Which drive is better: front or rear?

Which drive is better? Front, rear or all wheel drive?

Discussions about which car with which drive it is better to choose, rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, fall into the category of debates about which gearbox is better - manual, robotic or automatic, or about the advantages of a gasoline engine over a diesel engine and vice versa.

But since car enthusiasts discuss the topic of drive year after year, it means that not everyone has yet realized what the advantages and disadvantages of each of the mentioned transmissions are. In this article we will talk about the pros and cons of front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and let the reader, based on our arguments, make a choice for himself - a car with which transmission will suit him best.

Choice #1. Rear drive

If you just list the brands that produce rear-wheel drive cars, it will become clear why many motorists are seriously thinking about buying a car with this type of transmission. Just listen to these names - BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Bentley. Hands, as they say, are reaching out to take a firmer grip on the steering wheel of the cars of these companies.

Why do such well-known companies prefer rear-wheel drive? Of course, in their cohort there are models with other types of drives (front-wheel drive and, more often, all-wheel drive), but rear-wheel drive cars have become the most popular.

The answer is simple: it's all about comfort and better handling than cars with a front-wheel drive layout. Speaking of rear-wheel drive cars, one cannot fail to mention such sports cars as the Nissan Skyline, Toyota Celica, Honda NSX - icons of car racing fans. That is, we draw an intermediate conclusion: rear-wheel drive is chosen by lovers of comfort or high-speed driving.

Now let's briefly look at the design features of the rear-wheel drive. The rear-wheel drive car design can have any engine configuration: front-engine, mid-engine or rear-engine. The power unit of such cars has a longitudinal or opposed arrangement. Torque from the engine is transmitted to the rear axle, which is the drive axle.

In addition to various engine configurations, a feature of a car with a rear-wheel drive layout is the presence of a cardan, and accordingly, a tunnel running along the bottom of the car and interfering with rear-row passengers sitting on the sofa in the middle. However, since most modern cars with rear-wheel drive are from the premium class, they have a 2+2 seating formula - that is, in the back there are two full-fledged seats, separated by a tunnel on which a table is placed.

Pros of rear wheel drive:

almost complete absence of vibrations from the engine, which in rear-wheel drive cars has a longitudinal or opposed arrangement and is suspended on softening elements;
greater loading of the rear axle during acceleration, which allows you to unload the front wheels and provide better traction with the road surface of the rear driving wheels without slipping;
more controlled skidding of the car, which occurs at a relatively low speed than in cars with other types of drive, and, therefore, easier to correct - just release the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid;

absence of reactive moments on the steering wheel when the car accelerates. This is explained by the fact that the front wheels, which are associated with the steering mechanism, are not driven;
a wide variety of techniques for controlling a rear-wheel drive car at speed - which is especially appreciated by racing fans; a reduced turning radius compared to a front-wheel drive car, which is explained by the absence of restrictions on the angles of rotation of the front wheels of a rear-wheel drive car by constant velocity joints;
optimal distribution of torque between the front and rear axles: the front wheels turn, and the rear wheels “push” the car forward.

Disadvantages of rear-wheel drive:

the production cost of a rear-wheel drive car is higher than a front-wheel drive car due to a more complex design; — the presence of a massive driveshaft and a tunnel running from the engine to the rear axle conceals useful space in the cabin and increases the curb weight of the car;
worse cross-country ability in loose snow compared to front- and all-wheel drive vehicles, and a greater tendency to skid on icy roads.

Choice #2 Front-wheel drive

Most modern cars have a front-wheel drive layout, mainly due to the simplicity of this design and lower production costs. In addition, front-wheel drive cars began to be equipped with more compact engines, located not lengthwise, as in rear-wheel drive cars, but across the body.

And the absence of a cardan in the design makes a front-wheel drive car, on the one hand, more compact, and on the other, it allows you to get more voluminous usable space in the cabin and luggage compartment of the car.

Since front-wheel drive cars are the most common, more economical and relatively cheap, more buyers choose them.

