Glendale Nissan Official Blog
Find Out How Different Drivetrain Styles Compare
By Product Expert | Posted in Performance & Safety, Tips & Tricks on Tuesday, January 12th, 2016 at 12:21 am
Front-Wheel Drive vs Rear-Wheel-Drive vs All-Wheel Drive
Buying a new car means you have a big decision to make. It can be tough to choose a single car to invest in when you have a ton of choices. With so many options of styles, models, features, drivetrains, and more, it can feel pretty daunting trying to choose one specific vehicle. Well, here at Glendale Nissan were going to try to make this decision a little easier for you by delving into one of the most common aspects you’ll be choosing when it comes to a new car.
Read More: Curious Which Nissan Models Are Equipped with All-Wheel Drive? Find Out More Here
We’re going to compare Front-Wheel Drive vs Rear-Wheel Drive vs All-Wheel Drive, to help you decide which drivetrain style is best for you. Nissan alone has many great SUVS like the 2015 Murano and 2016 Pathfinder, and generally they all have the option to add AWD or choose the standard FWD. Let’s take a closer look at these options so you can decide which style is best for your needs and lifestyle.
Pros and Cons of Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Front-Wheel Drive is going to be the most common drivetrain option available to you. Most cars (apart from performance-heavy models) have FWD standard. Many SUVs have Front-Wheel Drive as well, while also offering the option to choose All-Wheel Drive. Generally, Front-Wheel Drive is a good choice. Cars that come with FWD are usually more affordable since they’re less expensive to design and build. They’re also lighter, which means better fuel economy ratings.
Overall, vehicles with Front-Wheel Drive provide better traction than rear-wheel drive since the weight is in the front where the power also is. However, FWD will not offer as much traction as AWD in certain road conditions, like snow and rain. Front-Wheel Drive is also not the most ideal for performance vehicles since vehicles equipped with FWD are so heavy in the front, meaning less-optimal handling.
Pros and Cons of Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)
Rear-Wheel Drive is most often found in high-performing vehicles like sports cars. Many trucks also have Rear-Wheel Drive as well, which is ideal for lifting heavy cargo. Rear-Wheel Drive is not as complex as other drivetrains and vehicles with RWD handle high-octane driving situations very well. The weight of the drivetrain is balanced throughout the vehicle instead of just in the front, meaning better all-around handling than a vehicle with Front-Wheel Drive.
As for the cons of Rear-Wheel Drive, that will be the traction in bad weather. RWD will be incredibly poor for driving on slippery and snowy roads, coming in 3rd if we rank the three drive trains by how well they’ll do in bad weather. If you live where the weather often leads to rough driving conditions, Rear-Wheel Drive may not be the best option if you don’t have a secondary vehicle to rely on.
Pros and Cons of All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
All-Wheel Drive has some serious advantages over FWD and RWD. This drivetrain offers the benefits of both of the other drivetrains, while eliminating their disadvantages. With AWD, you get prime handling in all conditions, from dry, clear roads to slick, snowy roads. Even off-roading is easy with All-Wheel Drive. With significantly better traction, AWD is a great option for people who experience long winters and harsh seasons.
Generally, All-Wheel Drive does have a few disadvantages. Vehicles equipped with AWD tend to be more costly since they require more work to build and design. They also tend be less fuel efficient than a vehicle with Front-Wheel Drive since they’re usually heavier. Often times, these numbers aren’t as significant as someone might expect, so it may be worth it to spend a little more money to get optimal handling all year long.
We also want to note that not every vehicle with All-Wheel Drive will be the same. Some vehicles will send more power to all four wheels than others, and some will only send power as necessary, like when the front wheels start slipping. If you are considering All-Wheel Drive, you’ll want to understand how the system in your desired vehicle works.
If you are thinking about one of the many great Nissan models available but you’re still unsure what kind of drivetrain you want, feel free to reach out to our staff for more information about your options. We’ll help you find the perfect vehicle to fit your needs!
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