Front-Wheel Drive vs Rear-Wheel Drive Cars, Here Are the Advantages!

When wanting to buy a car, everyone certainly considers the car's drivetrain system before deciding on their choice of vehicle. Should they choose a front-wheel drive car or a rear-wheel drive car?

Before you make a decision, consider the reviews of the advantages and disadvantages of both types of car drivetrain systems.

Front-Wheel Drive Cars in Indonesia

The front-wheel drive system, better known as Front Wheel Drive (FWD). The use of the FWD system began in the 1930s. In 1934, the FWD system was first used by the Traction Avant (Citroen) car.

Many may wonder, what cars are front-wheel drive? Currently, the FWD system is applied by cars like Daihatsu Sigra, Ayla, and other urban vehicles.

In Indonesia, the use of cars with the FWD system is quite popular due to the number of car manufacturers that use this system. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of cars with the FWD system.

Advantages of Front-Wheel Drive Cars

Why do cars now use front-wheel drive? The advantages of cars with the FWD system are as follows.

1. Lower Production Costs

This happens because the parts used in FWD cars are fewer and do not use a differential.

2. Lighter Weight

This occurs because FWD cars do not have a differential.

3. More Fuel-Efficient

Its lightweight makes the engine's performance not too heavy, thus saving fuel.

4. Better Acceleration

This occurs because the distance from the engine to the drive wheels (front) is close and can be transmitted well. Thus, the car's engine performance is maximized and fast.

Disadvantages of Front-Wheel Drive Cars

Although it has many advantages, the FWD system also has several disadvantages that need to be considered, including:

1. Difficult to Turn (Understeer)

This happens because the front wheels of the car function as the center for steering the wheels while also pushing the car forward.

2. Quickly Damages Wheel Components and Drive Shaft

This happens because the number of components at the front of the car is too many. Thus, it sometimes causes loud noises from the cabin. It is also caused by the wheels slipping too often when the car is climbing.

3. Difficult to Climb

Is a front-wheel drive car strong for climbing? The answer is no! When the car climbs, the position of the car will increasingly tilt backward. This happens because the load will shift to the back of the car.

Rear-Wheel Drive Cars

This type of car is better known as Rear Wheel Drive (RWD). The RWD system is usually used for commercial vehicles such as bemos, buses, and trucks.

Because this car uses a differential as a connection between the car's transmission and the car's engine. Some cars in Indonesia that use the RWD system are Daihatsu Xenia, and Daihatsu Terios.

Advantages of Rear-Wheel Drive Cars

Above we have learned about front-wheel drive cars along with their advantages and disadvantages. So, which is better, front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive? To find out, here are the advantages of rear-wheel drive cars as follows.

1. Longer Component Lifespan (Durable)

This happens because in RWD cars, the workload on the wheels is distributed according to their function.

The front wheels are only used for steering. While the rear wheels function as the car's drive. This is what makes several components such as tires, ball joints, drives, and steering more durable.

2. Suitable for Climbing Terrain

RWD cars have a stronger push system at the back, making them better than FWD cars.

3. More Balanced Steering

This occurs due to the balanced distribution of workload between the front and rear wheels.

Disadvantages of Rear-Wheel Drive Cars

However, rear-wheel drive cars also have disadvantages.

1. Heavier Car Weight

This happens because the rear of the car has many parts, such as the differential, axle, and propeller shaft.

2. Prone to Skidding (Oversteer)

The high performance of the rear wheels makes this car prone to skidding (slipping).

3. Narrow Cabin

The many components stored at the back of the car, such as the propeller shaft and transmission system components, make the cabin narrower.

Well, those are some advantages and disadvantages of front-wheel drive vs rear-wheel drive cars that you should know.

So, are you interested in using a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive system? If you are still confused about making your choice, you can visit the nearest Daihatsu dealer to help you choose a car according to your needs.

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