Front-Wheel Drive Vs. Rear-Wheel Drive

Posted on: Feb 20, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Front-Wheel Drive Vs. Rear-Wheel Drive

The drivetrain of a vehicle refers to all the associated shafts and components that are essential for wheel turning during driving. Currently, 4 variants of drivetrains are available in cars: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and 4-wheel drive.

What is front-wheel drive?

This implies that the car’s engine drives the front wheels. In these sorts of vehicles, the steering functionality is absent in the rear wheels.

The FWD variant consists of limited components as compared to the other variants, keeping the vehicle light. The vehicle experiences enhanced fuel economy and mileage. Most economical vehicles are equipped with this type of drive. Moreover, they are ideal during the rainy season. However, it doesn’t mean you do not need a car insurance plan.

What is rear-wheel drive?

The engine’s power is transferred to the rear wheel using an elongated driveshaft. Here, the vehicle moves forward using the rear wheels. They prove to be better variants in the case of towing.

Differences between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive

A comparative analysis between front wheel drive vs rear wheel drive will clarify the matter better:

PARAMETERS	FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE	REAR-WHEEL DRIVE
WEIGHT	The weight may not remain balanced	Evenly balanced weight
GEARBOX AND CLUTCH	The gearbox, differential, and clutch form a single unit	The gearbox and clutch are separate units
LUGGAGE SPACE	Spacious rear luggage space	Because of the presence of the final drive, reduced rear luggage space
UNDERSTEER CONDITION	Tend to understeer on slippery slopy surfaces	Effective even on slippery slopes
DIFFERENTIAL AND PROPELLER SHAFT	The differential is at the front. Moreover, a special layout supports the low floor.	Enhanced floor height for the presence of differential and elongated propeller shaft
TRACTION	Superb additional holding ability especially at the curves	Reduced holding capacity and traction
WEIGHT PLACEMENT	Wing wheels possess more weight resulting in enhanced traction.	The driving wheels possess less weight package, risking the chances of skidding on slippery surfaces

Your car insurance premium is also dependent on the type of the vehicle: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and 4-wheel drive.

Conclusion

Now you can understand the varieties of drivetrains and how they impact the overall performance and price of the vehicle. It may even impact the cost of comprehensive insurance policy and the prospects of IDV in car insurance.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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