corsia logo

How to choose FWD, RWD, or AWD

How to choose FWD, RWD, or AWD

One of the many aspects that you have to consider when choosing a car is the way the wheels are set in motion. Front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive?

For some, this might be an easy decision, but for others, who don’t know how to choose, it might become the cause of frustration. One major reason that makes it hard to select is, of course, the mechanics behind each option. But in the end, it all comes down to your preferred driving style.

How to choose FWD, RWD or AWD

Your choice will depend mainly on your driving habits, your performance expectations, and driving conditions. Some helpful information to make a decision follows right below.

Front-wheel drive (FWD)

PROS:

The front-wheel drive is probably the most popular and practical choice for most drivers today. Most modern sedans in the mid- and low-price range have front-wheel drives. Simply put, the front wheels are the ones moving the car forward once they are powered by the motor.

The motor in an FWD is transversely mounted. It means that the engine and the wheels have parallel rotation axes. The entire powertrain – the engine, transmission, and differential – is positioned in one unit which drives the front wheels. Such configuration allows for more efficient production and brings the FWD to a lower cost.

The FWD is less costly because it uses fewer components, which also means lower weight. Therefore, the FWD becomes more efficient. It allows for better fuel economy since it doesn’t need that much energy to power the engine.

Moreover, the FWD allows for enhanced space efficiency since all powertrain components are in one unit, which leads to more room available for passengers and cargo.

The placement of the powertrain over the driven wheels makes the vehicle more stable on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces and allows for better traction when driving uphill. It also increases the crosswind stability.

CONS:

What may bother you about FWD is the amount of work that has to be done by the front wheels. Even though it is more convenient in inclement weather conditions, the constant load that the wheels handle cause parts attached to them to wear out much sooner than those of the rear wheels.

Even though the single powertrain unit may allow for more space, it leads to uneven weight distribution, which might lead to poorer cornering performance. This disturbance of the center of gravity may be the reason why front-wheel cars understeer. Moreover, the lack of weight shifting will limit the acceleration, which is a major “no-no” if you are an enthusiast driver.

Sometimes, FWD may cause the car to veer to the left or right causing a problem known as torque steer. It happens when you accelerate and don’t get a good grip on the steering wheel. You will notice how it twists to one of the sides. From a technical perspective, this occurs due to the placement of the powertrain.

In FWD, the positioning of the transmission and the differential lead to the unequal length of the half shafts, which then react to torque loads differently. It causes one of the wheels to work more efficiently and get slightly ahead of the other, thus causing the steering wheel to turn.

FWD could be a problem for novice drivers who are not familiar with the car yet. If you are a driving enthusiast, you would also want less torque steer, so that you can go faster straight in the direction you want. The most common technique that drivers use to deal with the problem is to tune the power-steering program to compensate or hide the effect.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD)

PROS:

Pickups and old-school, truck-based SUVs are the most common cars with rear-wheel drive. Car enthusiasts know that most high-performance cars and sports cars also have RWD. In these cars, it is the rear wheels that move the vehicle, while the front ones provide steering.

The biggest advantage of rear-wheel drive is the balance of the weight across the whole body of the car. RWD cars have almost perfectly even weight distribution because of the front-mounted engine and the rear-mounted transmission and differential.

This allows for higher durability and reliability, especially in trucks and heavy-load vehicles. The heavier the load, the greater the traction. Car enthusiasts should opt for an RWD when they are insisting on higher engine outputs.

Acceleration is also better in cars with RWD because the front wheels lose grip quickly and allow the rear ones to gain more. The more you accelerate, the more traction the rear wheels get, which allows for even more acceleration.

Also, the RWD provides an improved cornering response and more stable braking performance. All because of the even weight on all wheels.

CONS:

Because there is never enough room for your legs. Leg room is probably the disadvantage of RWD that everyone in the car can feel.  The transmission tunnel and the drive shaft take up interior space that is available for all passengers who are in an FWD. Also, the drive shaft which connects the engine at the front with the drive axle in the back adds weight. The trunk space is decreased as well because of the components that go into the back of the vehicle.

Since the car is pushed, rather than pulled, it is more difficult to operate on low grip surfaces. Since the rear wheels don’t carry as much weight as the front, it will be easier for the rear wheels to spin, possibly causing the car to fishtail. Thankfully, electronic systems today are capable of dealing with most of the disadvantages of RWD. Stability and traction control are only two of the many functions that make the driver feel more comfortable in an RWD.

As a whole, RWD gives the driver a higher degree of control, but at the same time, it is harder to master. Even though technology has taken away some of the driver’s responsibility, the RWD still feels less intuitive to many. This is why RWD is better for more experienced drivers. There is no surprise that NASCAR race cars all have RWD, after all.

All-wheel drive (AWD)

PROS:

It seems that the AWD solves many of the problems that one can experience with FWD and RWD. Most AWD cars started either from an FWD arrangements or an RWD platform and had been transformed to transmit power to all four wheels at all times. Because of the difference in the basis of the system, there are numerous designs of AWD that vary by manufacturers. This is why different AWD models have different advantages.

In terms of acceleration, the AWD is definitely your best choice. It allows for quickest start with almost no slip. It requires virtually no effort from the driver since the system automatically sets all wheels in motion as soon as the car starts.

CONS:

One of the biggest disadvantages of the AWD is its cost. We can’t expect to have a great solution at a lower price, right? It requires tons of sensors and computerization to create the AWD, which makes the whole system quite complex and expensive. Moreover, this means that maintenance costs will also be more pricey.

You can’t have four wheels in motion at the same time without having enough power to get them going. This requires more fuel than the two-wheel drive vehicles, and thus makes the AWD less fuel efficient.

The weight of the AWD also adds to the amounts of fuel necessary to set the whole system to motion. Even though it makes the vehicle more stable, the weight is a factor that affects its braking distance too. Once all wheels are in motion, it makes it harder to stop them. If the vehicle is heavier, a collision is more likely to occur.

AWDs are highly appreciated for their performance features, in particular, their good acceleration. Experienced drivers, however, might be better off with either an FWD or an RWD, because AWD vehicles are more difficult to manipulate.

This is a classical trade-off case – you either have the convenience or the fuel efficiency, you either have the acceleration, or the safety and stability. So think about all that when choosing and buying a new car. It feels like this is just another sign that sometimes you just can’t have everything.

 

Vehicle Type Advantages Disadvantages
FWD Practical & less expensive

Fuel economy

Space efficiency

Good traction, less slippery

Uneven weight distribution

Front wheels wear

Understeer

Torque steer

Costly maintenance

RWD Better traction with heavy loads

Better braking performance

Acceleration

Cornering response

Less costly maintenance

Increased weight

Less stability on slippery roads

Fishtail

Less interior space

More expensive

AWD Better traction

Acceleration

Convenience

Higher price

Increased weight

Lower fuel efficiency

If you can’t find your dream car locally, consider looking for one online. Your perfect FWD, RWD or AWD may be waiting for you across the state lines. Not sure how to get it home? Worry no more, get in touch with Corsia Logistics and let one of our auto transport experts explain how easy it is to move a car between any locations in the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska.

You can always reach us at (818) 850-5258 or request a quote online.

Save

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
car shipping quote

Truckers Can Fight Sex Trafficking

If You See Something, Say Something! This is the slogan of the nonprofit group Truckers Against Trafficking, the organization’s main goal is to have more

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping a Rivian

Shipping an electric vehicle like Rivian requires several considerations. Here we will share some key aspects to keep in mind when you need to ship

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next