Confused about FWD, RWD or AWD?

With the SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) dominating the recent sales of the past years, consumers now are flooded with auto drivetrain terminologies that can be quite daunting to understand.

At the base of this lies the choice of FWD, RWD and AWD drivetrains abbreviations that can sound confusing to the new consumers. Drivetrains are the components that deliver power to the driving wheels. With letters and numberscoming together to form abbreviations like 4WD or iAWD, I ponder on what it is like to choose the right car that is suited for you.

We will now deal with these abbreviations in the most basic terms to help consumers understand what these different drivetrains are all about.  

Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) is probably the oldest form of drivetrain component and is present inmost cars on the road. These have two types, the Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and front wheel drive (FWV) with the RWD being the oldest type of drivetrain. 

Generally, these cars handle better as the weight distribution is balanced more evenly between the front and rear. Additionally, because the front wheels do not have to do both driving and steering, the suspension can be built well with lesser components, allowing for better ride quality. These drivetrains are found in premium sedans.

The front-wheel drive (FWD), on the other hand,was invented in the 60s and is now the most common with most passenger cars. It is commonly more economical to buildand run, with modern examples utilizing the compact orientation to free up space for leg room and storage.

Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) is an old term for off-road vehicles.  But whenAudi joined the World Rally Championship with the Quattro, the perception of 4WD has changed, I should say.Up until that time, 4WD has normally been reserved for vehicles that can handle rougher terrain, off-road driving and low-traction conditions. Now, 4WD systems are split into three main types - part-time, full-time and automatic modes.   

In the basic set-up, the 4WD system is part-time 2WD for road use until the driver requires the system to be in 4WD during severe off-road conditions. The driver can manually switch from 2WD to 4WD. Because of the way part-time systems are set up, it must be switched back to 2WD mode when on normal road conditions, as to prevent damage to the drivetrain.  Most SUV’s have this system.

Another type of 4WD is the Full-time AWD (All Wheel Drive). This system has the engine powering each wheel all the time. There is no risk to drivetrain damage as there is a center differential specifically designed to cope with the tires rotating at different speeds during a turn.

Automatic 4WD or an intelligent All Wheel Drive (iAWD) System is a hybrid of the two via an on-board computer. This system operates on 2WD until road conditions require it to change to AWD mode.

There are more complicated variants of AWDs that provide constant power that is split between the front and rear. The range in general includes systems that are predictive, on-demand, symmetrical, full time and more, depending on how the manufacturer has designed it to engage. Most importantly, most of them use on-board computers with software and sensors to make the system more reactive.

It is good to note that when it comes to fuel economy, the automatic and part-time systems do provide better mileage compared to the full-time system.  

So, which one is best for you? This all depends on your lifestyle and where you drive daily. If you mostly drive to work and back, the practicality and uncostliness of the FWD will serve its purpose.If you have a big family, a 2WD SUV will suffice as well. But if you want to occasional stray on the road less traveled, a full-time 4WD system will be well worth it.  

Even so, with the Philippines tropical weather seeing rain and shine all year round, it is no surprise why local consumers are gearing towards an AWD SUV or 4WD pick-up trucks. One thing to remember is, despite having all these systems to help you during your drive, nothing is more important than having adequate driving knowledge in varying road conditions.