and disadvantages and it’s important to understand each in order to make the right decision for you. The four different types of drivetrain are all-wheel-drive (AWD), front wheel drive (FWD), rear wheel drive (RWD), and 4WD (4 wheel drive).
1. Front Wheel Drive (FWD) means that the power from the engine is delivered to the front wheels of your vehicle. With FWD, the front wheels are pulling the car and The rear wheels don’t receive any power on their own. The pros of a FWD vehicle are that they typically gets better fuel economy and emits less carbon dioxide. Since the weight of the engine is located over the driving wheels, a FWD vehicle can maintain better traction in the snow. However, performance enthusiasts have claimed FWD vehicles are less fun to drive.
2. Rear Wheel Drive (RWD ) means that the power from the engine is delivered to the rear wheels and the rear wheels push the car forward. The front wheels do not receive any power and are free to manoeuvre the vehicle. Due to the weight of a RWD vehicle being more evenly spread than a FWD vehicle, creates a better balance of weight. This is why most sports cars such as the Corvette and Camaro are RWD and are more exciting to drive. The disadvantage of a RWD vehicle are that they do not perform well in poor weather conditions such as rain or snow because they are more prone to loss of traction on slick roads.
3. (4WD) 4 Wheel Drive means the power from the engine is delivered to all 4 wheels all of the time 4X4 is engaged and has an option to operate in a RWD format to conserve fuel. The biggest advantage of a 4WD vehicle is that it provides the versatility and power to take on any terrain or weather condition. The con of a 4WD vehicle is that it operates in RWD format most of the time and has less traction then a AWD vehicle.
4. All Wheel Drive (AWD ) means power is delivered to any 2 of the four wheels at any time. The biggest advantage of an AWD vehicle is that it provides the best traction in all kinds of conditions. The cons of an AWD vehicle are that it is heavier which hurts acceleration and uses more fuel. AWD is also the most expensive drivetrain option but will provide the most traction resulting in a safer ride.