All-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or rear wheel drive. Which is right for you?
There are arguments for each type of car. The trick is to choose the features that you require in a vehicle, and choose a drive that qualifies in those categories.
When it comes to fuel efficiency, front- wheel drives win hands down. Mostly due to their space efficiency, front- wheel drives are carrying around less weight, unlike all- wheel drives. All- wheel drives have additional weight, which means more power to deliver the same performance.
Front wheel drives easily win this category, with engines that take up a smaller space, leaving more room for vehicle occupants.
All- wheel drives maximise traction under power. Rear- wheel vehicles tend to have better weight distribution than front- wheel, and as vehicles weight shifts to the rear wheels under acceleration, the rear- wheel drive has an added advantage. The all- wheel drive is the clear favourite when it comes to poor- weather traction. While the front- wheel drive has the advantage of the engine sitting over the drive wheels, and the rear- wheel drive is better on an incline, the all- wheel drive can utilise all four wheels for traction.
Modern technology is closing the gap between the drives. Tyre quality, EBD and ABS systems are the most important variables here.
This is where the decision becomes personal. Rear- wheel drive can provide better handling than front- wheel drive, especially in higher powered cars, but the decision is up to the driver which car they like best.
