What are your considerations when buying a car? Some automotive lovers may consider the brand, type of car, price, or specifications, such as the drive system.

The drive system is an important aspect. This is because the selected driving mode will be adjusted to the needs or the terrain. The front wheel drive system (Front Wheel Drive or FWD) and the rear wheel drive system (Rear Wheel Drive or RWD) are drivers that Indonesian automotive lovers have never been able to talk about. Although today many cars use FWD drive, there are still many manufacturers who maintain RWD drive. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. To find out which drive system is superior, let's read this article to the end.

Getting to Know the Front Wheel Drive System

The front wheel drive system began to be used since the 1930s where the Citroen Traction Avant became the first car to be successfully introduced. Until now, FWDs are widely used by urban vehicles or city cars. This system works by means of engine power being channeled to the two front wheels of the car, without the process through the axle because the axle is directly connected to the engine and transmission. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of a car that uses FWD drive?

In terms of efficiency, the car with FWD implemented wins. This is because the position of the engine, gearbox, and axle are in front, the engine response is channeled, making it optimal. As a result, gasoline consumption is more efficient because energy is not reduced much due to fewer driving components.

Because the engine’s position is generally transverse, the engine room is designed to be more compact and makes the car’s cabin more spacious. So, when compared to RWD, cars with FWD generally have a wider and more comfortable cabin. In addition, because there is no power transmission shaft to the rear axle, the cabin floor is also designed to be flatter and quieter.

Unfortunately, behind the advantages, this drive system has disadvantages. One of them is in the area of the front legs, such as the wheels, steering wheel, and suspension, which have a heavier workload because of their duties as a driving force as well as steering and retaining the load when the car is braking. As a result, some of the forefoot components have a shorter service life so they are quickly damaged. As for handling matters, the FWD drive system tends to understeer.

Getting to Know the Rear Wheel Drive System

The rear wheel drive (RWD) system utilizes the rear wheels to channel power from the engine, while the front wheels are only used to control the car.

The RWD drive system has the advantage of a more ideal weight distribution. Because the front wheels are only used for steering and the rear wheels for driving, the workload of each can be optimally distributed so that the use of suspension, steering and brake components can be longer. Cars with this drive are also more reliable for incline terrain because the tires don't lose traction easily.

While the lack of a RWD drive system is in the heavy weight of the car considering the many components used. Generally, the engine used has a longitudinal or longitudinal design so that it requires a larger engine space and has an impact on the cabin space that feels cramped.

In addition to the front and rear wheel drive systems, there is also a drive system that is channeled to all four wheels of the car simultaneously. 4WD or Four Wheel Drive mode is often used in off-road cars such as the famous Suzuki Jimny until now.

Cars that use a 4WD drive system can adjust the drive system to 2WD for flat and straight roads. The advantage is that a 4WD car has maximum traction and allows the other wheels to work to receive power when one of the wheels slips which makes this car safe to use even on uneven terrain.

Cars Using the FWD Drive System

After knowing the advantages of a car that uses front wheel drive or FWD, are you planning to buy it? The following is a list of front-wheel drive cars that you can often find paving on the road.

Honda Mobilio

Honda Mobilio is one of Honda's MPVs that has a sporty and elegant exterior. Exterior from the front side, this car is equipped with the latest LED Light Guide headlights that will maximize your trip at night. While from the rear exterior, Mobilio has Rear License Garnish on both stop lights.

Entering the interior, Honda embeds several advanced features that will accompany the driver on the trip. With ergonomic semi-bucket seats and thick seat wings, Honda guarantees passenger comfort. From the kitchen side, Mobilio is equipped with a 1.5 L i-VTEC engine capable of producing 88 Kw of power at 6,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 145 Nm at 4,600 rpm.

Daihatsu Ayla

You can consider Daihatsu Ayla if you are looking for a fuel efficient car at an affordable price. This car has a small dimension that will really help the driver navigate the journey in urban areas and even narrow alleys. From the front exterior, Ayla is equipped with a multi-reflector headlamp with a sharp and narrow design. As for the rear view, this car is more sporty thanks to the presence of a body spoiler that is designed to follow the flow of the car.

