If you’re looking for a new car (or a used car), there are a lot of things to consider. One important thing to consider is the type of transmission you want your vehicle to have. Each has advantages and disadvantages and it is important to understand each in order to make the right decision when purchasing a vehicle. The four different types of transmission are all-wheel drive (AWD), front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), and 4WD (4-wheel drive).
Front wheel drive (FWD) means that the power coming from the engine is transmitted to the front wheels of the car or truck. With FWD, the front wheels pull the car to create motion. The rear wheels only follow the front wheels and do not receive any power on their own. The advantages of a FWD vehicle is that it typically gets better fuel economy and emits less carbon dioxide. Since the weight of the engine is over the drive wheels, an FWD vehicle can maintain better traction in the snow. However, car enthusiasts say that FWD vehicles are less fun to drive.
Rear wheel drive (RWD) means that the power coming from the engine is transmitted to the rear wheels. The rear wheels are responsible for pushing the car forward, like a bicycle. The front wheels have no power source and can move and rotate due to the power coming from the rear wheels. Because the weight of the drivetrain in an RWD vehicle is more evenly distributed than in an FWD vehicle, it has better balance. This is why most sports cars are RWD and RWD cars are considered more exciting to drive. The disadvantages of an RWD vehicle are that it does not perform well in bad weather conditions like rain or snow because it is more prone to losing traction on slippery roads.
There are two different types of four-wheel drive (4WD) systems. A part-time 4WD system allows the driver to select whether the engine’s power is transmitted to only two wheels or to all four wheels. The default setting is usually rear-wheel drive. A full-time 4WD system permanently activates all 4 wheels.
All-wheel drive is essentially the same as a 4WD drivetrain, but there’s no option to transmit power to just two wheels. Power is transmitted to all four wheels at all times. The term AWD can be used for vehicles with more than 4 wheels where all wheels are powered. The biggest advantage of an AWD vehicle is that it provides the best traction in all types of conditions. The disadvantages of an AWD vehicle are that it is much heavier, which hurts acceleration, and uses more fuel. AWD is also the most expensive transmission option.