The first cars, for the most part, had rear-wheel drive. This was due to the fact that at the beginning of the twentieth century it was structurally difficult to implement the idea of a drive to steered wheels in a mass car. But in the 30s, front-wheel drive cars began to appear, which became popular in the 60s and 70s.
It is worth noting that modern technologies that help the driver to drive the car practically equalize front- and rear-wheel drive cars both in consumer qualities and in safety and controllability. Therefore, the choice between front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive is often determined by the class of the car: expensive cars are rear-wheel drive, budget cars are front-wheel drive.
Front-wheel drive
In terms of mass production, front-wheel drive cars are cheaper than rear-wheel drive ones. Also, front-wheel drive cars are rightly considered safer and better controllable during acceleration and even driving, on front-wheel drive cars it is easier to get out of a skid. In addition, front-wheel drive cars have slightly better cross-country ability - the drive wheels do not run into an obstacle, but overcome it.
However, with a sharp acceleration, the weight of the car is redistributed to the rear wheels. The front drive wheels are relieved and the acceleration efficiency is reduced. Under certain conditions, when the accelerator pedal is pressed sharply onto the steering wheel, reactive forces can be transmitted and the steering wheel can twitch quite violently. In icy conditions, heavy rain, sleet on the front wheel drive there is a danger of demolition, which is difficult to deal with for an unprepared driver. Therefore, on front-wheel drive vehicles, it is recommended that you enter corners at a safe speed and use the accelerator pedal more carefully.
Less significant disadvantages of the front drive are the lower reliability of the design of the transmission units and their more laborious repair, as well as the limited rotation angles of the front wheels.
Rear drive
As a rule, rear-wheel drive vehicles are more likely to skid than front-wheel drive vehicles. Hence, they are considered less secure. Therefore, rear-wheel drive foreign cars at the factory are equipped with various electronic systems that increase controllability. And the owners of the domestic rear-wheel drive "classics" simply try not to accelerate on ice and in heavy rain. It is for this reason that the statistics of accidents are the same for cars with any type of drive. In addition, skid that has already arisen on a rear-wheel drive vehicle is easier to eliminate than on a front-wheel drive vehicle. But for this, the driver needs to work out the skill of dropping gas while simultaneously turning the steering wheel towards skid until automatism. With sufficient driver training, rear-wheel drive makes it easier to take turns in a controlled skid.
Less significant disadvantages of rear-wheel drive are the higher vehicle weight due to the propeller shaft, as well as less usable floor space in the cabin due to the tunnel in which the same propeller shaft passes.
Summarizing all of the above, it can be noted that front-wheel drive has an advantage on slippery roads, and rear-wheel drive - on dry asphalt.
