RWD

Rear-wheel drive is a vehicle layout in which the engine drives only the rear wheels, with the front wheels handling steering alone. Power from the engine is transmitted through the transmission, propeller shaft, and differential to the rear axle. This arrangement has been the dominant drivetrain in cars for most of automotive history, particularly for larger vehicles, performance cars, and trucks.

The propeller shaft (also called the driveshaft) runs the length of the vehicle from the transmission to the rear differential, a tube typically 0.5 to 0.75 inches in diameter made from steel or aluminum. This shaft must rotate at high speed and handle significant torque, so it is carefully balanced and supported by a center bearing on longer vehicles. The differential, mounted in the rear axle housing, allows the rear wheels to turn at different speeds during cornering while still receiving power.

Handling and packaging trade-offs

RWD produces distinct handling characteristics: under acceleration, weight transfers to the rear, increasing rear tire grip and improving traction on slippery surfaces. Under heavy braking, the opposite occurs, which is why RWD vehicles benefit from more braking force at the front. The interior floor can be flat because no transmission tunnel is needed, allowing a longer wheelbase or more passenger space for a given overall length. However, RWD occupies significant cargo volume with the differential housing, transmission hump, and propeller shaft.

The rear wheels steer the vehicle through dynamic weight transfer during aggressive cornering or on slippery surfaces, and improper steering input can cause oversteer (the rear sliding outward), which demands driver correction. Front-wheel drive eliminates this risk but reduces front grip under hard acceleration. Many drivers and engineers prefer the controllable, predictable behavior of RWD once understood, which has kept it standard in sports cars and luxury sedans.

RWD remains the default for trucks and commercial vehicles because the rear axle must carry the payload, and placing drive wheels at the load point improves traction. It is also cheaper to manufacture than all-wheel drive in large volumes. In recent years, RWD has become less common in compact and midsize passenger cars as front-wheel drive and crossovers have gained market share, but it persists in performance models, large sedans, and trucks.