A little about the design features of such cars. As the name implies, the main feature of this type of drive is the transmission of torque from the power plant to the front wheels. The front-wheel drive layout allows you to create six variations of engine placement - three each in the longitudinal and transverse planes. The rear-wheel drive layout has four such variations.

Transversely mounted motors in front-wheel drive cars can be located in front of, above or behind the front axle. The longitudinally mounted engine also has exactly the same installation options. In addition, front-wheel drive cars have the opportunity to configure the power unit differently.

In a sequential arrangement, the main gear is located behind the engine, followed by the gearbox. In a parallel layout, the engine and transmission are on parallel axes and at the same height, and finally, in the so-called “floor” layout, the engine is located above the transmission.

Pros of front-wheel drive:

relative cheapness of production and maintenance;
the absence of a cardan and rear axle housing makes it possible to make the car more compact, lighter and more spacious both in the cabin and in the luggage compartment;
better traction of the front wheels on slippery roads due to the fact that the engine and transmission are located next to each other, and not spaced apart, like in rear-wheel drive cars;
better dynamics and efficiency of front-wheel drive cars due to lower curb weight;
better cross-country ability in loose snow compared to rear-wheel drive vehicles due to the fact that the front wheels have optimal grip on the road surface due to the mass of the engine located in the front of the vehicle;
excellent directional stability and a slight degree of understeer, in which a car entering a turn at speed tries to return to a straight trajectory on its own. This certainly affects the better safety of a front-wheel drive car.

Disadvantages of front-wheel drive:

due to the location of the engine on the front axle and its rigid “coupling” with the frame, vibrations from the engine are transmitted to the body, which makes comfort inside the cabin lower than in a rear-wheel drive car;
Reactive torques are transmitted to the steering wheel during acceleration, which complicates its control;
There is a moment of wheel slipping when the car accelerates sharply. This happens due to the fact that when accelerating, the weight from the front axle transfers to the rear, the front wheels lose traction with the road surface;
a large load on the front tires, which play the main role when accelerating, braking, and turning the car. Accordingly, their service life is reduced.

Choice #3 All-wheel drive

Perhaps the most desirable of all drives for Russians is all-wheel drive. It is perfect for driving on our less-than-ideal roads, and is a reliable assistant when overcoming off-road conditions. Currently, the popularity of all-wheel drive vehicles is growing.

Moreover, this applies to cars that use plug-in all-wheel drive systems, which allows such models to have good dynamics and be economical. The best option is crossovers, which have front-wheel drive as a base, and if necessary (off-road driving), the rear axle is also connected.

It turns out that all-wheel drive vehicles will appeal to those who often drive off-road.

A few words about the design features of all-wheel drive vehicles. All-wheel drive allows you to transmit torque to both axles simultaneously, which ensures optimal traction of the wheels with the road surface. There are three groups of all-wheel drive transmissions: permanent all-wheel drive, on-demand all-wheel drive and automatic all-wheel drive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjPcLNmXV0E

Permanent all-wheel drive in its design has a center differential with locks and a transfer case.

The automatically engaged all-wheel drive does not have a center differential in its design; only one axle is the drive (most often the rear), and the second is connected automatically as soon as the intelligent all-wheel drive system detects that the wheels of the drive axle have lost traction.

The on-demand all-wheel drive also does not have a center differential; the front axle is the drive, and the rear is connected through multi-plate clutches.

Pros of all-wheel drive:

excellent traction of all wheels with the road surface, which ensures no slipping when starting on a slippery surface, as well as high cross-country ability of the vehicle;
the best handling at high speed due to optimal weight distribution along the axles (typical for all-wheel drive sports cars);
high reliability of the design (especially with permanent all-wheel drive);
relative simplicity of design for cars with plug-in all-wheel drive (cars with permanent all-wheel drive have a more complex design);

Disadvantages of all-wheel drive:

increased transmission noise;
uncomfortable control when driving on city streets;
the heavy weight of the all-wheel drive transmission, which directly affects the dynamics and efficiency of such a car;
high cost of maintenance and repairs.

