When buying a new car, most people agonize over the color, the horsepower, the safety rating, the fuel economy, even the number of cup holders. What is often overlooked is whether it comes with rear- or front-wheel drive. That decision can make a huge difference in terms of how and where you drive.
Why? Fundamentally, front-wheel-drive cars offer better traction in bad weather, courtesy of the grip created by the engine's weight over the driven wheels, whereas rear-wheel offers better performance. Honda, for example, offers front-wheel drive; Porsche, rear.
For decades, the U.S. was a rear-wheel nation. It wasn't until the oil crisis of the 1970s that new imports from companies such as Toyota (TM) and Honda (HMC) first exposed a wide number of Americans to front-wheel cars. (Europe and Asia have been front-wheeling it for generations.)
Besides traction, FWD cars offer other benefits. Without a driveshaft connecting the front power source to the back wheels, interior space is freed up and cars weigh less, meaning more fuel efficiency. The simplification also means fewer parts are required, meaning the cars cost less to build and to buy.
The sudden demand for front-wheel cars caught Detroit by surprise. In the 1970s and '80s, in their scramble to offer their own lighter, more fuel-efficient cars, quality was often sacrificed, clearing the way for more reliable imports to carve out a large chunk of the market
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