Are front engine, rear wheel drive cars more stable in the wet than front engine, front wheel drive?

Are front engine, rear wheel drive cars more stable in the wet than front engine, front wheel drive?

Asked on 10 September 2019 by Peter Broomfield

Answered by Andrew Brady
Not really. The front tyres of front-wheel-drive cars have to handle acceleration and turning which might mean they reach their limits sooner, but most modern cars are very stable even in poor conditions. When you do reach the limits in a FWD car, it will understeer in a very controlled manner (lifting off the accelerator or winding off the steering will stop this). When the rear wheels of a RWD car lose traction, they'll spin up and this can result in oversteer when the rear end of the car pivots around the front. This is a much more concerning sensation to inexperienced drivers. Like FWD cars, though, modern RWD cars come with traction and stability controls systems which means they're generally very easy to handle in the wet.
Similar questions
Are rear-wheel drive cars easier to drive in winter conditions if the engine is also rear fitted e.g. as in a Smart?
Is it okay to fit winter to rear wheels only on a rear wheel drive car?
I have a Jaguar S-Type 2.7-litre diesel automatic. In event of a breakdown, which seems quite likely, is it possible to tow this car without causing damage to the transmission?
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer