Rear-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, and All-Wheel Drive Simplified.

Rear-wheel drive (RWD) cars have the back wheels pushing the car along. Most race cars have RWD because the driver can still steer if the wheels break loose and, in straight acceleration, a car tilts back, giving more traction to the rear wheels.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) cars have the front wheels pulling the car along. Front wheel drive cars are safer to drive in the snow and rain than rear wheel drive cars because there is more weight over the drive wheels, offering better traction. They also typically get better fuel economy.

Four-wheel drive (4WD) cars are different from all wheel drive (AWD) in that four wheel drive is an option from rear-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive drives all wheels on all surfaces continuously. Four-wheel drive (low mode) offers significant off road driving capability.