For most of us, driving a car means stepping on the accelerator to move the car. But did you know that a car may move in either of two ways – propelled by the front wheels or pushed by the back wheels?

Front-wheel-drive
A front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle is propelled by its front wheels. This type of drivetrain accounts for the vast majority of cars on the road.

One reason for their popularity is the fact that they are cheaper to make than rear-wheel-drive cars. The transmission and differential are located in one place, and fewer parts are needed to build the car. A shorter distance and fewer parts between the engine and the driven wheels means less horsepower loss through mechanical inefficiency.

FWD cars have larger interior spaces as no large bumps in the floorpan are required to accommodate mechanical parts. And with no rear differential, the boot can be bigger too.

In FWD cars, traction is improved by having the weight of the engine and transaxle over the drive wheels. In general, FWD cars are safer and more controllable for the average driver.

However, FWD also has disadvantages such as a decrease in vehicle handling ability. The ideal weight distribution of a car is often described as 50/50 front to rear, but FWD cars rarely achieve this. FWD cars tend to pull to one side, requiring you to steer in the other direction to compensate because of torque steer.

Rear-wheel-drive
In rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicles, the engine is usually in the front and engine power applied to the rear wheels through the transmission, down the drive shaft and through the differential to the rear axles and wheels. However, this means they have less interior and boot space.

RWD cars cost more to build because the assembly process is more complex and more materials are needed.

In RWD cars, the weight distribution is closer to the ideal 50/50 between the front and back wheels. Because of the more equal weight distribution, the front and rear tyres are placed under more even load, which allows for more grip while cornering. RWD is the preferred choice for high performance and sports cars for this reason.

The balance and handling of RWD cars are better because the rear wheels handle acceleration, leaving the front wheels to concentrate on directing the vehicle. These cars also have higher cornering limits.