We love rear-wheel drive. Just about everything is more fun when you’re driving the rear wheels instead of the fronts. Burnouts? RWD is better than FWD. Racing? Putting power down and turning with the same tires is tough. You get the idea. Although we think nearly everything with front-wheel drive would be better with power going to the rear wheels, we’ve assembled 10 of the worst offenders. Some had RWD and switched to FWD, and others have never had it but would be oh so good with it. Tell us what cars you think needs to make the switch in the comments.
Buick Regal
Two words: Alpha platform. With a readymade platform that already supports a coupe and sedan in the Cadillac ATS line, the Buick Regal could do more than look back on its glory days with longing. A Regal Turbo could again lead to a Grand National, bringing serious performance back to the Buick portfolio. While we’re at it, if the Regal borrows the powertrains available in the ATS but with styling that’s more Avista curves than CTS angles, the Regal could appeal to a wider audience than before while attracting buyers who think Cadillac may be a little too aggressively styled.
Ford Fiesta ST
The hot hatch segment is one of our favorites. They’re small, fast, efficient (usually), and leave us with a grin (always). Renault has showed us the way with examples such as the Renault 5 Turbo and Renault Clio V6. The formula can be simplified, too. Take the engine/transaxle from your FWD car, move it to the back seat, add air scoops and a wide body kit, and enjoy.
This formula would take the Fiesta ST from a fun but traditional hot hatch into rally-car-for-the-road territory. Sure, a few changes would have to be made to those pesky rear seats and extra set of now-useless rear doors, but we think it’d be worth it for the extra smiles the Fiesta ST would generate.
Lincoln Continental
For some vehicles, heritage is best left in the past (Chrysler 300, anyone?), but for others it’s a no-brainer to harken back to the good ol’ days. An all-wheel-drive option is certainly better than just FWD, but the fact that the forthcoming Lincoln Continental isn’t based on a rear-wheel-drive platform caused us to shed a few tears. Big, comfortable, and meticulously appointed are good, but we just can’t help but picture the 1965 Continental and wonder if Lincoln might be missing an opportunity. In that case, it had RWD for superior stability and handling, not sport. Does that still apply today? Ask Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Cadillac why their flagship sedans are driving the rear wheels.
Nissan Maxima
With the current generation of Nissan Maxima, the automaker brought back the 4DSC name, which means “four-door sports car.” That’s quite the claim, but on paper the Maxima has the stats to back it up: 300-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, aggressive styling, paddle shifters, a sport-tuned suspension, and 19-inch wheels. Motor Trend’s long-term Maxima has a quarter-mile time of 14.5 seconds at 99.3 mph, which is quite respectable for a full-size FWD car. But, we wonder, why not build the Maxima on the same platform as the Infiniti Q50, borrowing its powertrain and sharing costs, and making the Maxima even more distinct from the Altima that’s creeping up on it in size?
Hyundai Veloster
The Hyundai Veloster has a fun, quirky attitude that would be perfectly complemented by the added sport of a RWD system. Take the four- and six-cylinder engines from the Genesis Coupe along with RWD, stuff ’em in the Veloster, and you have a 201-hp hot hatch ready to take on the likes of the Volkswagen GTI and Ford Fiesta ST, all for a few thousand less (if it stays near the current $18,000-$24,000 range).
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is yet another vehicle that’s begging to have power going to the rear wheels. Heritage, readily available rear-drive platforms (Cadillac CTS or CT6), and a few wonderful V-8 engines in the portfolio only help to strengthen the case. Just look at the Chevrolet SS, which is being discontinued in 2017, as a shining example of what could be. We’re not saying make all Impalas like that. That’s the beauty of magnetic ride control. Tune the base Impala for more comfort and the Impala SS (see, it works!) like the current SS. That and offer the LT1 as an engine upgrade above that 305-hp V-6.
Honda Accord V-6
The Honda Accord Coupe makes 278 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque from a V-6 mated to a six-speed manual with a curb weight of 3,367 pounds (2013 model). A 2013 Ford Mustang V-6 had 305 hp, 280 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed manual, and a 3,511-pound curb weight. Now, if Honda were to take that Accord, bump the power a little bit more, and give it a more sporting suspension setup, it’d be well within spitting distance of the V-6 Ford Mustang/Chevrolet Camaro/Dodge Challengers of the world. For all those people who want the performance balance of a V-6 but don’t care much for getting raced at every stoplight, the RWD Accord V-6 would be a blast. Plus, it could pave the way for another Acura Legend.
Ford Fusion
The Ford Fusion could use a healthy infusion of Mustang to help it deliver on the promise the styling makes. Few other vehicles in the midsize sedan segment make such a statement with their styling, and Ford has done an admirable job considering the limitation of driving the front wheels. Nixing that limitation, however, would let Ford stuff any number of engines into the Fusion, which would likely include one or more of the EcoBoost line. A sleek, nimble sedan with a turbo I-4 and RWD? We can get behind that. A hot sedan with 350+ hp from a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 driving the rear wheels? Now we’re talking.
Hyundai Sonata
With the tantalizing V-6 that can be found in the Genesis Coupe, we can’t help but wonder: What if the Sonata were RWD? The Sonata is easily the best-looking Hyundai this side of the $40,000-plus Genesis, and we think driving the rear wheels would give it not only the performance but also the presence to go toe-to-toe with vehicles above its class. Budget 3 Series sports sedan? With the turbocharged, 2.0-liter I-4 that pushes out 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, the Sonata is putting down more power than a BMW 328i.
Mazda3
The Mazda3 is a great example of a car that drives well but isn’t a rocket ship. On paper, 184 hp and 185 lb-ft are nice, but those aren’t brag-to-your-friends numbers. Neither is the 155 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque the Mazda MX-5 Miata puts out, but that car is fun in rain, shine, or snow. So take the balanced RWD that makes the Miata a riot and stick it in the more powerful (but heavier) Mazda3 (sedan and hatchback), and you’ve got a car that’s as fun to drive as it is frugal. That or use the forthcoming turbocharged, 2.5-liter I-4 destined for the CX-9 and make a Mazdaspeed3 we’ll not soon forget.
The post You’re Doing It Wrong: 10 FWD Cars That Need to Be RWD appeared first on Motor Trend.
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