The Difference Between the Drivetrains

October 16th, 2024 by

Welcome to your drivetrain training! FWD, RWD, AWD just looks like a bunch of capital letters but there is meaning behind them all and I am here to help you get a better understanding of each one so that the next time you’re purchasing a vehicle you can make a better and informed decision. Seeing as we live in the wonderful ever changing weather of Wisconsin and the biggest X factor when it comes to road conditions is snow, I will break down not only the different types of drivetrains, but also which one will benefit you the most to handle both the beautiful summer days, but the harsh snowy winter days as well. Let’s get started!

 

 

FWD (Front Wheel Drive)

 

Front Wheel Drive is what is most commonly used in today’s everyday vehicles. It is a system in which the engine’s power is routed to the front wheels. 

 

There are multiple reasons why FWD is favored by many: 

 

  • Functionality 

    • In neutral climates and terrain, FWD has a great balance of usability and everyday driving with compromise of a sporty performance.

  • Gas Mileage/Fuel Economy

    • Most of the time, front-wheel drive cars get better gas mileage + fuel economy because the weight of the drivetrain is less than that of a rear-wheel vehicle, which also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide produced. FWD vehicles also get better traction because the weight of the engine and transmission are over the front wheels.

  • Cost

    • Front-wheel-drive designs are cheaper to manufacture and more space-efficient than rear-drive systems because the engine, transmission, and axles are located close together in the engine compartment. 

 

 

RWD (Rear Wheel Drive)

 

Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is commonly found on full-sized pickups and old-school, truck-based SUVs, along with sports cars and high-performance and luxury sedans. Due to the structuring of a RWD drivetrain it allows it to be tailored to the niche vehicles mentioned above. 

 

What do I mean by the structure?  

 

  • Unlike the FWD drivetrain the front wheels don’t have to do double duty—both driving and steering—designers can optimize the front and rear suspensions for their respective roles. 

  • For trucks, RWD allows the use of bulky, heavy-duty axles and suspension components that are designed to handle large loads. 

  • On a performance car, rear-wheel drive improves handling by helping to balance the car’s weight more evenly front to rear. 

 

AWD (All Wheel Drive)

 

As the name implies All Wheel Drive (AWD) can feed power to every corner of the vehicle as opposed to being front loaded or back loaded. Due to this balance it allows AWD vehicles to perform better in harsher conditions whether it’s off road, mud, snow, rain etc. AWD systems often have the technology to shift the power to wherever your vehicle starts to lose traction/need power. In general they will send power to one set of wheels whether it be front or rear and divert as needed. AWD systems are especially helpful in rapidly changing conditions or when driving on a road with intermittent snow and ice. It is commonly used for car-based SUVs, as well as certain cars and minivans. 

 

It’s important to understand that drivetrains can help maneuvering in different conditions, but ultimately it is having proper tires that have a greater impact. Depending on the type of vehicle you are looking for or the conditions you live in can dictate what kind of drivetrain you’d want. If you’re looking for more affordable, fuel efficient, mild weather and everyday vehicles FWD is for you. If you’re looking for niche vehicles like trucks for towing, or performance vehicles then RWD is for you. If you live in diverse weather climates or driving around in SUV’s then AWD would be for you. That is not to say that if you live in Wisconsin you can’t or shouldn’t purchase FWD or RWD, with proper tires and careful driving all drivetrains will work. On that same token, if you have AWD it doesn’t mean you won’t slip and slide if you don’t have proper tires or drive safely, but if you were to have the same tires and drive safely then AWD would be your best bet to battle the Wisconsin winter. 

 

 

Knowing a little more about drivetrains we can be sure to help you get into a vehicle that you will be sure to enjoy. If you have any questions about drivetrains feel free to stop in or give us a call. If you have any other questions about cars that you’d want to learn more about, feel free to let us know so we can put that in a future blog.

Sources:

https://www.newroads.ca/blog/understanding-drivetrain-rwd-fwd-awd/#:~:text=Front%20Wheel%20Drive%20%E2%80%93%20FWD%20Meaning&text=The%20pros%20of%20a%20FWD,better%20traction%20in%20the%20snow.

https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a32799848/awd-vs-4wd-in-snow-and-ice/

https://shift.com/articles/all-wheel-drive-versus-front-wheel-drive-in-snow-which-one-is-better

RWD, FWD, AWD, 4WD – Which Drivetrain is Better for Winter?

https://www.bridgestonetire.com/learn/maintenance/awd-4wd-drivetrains-in-snow-tires/#:~:text=Where%20you%20live%20should%20determine,with%20winter%20tires%20will%20suffice.

What’s the Difference Between 2WD, 4WD, and AWD?

https://www.consumerreports.org/automotive-technology/2wd-vs-awd-vs-4wd-a5663578720/

https://www.tiresplus.com/blog/maintenance/what-is-drivetrain/

Posted in Uncategorized