So, after weighing all the pros and cons of cars with rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, every car enthusiast can make his own, informed and subjective choice.

Source: fishki.net

Source: http://likegarage.com/kakoj-privod-luchshe-perednij-zadnij-ili-polnyj-privod.html

Which car drive is better: all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive?

Which car should I buy?

Hello, dear readers of the Kak-Kupit-Auto.ru .

In today's conversation with you, let's try to choose a car's drive and find out which drive is better : front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive? A car's drive is one of its most important characteristics, so before deciding which drive to choose , you need to understand how the types of car drives differ from each other.

Plan for choosing a car drive:

What kind of drive: front, rear or all-wheel drive?

A car's drive determines which wheels receive power from its engine .

All modern passenger cars have four wheels - two front and two rear, while the engine power of the car can be transmitted either to all four wheels, or to one pair of wheels - front or rear . What is the difference between front, rear and all-wheel drive ?

Front-wheel drive is when engine power is transmitted only to the front pair of wheels . The front wheels cling to the road and pull the entire car along with them, while the rear wheels roll freely behind them.
Rear-wheel drive is when engine power is transmitted only to the rear wheels . They rotate, cling to the ground and seem to push the car forward.
All-wheel drive is when torque from the engine is transmitted to both axles of the car , that is, simultaneously to all four wheels .

In general, all-wheel drive does not have to be permanent, and automobile designers have long understood this. Below, we, dear readers, will look at what types of all-wheel drive .

Which drive is safer? Which drive is the safest?

Front-wheel drive is much easier to control; a front-wheel drive car is more difficult to skid, so it is better to choose a car with front-wheel drive your first car .

On the other hand, skidding in a rear-wheel drive car can be easily corrected by intuitively releasing the gas - release the gas and the car returns to the trajectory. And on front-wheel drive , a skid means that the driver has crossed all permissible limits.

Here's a small example.

to cause a skid in a front-wheel drive car than in a rear-wheel drive car, but to get out of a skid in a front-wheel drive car requires much more skill. On rear-wheel drive , skidding is the norm and it occurs all the time, and to eliminate it it is usually enough to simply release the gas pedal.

We can say that rear-wheel drive immediately shows the driver the full danger of a slippery road, while front-wheel drive hides it from the driver until the last moment. However, even for rear-wheel drive there is a speed limit, after which releasing the gas is not able to stabilize the car.

Look how a rear-wheel drive car can skid.

As for all-wheel drive , things are even more complicated . All-wheel drive on a slippery surface can behave like front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive , depending on which wheel is slippery.

Let's look at the example of the most popular Chevrolet NIVA an ESP system , can behave .

This once again confirms that all-wheel drive only increases cross-country ability and improves acceleration dynamics , but does not improve handling .

And in this video, at a speed of 150 km/h, an Audi car, equipped with Quattro permanent all-wheel drive , falls into an oil puddle and goes into a skid. Only the pilot’s wealth of experience and nerves of steel allow him to emerge from the water dry and unharmed.

Front-wheel drive is characterized by higher directional stability than rear-wheel drive. On a snowy or muddy road, front-wheel drive runs like a steam locomotive on rails, while with rear-wheel drive you have to be very careful when using gas on a slippery road - the car can spin out.

But all-wheel drive handles snow porridge, as well as off-road conditions, even better than front-wheel drive, but if there is no center differential, then it is reluctant to turn. Be careful!

Rear-wheel drive allows you to accelerate faster, easily enters a skid, but also easily gets out of it, and all this together makes driving a rear-wheel drive car more interesting.

On slippery roads, rear-wheel drive handles completely differently than front-wheel drive, but many drivers appreciate it for this.

In general, if safety is not your last priority, and you want not only to drive a car, but to be able to drive it in any situation, then be sure to watch this video from the Main Road :

So, which drive is considered safer ? Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered unambiguously. Each type of car drive behaves differently, each has its own pros and cons, each type of drive must be used skillfully without violating the laws of physics.

But one thing can be said with confidence: if you need a safe car , then it can have any type of drive, the main thing is that it must have the exchange rate stability system - ESP .

This clever program is capable of braking each wheel individually, thus correcting many driver errors.

Which drive is the most passable?

Indeed, front-wheel drive has slightly higher cross-country ability than rear-wheel drive , and there are at least two reasons for this.

Firstly , the drive wheels of the front-wheel drive are pressed to the ground by the weight of the engine , which reduces slipping.

Secondly , the drive wheels of the front-wheel drive are steering wheels , and this allows the driver to set the direction of traction.

If the drive wheels slip, the driver of a front- or all-wheel drive car can use the front wheels to pull the car out of the snow cap, while the rear wheels follow strictly behind the front ones. Rear-wheel drive behaves worse in such a situation - the rear begins to demolish; it is very difficult to control this process.

Front-wheel drive climbs up slippery than rear-wheel drive.

The driving front wheels slip, but pull the car to the top, and the rear wheel drive , in such a situation, slips and tries to turn the car around.

The king of slippery climbs is undoubtedly His Majesty all-wheel drive , which climbs the icy slope without slipping .

And yet, when driving on slippery roads in winter, you cannot rely only on all-wheel drive, because its capabilities are not limitless. With studded tires, you can climb a slippery winter slope with any drive, especially if the car is equipped with the ESP anti-slip system .

So, the most passable , of course, is all-wheel drive . Rear-wheel drive is least suitable for off-road assault, but even with front-wheel drive it is better not to drive off hard surfaces.

Rear-wheel drive is suitable for you if you do not plan to leave paved roads. If you are sometimes going to make risky forays into the fields, then you should at least take a car with front-wheel drive , and for serious off-road forays you will need a car equipped with all-wheel drive .

Which drive accelerates faster?

On dry asphalt, rear-wheel drive accelerates faster than front-wheel drive.

When accelerating, the weight of the car is transferred to the rear axle, while the front wheels are unloaded, which is why front-wheel drive allows for strong slipping during acceleration.

with all-wheel drive accelerates fastest ; naturally, for this it must be equipped with a powerful engine.

So, if you need a car that accelerates faster than others, then you need to choose a car with rear-wheel drive , or better yet, all-wheel drive and the most powerful engine possible.

Which drive is better? Front or rear wheel drive?

Front-wheel drive outperforms rear-wheel drive in terms of fuel consumption . On average, front-wheel drive is more economical than rear-wheel drive, and the difference can reach 7%.

But all-wheel drive , in terms of efficiency, takes an honorable third place - it is the most gluttonous , largely because of this, most motorists choose front- or rear-wheel drive .

In rear-wheel drive cars , the front wheels do not have drive shafts, so the maximum steering angles on rear-wheel drive are greater, and the turning radius is smaller , which is very useful in city conditions.

Front-wheel drive is cheaper to manufacture than rear-wheel drive, so front-wheel drive cars are sold at more affordable prices. Lower price is the main advantage of front-wheel drive over rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

It is thanks to its low price that front-wheel drive has won the place of the most common of all types of drive: more cars with front-wheel drive are produced than with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive combined.

The second reason for the high popularity of front-wheel drive is its ease on slippery roads and its low demands on driver skill.

If you choose front- or rear-wheel drive , then in most cases front-wheel drive is the best option .

It is more accessible, more economical, simpler to design and less demanding on the pilot’s skill.

Rear-wheel drive is your option if you already have decent experience behind you, and now you want not just to drive a car, but to enjoy the very process of driving a car.

Which car drive is better?

So, we need to summarize. If everything is greatly simplified, then the conclusion can be drawn as follows: the best type of drive is all-wheel drive , working in tandem with the ESP exchange rate stability system .

