Drivetrains 101 | Consumer Reports

A car’s drivetrain is how you get power from the engine to the wheels. Consumer Reports’ expert explains the difference between front-wheel, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel, and four-wheel drive.
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[@garthhowe297]

A good basic explanation for the average consumer, without getting too buried in the details.

[@garkdesign]

I just started selling vehicles and am quite literally learning everything I can about them. I have seen lots of videos about drivetrains but THIS one is by far the easiest to understand! Thanks so much!

[@DriveAndBeDriven]

Great video! This perfectly describes the different drivetrains available nowadays. Very entertaining too! Well done, CR!

[@Luther_Luffeigh]

I love these basic knowledge videos, thank you 🙏🏿

[@RANDsreviews]

Loved the pertinent information! Thank you!

[@cafn8ed74]

Thanks for the video. What I would really like to see is a video describing different types of AWD systems and their real world advantages and disadvantages, from a FWD based setup typical on a wide range of crossovers to a mechanical full time setup found on a manual Subaru to other types in between.

[@Netachi]

Nice video!

[@LTVoyager]

Nice high-level overview. It would have been nice to discuss also the transfer case and differentials. Locking or proportioning differentials make a huge difference. A 4WD with open diffs is far less capable than one with locking diffs of some flavor.

[@anotheran]

I think it would’ve been valuable to speak to the oversteer/understeer behavior to the public to emphasize that fwd really is the safest and easier to handle drivetrain between rwd and fwd.

[@TMM6900]

Best scenario - own all of them

[@ChrisPrefect]

You didn't cover Dual Motor AWD right?

[@zachg9065]

“What exactly is rear wheel drive?” Exactly what you just said....

[@PoppaShark]

What about CVT??

[@Chasmodius]

I'm VERY disappointed in the description of oversteer and traction while drifting with the rear-wheel drive BRZ/FRS/86, but at least Jack wasn't quite as awkward-sounding as usual. It sounds like he's getting more comfortable presenting.

[@aussie2uGA]

Surprised you didn’t show a Tesla with dual motors and regenerative braking. Seems best of all worlds.

[@repairdrive]

But I want to look cool with the big 4x4 written on the side of my truck as I go to Walmart and back. 😄

[@michaelsprinzeles4022]

FWD may generally offer better traction but try climbing a snow covered hill & literally any other drivetrain is better (assuming all other factors are equal).

[@user-cl3gz9ey1w]

Symmetrical AWD Full time all speed

[@deanrhodenizer938]

A decent introduction and useful to a certain demographic IMO, but how about doing a more in-depth analysis where you fully explore and report on the pros and cons of each drive system. It would also be useful if you could provide details on the various AWD designs that are out there. This is an area I find very frustrating as the proprietary nature of these systems seems to obscure the facts about how they actually work so a fully informed decision is difficult to make. The usual thing you will hear from the manufacturer is our system is the best out there because we say so. This is another area where CR’s general push toward standardization would be helpful. You are pushing on this for naming safety systems, so why not on AWD systems. I hear names like: SH-AWD, X-Drive, Quattro, 4-Motion, S-AWC, Haldex, 4MATIC, Intelligent AWD, i-Activ, Symmetrical AWD, etc. but do not fully appreciated the pros and cons of each system. You have previously reported in one of your comparisons between compact SUVs that the Subaru AWD system tends to work well as it is engaged at all speeds and never has to react and engage when slippage is detected. I like to see an analysis from an impartial third party on all these systems and how they work and can be expected to perform. Thanks again for your great work.

[@mystery8820]

Anybody skip CR videos that have Jack in the thumbnail?

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Love how they "block" the brands, but they are quite obvious. Nissan Altima, Subaru BRZ, Ford f-150, and Subaru Forester. This is the usual basic explanation covered on the NBC show, which is why car people don't watch.

[@Anonymousleft]

As a CR subscriber, it pains me to know that an inconsequential amount of my membership dues contributed towards production of this video. Guys, please leave the gimmicky stuff behind and let’s please bring back some maturity. SavageGeese on KZbin is a good example of what I’d expect from CR.

[@michaellopour7409]

Umm... we all know this video was just an excuse for Jake to drift. Was hoping CR was actually going to discuss all the transmission types available as well as reliability and plus/minus of each? Not bad overall.

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

I thought this was going to be Manual / Auto / DCT / CVT ...

[@robertmontgomery7158]

Is Jack supposed to play the fool?

[@coydog7902]

RWD is rad

[@gladdy02]

"what is ALL WHEEL DRIVE?"...."it's when all the wheels drive"..really!?!? LOL

[@jimmelay71]

I know it's Drivetrains 101 but you might have over simplified this one.

[@dannyferguson9415]

Why pretend this guy has the mind of a child? Its more painful then watching Jake loop a BRZ low speed drifting

[@VadimC1199]

Basic information well delivered but way way way to much overacting.

[@moeanthony9308]

Bad acting

[@willpearce051897]

oh my god stop with this inauthentic crap

[@tedbaxter5234]

Gone rush happy face mindless pandering shit. Thumbs Down, unsubscribed

[@pedrofernandez3893]

i can't stand to watch these videos with this guy pretending that he knows nothing about anything, It gets real boring.