RWD / DWD / 4WD :- Pros On Cons & Which is The Best ?

In these article we will Learn brief explanation about 

• FWD-Front wheel Drive,
• AWD-All wheel Drive & 
• RWD- Rear Wheel Drive 

Each Type has there own Advantages and Disadvantage .So now lets Start with FWD.

Front Wheel Drive (FWD) :-

98% of vehicles on the road are Front wheel drive (FWD), the main reason is that they are cheaper for manufactures to produce, thus offering a lower purchasing price for consumers. In these system the transmission transfers power from the engine to the front wheels.

The engine, gearbox, steering, and other components are all kept together at the front of the vehicle, which means it can be created and fitted in the factory as a single unit. Less work involved in manufacturing, and less parts needed in its creation result in lower costs for everyone.

This vehicle much more stable, and also helps maintain a relatively balanced weight distribution when accelerating. However, front-engine FWD cars are prone to understeer, because they lose traction when accelerating due to the car’s weight shifting to the rear wheels. This makes them somewhat undesirable for racing applications.But  gives good traction in snow and rain makes your drive safer than if you were in a vehicle with rear wheel drive (RWD).Most of the time, front-wheel drive cars get better gas mileage because the weight of the drive-train is less than that of a rear-wheel vehicle. 

Front wheel drive advantages:

• FWD cars have better traction while moving on the slippery roads like snow-covered roads because the engine is mounted above or near the front axle.
• These vehicles have compact design as the entire power-pack fits at the front of the vehicle.
• Due to the absence of propeller shaft and transmission tunnel, these cars have more interior space.
• Light-weight transmission reduces curb weight of the vehicle.
• As the front wheels of these vehicles receive engine power, they 'pull' the vehicle instead of a 'push' from the rear. Thus, passengers feel more stability in these vehicles.

Disadvantages of front wheel drive cars:

• Tyre wear on these vehicles is uneven. Front tyres wear out faster compared to rear tyres because of uneven weight distribution.
• While driving on roads with high slopes or during sudden acceleration, front wheels may experience loss of grip due to weight shift.

Four Wheel Drive (4WD) :-

It clearly that, the biggest difference between these two systems is that all four wheels are delivering power at one time or another, versus FWD and RWD driving just a single axle each. So immediately we can see that whether it’s All Wheel Drive (AWD) or 4WD (Four Wheel Drive) we know immediately that vehicles so equipped would provide improved traction over FWD or RWD vehicles.

In a 4WD set-up, each axle (front and rear) is connected to the middle of the vehicle to a transfer case. The transfer case is situated typically at the back end of the transmission. There are typically two settings to a transfer case, but there are some variations. The basic ones are where the front and rear axle can turn independently from one another. This setting is used in dry weather conditions as rounding corners in fully-locked 4WD causes excessive wear in the drive train.

The locked setting is for use in muddy, sandy, snowy, or other low-traction situations, and it distributes power equally to all four wheels (it doesn’t allow any particular wheel to slip, which would hinder forward progress). Once out of the slippery conditions, the driver would select the unlocked setting on the transfer case and drive on.Both AWD and 4WD introduce greater complexity to the drive system, adding both weight and cost. The extra weight generally means a reduction in fuel economy, although this can be mitigated with today's more efficient engines, including hybrid, electric and diesel options. The inclusion of AWD or 4WD to a vehicle typically raises a vehicle's price by about $1,500 up to nearly $4,000.

People sometimes buy an AWD or 4WD vehicle for the occasional off-road outing or ski trip, even though 90 percent of the time they'll be sitting in traffic or using the vehicle on paved roads. These drivers would be better served by buying a two-wheel-drive vehicle for their daily use and renting an AWD car or 4WD truck or SUV for their ski trips. This tactic would save them money on the price of the car as well as overall fuel and maintenance costs.

Advantages of Four Wheel Drive (4WD) system:

• It improves overall stability and grip of the vehicle.
• It helps to ride on slippery road conditions like mud or snow-covered roads.
• 4x4 systems are useful for off-roading.

Disadvantages of four-wheel drive (4WD) system:

• The fuel economy or mileage of 4X4 vehicles is generally lower as compared to equivalent two-wheel drive vehicles.
• As all the wheels are driven wheels, the rate of tyre wear in case of 4WD cars is higher compared to two-wheel drive vehicles.

Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) :-

Rear wheel drive is most commonly found on sports cars and performance sedans. Rear wheel drive is used exclusively in all categories of Motorsport where it’s allowed. In RWD the Power is transferred from the transmission to the rear wheels by way of a long driveshaft to a differential. 

These vehicles handle much better than front-wheel drive vehicles and you will notice the difference in curves, turns, and when navigating through traffic situations. For race cars under the control of a professional driver, rear engines are great. They provide a lot of power and traction to the back wheels, which makes them quick to accelerate.But Traction won’t be as good, especially in wet or snowy road conditions.The rear engine car will put the engine behind the rear axle, which some people call the wrong place because it will put the center of gravity behind the car, famously like a Porsche 911.


Advantages of rear wheel drive:

• During heavy acceleration when the weight of the vehicle is transferred to the rear axle, rear wheel drive vehicles provide better traction in contrast to FWD vehicles.
• Use of front mounted engine with RWD helps to achieve the better weight distribution of the vehicle.
• Because of the balanced weight distribution, the handling and braking of the vehicle improve.
• As the driveline components are located at the rear end of the vehicle, the engine gets an ample space for mounting. Thus, also enhancing access to it.

Disadvantages of rear wheel drive:

• Generally, these vehicles have higher curb weight due to the use of heavy driveline components.
• Presence of transmission tunnel reduces the interior space of such vehicles.
• RWD vehicles may lose traction while traveling on slippery roads like snow-covered roads.

So which is the best?
Front-engine cars are generally the best for consumers. Rear-engine cars are unmatched in acceleration, but can be hard to handle at times. And All Wheel Drive cars are incredibly stable, but also have their fair-share of drawbacks. So, all we can say is that they’re all the best in their own way. How’s that for a positive attitude?