However, all-wheel drive is more expensive to purchase and expensive to maintain , and it also consumes a lot of fuel . If you need something more economical , then the best option would be front-wheel drive , which has the ideal combination of characteristics.

Well, rear-wheel drive only if you have experience and you need the car, first of all, to enjoy driving .

Front-wheel drive advantages:

Low price
Reduced fuel consumption
Cross-country ability is higher than that of rear-wheel drive
Holds course well on slippery roads

Rear-wheel drive advantages:

Accelerates faster than the front
Easier to get out of a skid

Advantages of all-wheel drive:

Cross-country ability is much higher
Accelerates even faster than rear-wheel drive

Disadvantages of all-wheel drive:

High fuel consumption
High price
Expensive repairs and maintenance

We have discussed the main types of drive, now let's see what types of all-wheel drive .

Types of all-wheel drive

Permanent all-wheel drive

In this option, all four wheels are constantly connected to the engine , each of them always clings to the road and pushes the car forward, and this in itself is a big plus (for example, on a slippery slope).

However, full-time all-wheel drive is only really good when it is equipped with Electronic Stability Program ( ESP ), which applies the brakes to the correct wheel and prevents it from spinning if it hits a slipperier surface.

The disadvantage of permanent all-wheel drive is high fuel consumption , but the advantage is greater reliability .

As for cross-country ability , it is possible to storm off-road spaces with permanent all-wheel drive, but only if its design includes locking central and center differentials .

Advantages of permanent all-wheel drive:

Always Ready
High reliability

Disadvantages of permanent all-wheel drive:

Increased fuel consumption

Manually engaged all-wheel drive

This is the oldest and most inconvenient type of all-wheel drive , but its cross-country ability the highest .

Such a car, in its normal state, has rear-wheel drive , and the front wheels can be connected manually, but for this you need to stop. You cannot constantly drive with the front axle connected in such a car, as this creates loads on the transfer case and accelerates tire wear.

Also, a disadvantage of this scheme can be considered quite high fuel consumption , regardless of whether all-wheel drive is on or off.

This type of all-wheel drive also has its advantages . Firstly, such a drive is very good off-road , and secondly, it also has very high reliability .

Advantages of manually connected all-wheel drive:

Disadvantages of manually connected all-wheel drive:

Inconvenience of engaging all-wheel drive
High fuel consumption

Automatic all-wheel drive

This is the most modern type of all-wheel drive and the most promising , but it has not yet been perfected and does not withstand serious off-road conditions very well.

The implementation options for automatically connected all-wheel drive are very different, but the general principle is that one pair of wheels is constantly connected to the engine, and the second is connected only when necessary. This connection occurs through a multi-disc clutch, and the whole process is controlled by a computer.

Thus, in normal mode the car has a drive on one axle , and becomes all-wheel drive only when it is really needed .

The main advantages of this scheme are fuel economy and ease of use . The driver does not need to perform any actions; the computer itself connects the second pair of wheels when necessary.

On the other hand, a multi-plate clutch much less reliable than a classic all-wheel drive . Automatically connected all-wheel drive allows you to ignore snow drifts in the city and easily climb icy slopes, but it is not intended for serious off-road assault.

Advantages of automatically connected all-wheel drive:

Fuel economy
Ease of use

Disadvantages of automatically connected all-wheel drive:

With this, dear readers, I conclude this article. I hope it is now clear to you how the types of drive differ from each other, and you now know which drive to choose : front, rear or all-wheel drive. I wish you good luck in choosing the car of your dreams!

Source: http://kak-kupit-auto.ru/kakoj-kupit-avtomobil/kakoj-privod-vybrat/

[email protected]: which drive is better, front or rear? and why? ?

Sergess01 Oracle (93473) 6 years ago The difference in drives, in short, is as follows. With rear-wheel drive, you can set the trajectory of the front wheels and separately control the traction force. The driving wheels, accordingly, are located at the rear. On the front, you can control the force and direction of the thrust vector.

