More specifically, what are the pros/cons of each? Why do some cars use one system over the others and which is “better”?
EDIT: Thanks everyone for the explanations. It’s been very useful.
In: 10
It’s not very easy to explain without going in depth but I’ll try my best.
So, a car has four wheels, right? The engine power must be transmitted to the wheels for the car to move, hence why that part is called “transmission”. That part may transmit the engine power to the two front wheels, the two rear wheels or to all wheels at the same time.
Front wheel drive means that the front wheels of the car are being powered by the engine. This setup may provide cost savings and lower weight, they are also good when it comes to stability.
Rear wheel drive means that the rear wheels only are being powered by the engine. This setup may provide cost savings and simplified mechanical components, as well as some sporty feeling, although it might be unstable without stability and throttle control.
4WD and AWD mean basically the same thing: The engine is powering all the four wheels of the vehicle. The difference between the two is AWD is always engaged, and 4WD may be turned on and off at the driver’s desire. This setup usually performs better when offroading and in rough terrain, as well as better acceleration overall, at the expense of adding on weight and complexity.
Overall, it doesn’t really matter which setup you choose if you’re only using your car for day-to-day stuff like normal driving. If you’re going offroading or track racing thought, each choice has more definitive pros and cons.
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