There are four types of drivetrains available in the market - All-wheel drive (AWD), Four-wheel drive (4WD), Front-wheel drive (FWD), and Rear-wheel drive (RWD). Omanicar.com will herein discuss the different drivetrains and explain their differences.
Simply put:
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Front Wheel Drive vehicles have power in their front wheels.
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Rear Wheel Drive vehicles have power in their rear wheels.
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Four Wheel Drive vehicles can provide power directly to all four wheels. The system can be turned on or off manually based on the need.
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All Wheel Drive vehicles provide power to all four wheels at all times. The system determines and sends power to the wheels as per requirement.
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
In an FWD car, the power from the engine is delivered to the front wheels of the vehicle. The front wheels actually pull the car along, providing more traction, better stability, predictability and dependability. FWD vehicles generally have better fuel economy and emit less carbon dioxide. Since the weight of the engine is located over the driving wheels, a FWD vehicle can maintain better traction when climbing hills and driving on slippery roads.
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)
In a rear-wheel drive, the engine’s power is delivered to the rear wheels. As opposed to cars with FWD, a car with RWD is pushed down the road. An RWD vehicle provides balance and offers superior braking, handling and towing capabilities. Steering is much easier since the back wheels provide the power while the front wheels do the steering.
Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)
4WD means the power from the engine is delivered to all 4 wheels of the car. Most 4WD systems need to be activated electronically or by pulling a lever. A 4WD can handle low speeds in sand, snow or mud, while offering the drivability of two-wheel drive in normal conditions. This results in less fuel consumption in normal conditions when driven in two-wheel drive mode. 4WD is typically more robust, and provides the best traction in off-road conditions. Its biggest advantage is its versatility and power to take on any terrain or weather condition. However, a 4WD is more expensive than two-wheel drive vehicles.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
The all-wheel drivetrain system employs a front, rear and center differential to provide power to all four wheels of a vehicle. This provides a highly improved capability for driving on wet or slippery roads. There are in fact two types of AWD drivetrain. One is a full-time AWD, while the other operates mostly in two-wheel-drive mode, and automatically changes to AWD mode when additional traction control is required.
No matter what type of drivetrain you prefer, you will find the car of your choice on Omanicar.com. Browse the wide range of new, pre-owned or imported cars on the site and find the best deals in town! In addition to cars, you can also buy insurance and spare parts for your vehicles on Omanicar.com.