The driving wheels, accordingly, are located in front. What follows from all this, in short, is this. Front-wheel drive has better stability, but worse handling. He corners worse, but comes out better. Rear-wheel drive oversteers, while front-wheel drive understeers.

If you give the gas sharply (before slipping) with the steering wheel turned, the rear will spin in the ZP, the nose will seem to dive into the turn. On the PP the front will drift, the turn will straighten. On a slippery road, you can, in principle, drive faster on a checkpoint than on a backward one, but it’s more difficult, because...

it recovers worse from skids of the rear axle and side slips and, what is most sad, is subject to drift of the front axle, and this is more difficult to correct. If the driver (read: pilot) makes a mistake and gives a little more gas, the rear-wheel drive will slip into a skid, which is quite easily corrected. On the front, the front end will float, which is much worse.

Although, with a quiet ride it is easier. Because if you drive smoothly, front-wheel drive cars usually don’t skid at all, but on rear-wheel drive cars, a slight rear-wheel skid is the norm. Because of this, many uninformed people believe that rear-wheel drive is bad. But in reality, there is nothing wrong with that.

On non-slippery roads (normal asphalt), rear-wheel drive has an advantage. During a sharp start from a standstill, the car leans back, while the front axle is unloaded, and the rear axle, on the contrary, is loaded. The rear one has better traction, which means the rear drive wheels will be more difficult to slip, which means acceleration will be better.

The front one also has noticeably better cross-country ability. The engine puts pressure on the front wheels, they have better grip on the road, plus there is the ability to change the direction of traction in order to drive through a difficult section along the most optimal trajectory.

The difference is especially noticeable when starting on a steep, slippery slope, where the front-wheel drive behaves much better, the wheels seem to drag the car along with them. But in the back it’s more difficult, plus the rear can wobble a lot. Here we are talking about cars with low-power engines. If it is more than 150 l. With. , then with front-wheel drive the car will be practically uncontrollable.

That's why powerful cars are never made with front-wheel drive. Hence the conclusion: up to 150 liters. With. Front-wheel drive is better, but a little more complicated, and over 150, rear-wheel drive is better. In general, the best drive is all-wheel drive. But it is even more difficult to control than the front one. Sometimes it can behave like a rear one, sometimes like a front one, and sometimes purely in its own way.

When driving quietly, on the contrary, it is the simplest and most reliable. The word “all-wheel drive” means normal permanent all-wheel drive, and not perversions when the torque between the wheels is distributed by “smart” electronics; such cars are absolutely unpredictable, they cannot be accurately controlled in a critical situation.

But here we are talking about driving on the roads. On an SUV, of course, only four-wheel drive with locks is appropriate. But this is a separate topic.

Source: I

Friend Sage (11065) 6 years ago

For beginners and suckers only the front one, for masters - the rear one. . I have a rear one with a connected front one, 2 locks and a lowered row)))

Prosto Ya Sage (11838) 6 years ago

the rear one is no longer relevant - I’m only talking about our cars... well, take a simple car on wheels. Well, which way will it be easier to push – backwards or forwards? here’s your answer :)… for the average consumer, only front-wheel drive is relevant.

. Pro (761) 6 years ago

Front wheel drive is definitely better! example for you: it is better to pull a sled than to push it. and here too. The car copes better in mud and snow than in rear and is more stable in corners

Timur Eshmurzaev The Thinker (7905) 6 years ago

Full. And there's no point in arguing.

Lenya Ryzhov Student (183) 1 year ago

rear! For example, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, rear-wheel drive. And the front one is all sorts of garbage, for example, a VAZ car, for me rear-wheel drive is much cooler than your garbage!

Source: https://otvet.mail.ru/question/68616904

Front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive: which is better?

Some 30-40 years ago, our citizens associated front-wheel drive with the happy owner of a GAZ-69 and UAZ-469. Why "happy"? Yes, because these were departmental cars, and passenger front-wheel drive vehicles for civilian use did not exist in the Soviet Union.