Entering the cabin, Ayla has a minimalist interior with quality materials. The second row seats are designed to be more flexible and can be folded which can be used to increase luggage capacity.

Daihatsu Ayla carries the 1KR-DE Engine engine that produces powerful performance without losing its essence as a fuel-efficient car. For a capacity of 998 cc DOHC 3 cylinder 12 valve which is capable of producing a maximum power of 65 PS and a maximum torque of 85 Nm.

Suzuki Ertiga

The next car with a front-wheel drive system is the Suzuki Ertiga, which is more stylish thanks to the New Alloy Wheel and New Electric Foldable Outside Mirror. For the cabin, this car is equipped with various entertainment features and safety features. Driving comfort is increased thanks to the luxurious interior with New Pattern Fabric on the inner seats and third row seats that already use the 50:50 split system.

For the engine, the car is equipped with K148 DOHC inline cylinder 16 valve technology with a capacity of 1,400 cc. With this engine technology, the Ertiga is capable of producing 92 PS of power at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

Cars Using the RWD Drive System

For those of you who need a car that can be taken to any terrain, then a car with rear-wheel drive or RWD is the right choice. The following is a list of cars that use the system.

Daihatsu Terios

The Daihatsu All New Terios is a compact 7-seater SUV designed for adventurous Indonesian families. From the front exterior, this car comes with a more aerodynamic design with a touch of elegant accents thanks to the grille and chrome fog lamps. While from the side, it has a sturdy and tall impression thanks to the 220mm ground clearance and the use of 17-inch Polished Alloy Wheel with Black Paint.

To give a comfortable and safe impression while driving, Daihatsu has embedded active and sophisticated safety systems, one of which is Anti Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and Hill Start Assist (HSA), SRS Airbags, and seatbelts on all passenger seats.

The Daihatsu All New Terios still uses a rear-wheel drive configuration because it is believed to be more skilled at being used on Indonesian roads. The car is equipped with a 2NR-VE 1,500 cc Dual VVT-i engine technology that is capable of producing 104 hp and a maximum torque of 145 Nm.

Mitsubishi Triton

As one of the heavy duty vehicles, the Mitsubishi Triton has been present for more than 40 years in the automotive world which is designed to go through all terrain lines. At first glance, especially if you look at it from the front, the Mitsubishi Triton has an exterior similar to the Mitsubishi Xpander thanks to the Dynamic Shield Concept design arrangement on the front fascia.

From the interior side, this car comes with comfortable seats even if used in the off road arena. Triton comes in three variants, namely Single Cab (two seats), Club Cab (two seats and small luggage), and Double Cab (four adult seats and one child) to meet the needs.

For the kitchen spur, the engine uses a 4N15 with a capacity of 2.4 L which is capable of producing 133 kW of power and a maximum torque of 430 Nm with two transmission options, namely 6 levels of automatic Sport Mode acceleration and 6 speed manual.

Kijang Innova

Toyota Kijang Innova has long been known as an Indonesian family car and has become the car of a million people. For decades, the Innova as a Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) segment car has had many changes.

In the last generation, the New Toyota Kijang is more elegant with a new fascia concept thanks to a more stylish lamp design. In terms of features, the car is equipped with safety features such as dual SRS Airbags, Side Impact Beams, to the Global Outstanding Assessment Body type car frame that provides stability and comprehensive protection.

Regarding the front wheel drive and rear wheel drive, both have advantages and disadvantages. If asked which one is superior, of course it will depend on your needs.

If the car is used for a daily car or a car for the family, then the economical and fuel efficient FWD drive is superior. However, for those of you who like to drive with maneuverability on off-road terrain, then RWD is a good choice. Which drive system do you like best?

MPM Rent car rental service has a fleet of vehicles with front and rear wheel drive systems that can be tailored to your needs. Car rental in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Makassar, or other cities in Indonesia is easier and faster at MPM Rent because it has touch points spread throughout Indonesia.