The main disadvantages of rear-wheel drive (RWD) include poor traction control, increased weight and cost, reduced space utilization, and higher driving difficulty. On wet or rough roads, RWD vehicles are prone to skidding or tail-swinging due to concentrated driving force, especially performing poorly in rainy seasons or on muddy roads. Since a driveshaft is required to connect the rear axle, the body weight is about 5%-10% higher than that of front-wheel drive vehicles, which also affects fuel economy, with the average fuel consumption possibly being 5%-8% higher. Structural complexity also increases the manufacturing cost by about 8%-15%; for example, the price of the RWD version of the same-class model is usually 15,000 to 30,000 Malaysian ringgit higher than that of the front-wheel drive version. For interior space, the transmission tunnel occupies the front central area by about 15 cm in width, and the boot volume may decrease by 10%-15%. However, these characteristics can instead provide more precise handling fun on dry roads and track environments, so high-performance models mostly adopt the RWD layout. It is best to weigh the options based on daily road conditions and driving experience before purchasing a car.