And the question: “Should I choose rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive?” then it sounded largely rhetorical, because the answer to it was obvious. Only as a result of the so-called conversion, cars with a driven front axle became available to the mass consumer. At first it was a curiosity, but over time it became the norm.

At the end of the 90s, front-wheel drive ceased to amaze our average person: the Russian car market was sufficiently flooded with foreign off-road vehicles.

Since then, the domestic car enthusiast has managed to set his teeth on edge, and today the situation has changed to the opposite.

The choice between front- and rear-wheel drive has for some time now been determined by the status category of “cars”: more expensive modern models mostly have rear-wheel drive, while those that are cheaper have front-wheel drive.

In general, today it is not so important whether you choose front- or rear-wheel drive. It is more important to understand that a competent driver must react differently to critical situations when driving a front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive car.

“Long-suffering” front-wheel drive

It’s no secret: initially, front-wheel drive projects were a little slow, because the front axle, although traditionally standing closer to the engine, was movable thanks to the steering, unlike the rigidly fixed rear axle. This made it difficult for designers to solve the transmission problem. However, life dictated its conditions. And the further you go, the tougher it gets.

According to the laws of physics, front-wheel drive cars a priori behaved much more stable on the road while driving, which seemed to be a safer driving option. In addition, vehicles with front-wheel drive also had better cross-country ability. After all, the leading wheelset was not afraid of obstacles, but habitually overcame them; At the same time, she did not push the car, but pulled it along with her.

And, in the end, the finest hour of front-wheel drive has come. On a global scale, this did not happen suddenly, but rather gradually, starting from the post-war period. Suffice it to say that as a trend, for example, front-wheel drive began to finally dominate the Western Hemisphere in the 70s.

The difference between front and rear wheel drive is especially noticeable when you come out of a skid.

At the same time, when driving on dry, hard and smooth roads (which, by the way, are the vast majority in Europe today), front drive wheels are irrelevant.

Agree, during dynamic acceleration the car settles back, and the front drive wheels are unloaded, which cannot be regarded as a positive factor. This is why all racing cars are rear-wheel drive!

In conditions of ice and heavy rainfall, in such a situation there is a risk of lateral drift, which an amateur may not be able to overcome. This is why it is not advisable to take turns at high speed on front-wheel drive vehicles. After all, if you use the accelerator carelessly, the car will become uncontrollable.

"Advantages and disadvantages"

Unfortunately, as practice shows, front-wheel drive models are inferior to rear-wheel drive ones in the reliability of power transmission units, and their repair is relatively labor-intensive. In addition, the steering angle of the front wheels is wider for rear-wheel drive for obvious reasons.

Now let's list the advantages:

Lower cost.
Overall a more comfortable and confident driving experience.
Compact engine compartment (as a result – a more spacious interior).
Due to a more successful layout, the tank is located under the rear seats, which increases reliability during an accident and increases the volume of the luggage compartment.

"Good old" rear wheel drive

Rear-wheel drive models are already classics of the world automobile industry, brought today to almost ideal perfection.

At the same time, as statistics show, rear-wheel drive cars skid more often than front-wheel drive ones. Thus, in this sense they are less secure.

For this reason, rear-wheel drive models of leading car brands are equipped with appropriate electrical equipment to optimize handling. And the owners of Russian rear-wheel drive brands of previous years of production try to carefully drive their car in rain, snow and ice.

By and large, the number of accidents associated with uncontrolled skidding is approximately the same for any drive. Moreover, paradoxically, it is easier to get out of a developed skid on rear-wheel drive than on front-wheel drive (although it is more insidious).

But to acquire skills, the driver needs to practice well in coordinating the simultaneous release of gas by turning the steering wheel in the direction of the skid. With sufficient preparation, the skid becomes manageable.

