The Truth About Drivetrains
Most vehicles including minivans and cars under $35,000 are front-wheel drive. This offers increased traction and overall safety. It also allows more interior space since the axl does not need to run to the rear wheels. Since most of the vehicles weight is at the front of the car, front-wheel drive provides better drivability in bad weather and snow. Since the front wheels handle most of the braking responsibilities, more brake and tire inspections are recommended.
Rear-wheel drive is found mostly on pickup trucks, sport and luxury sedans where the vehicle weight is more evenly distributed. RWD enables the rear tires and suspension to work together more efficiently allowing better cornering, stopping power and overall smoother ride. On average, there is not much difference in fuel economy between front wheel and rear wheel drives.
All-wheel drive, usually found as an option on SUVs, offer all the benefits of front and rear wheel with the exception that these vehicles usually have better handling. Contrary to popular belief, AWD vehicles do not perform well off-road as this is not their intended use.
Under normal everyday use a four-wheel drive vehicle runs like a RWD however, the driver can enable four-wheel drive when required (usually when additional traction is needed). They have great drivability in ice and snow and are common on off-road vehicles, SUVs, snow plows and tow trucks. With four-wheel dive vehicles comes a false sense of security since there is no increase in stopping ability and the extra weight of these vehicles increases fuel consumption.
Related Tags: cars, vehicles, drivetrains, all wheel drive, awd, rwd, fwd, how cars work
Gina Goldenberg is Co-Founder of PersonalAutoBrokers.com, an online personalized car shopping service. She has written many articles that help car buyers make educated decisions. Gina created Personal Auto Brokers to make car buying easier and to help people save time, money and hassles. You can reach Gina at: info@PersonalAutoBrokers.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Improve the Value of Your Truck With a Truck Bed Cover
If you are a truck owner and are looking for a way to increase the value and also protect your inves - An Overview of Emergency Road Services
Anyone that owns a vehicle definitely understands that there are truly countless facets of driving a - Buying From Car and Truck Auctions in Canada
Buying a vehicle from an auction can be a good way to pick up a bargain as long as you know what you - 2011 Green Car Of The Year- Who's In It To Win It!
The Green Car of the Year award is a program designed by Green Car Jouranl to recognize and honor ve - Honda's 2010 Odyssey is Efficient, Practical and Convenient
If you are looking for a minivan that has a seating capacity of up to eight persons and handles almo - Greener Trucks For Delivery Work
Green' is a word you'll hear a lot when it comes to transportation, from bicycles to buses - but you - The Courier and Haute Couture
Some jobs just ooze opportunity to flaunt yourself and show off your latest togs but sadly that's ra - All-New 2011 Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has been a continuous leader for years in the family midsize sedan class by being a - The Various Benefits Of Summer Tires
As you probably know , different tires are optimized for different conditions. Not only that, someth - A Couple of Tips on Buying a Used Cars in Toronto
If your old car has finally kicked the bucket and you need to get yourself a new mode of transport t
Most viewed articles in this category:
- How to Remove Window Tint
Applying tinting film to car or household windows may be fun, but removing it can be tricky if yo - Transporting Your Car
If you are relocating to another state or another country for employment or family reasons, you may - Choosing The Right Sticker For The Motorcycle Helmet
When people decide to buy a motorcycle, the dealer will usually throw in a helmet. This is because s - Suzuki's 2007 Xl7, “wave” Grand Vitara Debuts at the 2007 Scias
In the news: American Suzuki Motor Corporation has presented its array of cars and SUVs at the 2007 - Nissan Skyline GTR: A Racer That Is Affordable
If you've ever eyed a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari Testarossa, but thought the price was too steep, the - How To Buy Cheap Cars
There are a number of seized car auctions held in various places every month or at least quarterly. - Federal Agencies Expands Hybrid Fleet
Three federal agencies in Kansas recently added hybrid vehicles to their fleet. The hybrid vehicles - New Cars, New Gadgets Presented at the 2007 Naias
The 2007 North American International Auto Show has become an event of glamour, fashion and technolo - Aura Green Line Added to 3 Federal Fleets in Kansas
Three Kansas City area federal agencies added Monday the new 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid vehi - Top Vehicles by Autoweek Editors Honored at 2007 Naias
Everybody has favorites. Bill may like Ford cars. Susan may be attracted much by the power of pi