"Advantages and disadvantages"

The disadvantages include:

Rear-wheel drive models make the car heavier due to the extended transmission. At the same time, the floor area in the cabin is reduced due to the “central cardan tunnel”.
When driving on snow or ice, the rear part of the body often begins to “drive” from side to side.
Not sufficiently passable in mud and relatively high snowdrifts.

The positive points are:

The steering wheel does not “jump” during acceleration.
There is no rocker mechanism for gear shifting.
There is no slipping due to unsatisfactory loading of the leading pair.
Possibility to equip with massive boxes and power units.
Uniform, therefore longer wear of rear and front tires.
The gearbox and motor are mounted on soft body elements, which prevents vibration.
Even weight distribution between four wheels. This circumstance facilitates the adjustment of the chassis and optimizes the steering functions. Suffice it to say that for front-wheel drive cars without an electronic stabilization system, 200 “horses” is the maximum value. That is, if you put a more powerful motor on it, you can simply forget about the necessary and sufficient stability while driving. In the case of rear-wheel drive, 300-500 hp are quite possible.

Key functional arguments, or how front-wheel drive differs from rear-wheel drive

So, front-wheel drive has an undeniable advantage on slippery (wet) surfaces, rear-wheel drive - on dry ones.
But that is not all! It’s not without reason that motorists continue to argue about which drive is better – front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.

Some of them, due to various circumstances, decided that all-wheel drive is the most advanced, front-wheel drive is “middle-and-half,” and rear-wheel drive is complete crap. All these are nothing more than stereotypes that dominate us.

After all, if we think logically, why release a model with a obviously losing drive? No, something is wrong here...

The thing is that the drive itself does not play a decisive role in the vehicle control system, but only in combination with power. In modern cars, the main feature of rear-wheel drive is its ability to harness a large amount of horsepower.

If we combine the two types of drive, we get an all-wheel drive vehicle that any car owner with a creative streak dreams of. A good example is all-terrain vehicles, which are popularly called jeeps. However, all-wheel drive inherited from its “parents” the technical shortcomings that they possess (albeit in small quantities). For example, on sharp turns he does not behave confidently enough.

It is no secret that the drive is usually selected taking into account the purpose for which the “wheelbarrow” is purchased, as well as based on the operating conditions, the main thing of which is the nature of the ride. As you probably already guessed, rear-wheel drive cars are predominantly used for drifting. Although not all professional racers agree with this statement.

Advantages of all-wheel drive vehicles:

increased dynamics;
they are most effective in icy conditions.

A negative property of all-wheel drive is increased wear of transmission parts and a relatively high noise level in the cabin. But these are the design features.

What do we have in the bottom line?

In fact, the question in the title looks incorrect. Any drive is good for certain conditions. Thus, vehicles for Formula 1 are equipped with rear-wheel drive, and for cross-country competitions, the vast majority are equipped with front-wheel drive, and types of vehicles for rallying are produced with all-wheel drive.
If the movement is carried out in the urban cycle in a car of one of the latest models, the question posed is generally irrelevant. For it has all kinds of comprehensive security systems; therefore both drives are equally acceptable.
In extreme situations from the point of view of accidents, any drive turns out to be powerless in the face of imminent disaster.

You should rely only on skill, composure and good reaction, coupled with coordination of actions. Bearing in mind the nature of the drive that the car is equipped with, an unconfused driver usually copes with an emergency traffic situation.
Be that as it may, front-wheel drive deservedly holds the palm in the class of popular models due to a set of undeniable amenities.

Experts still have to admit the obvious: all other things being equal, driving “front-wheel drive” vehicles is easier and safer, and the internal usable space is objectively larger.

Thus, the pros and cons of front- and rear-wheel drive, although they more or less balance each other, nevertheless somehow incline the consumer to the first option.

At least for the Russian consumer. However, it is worth noting that among wealthy buyers, the fashion for rear-wheel drive seems to be returning lately.

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Source: http://jrepair.ru/interesnoe-na-jrepair-ru/agregats/perednij-ili-zadnij-privod-chto-luchshe