Is all-wheel drive better for performance?
You’ve seen all-wheel drive listed as an option on many performance vehicles including those from Mercedes-Benz with their 4MATIC® all-wheel-drive system. Is all-wheel drive better for performance? At Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale, we can answer that question and even provide some proof to back up our claim. Don’t forget to check out our online inventory of new Mercedes-Benz models in Scottsdale, AZ by clicking the link below.
What are the advantages of all-wheel drive in a performance car?
All-wheel drive is a system that allows power to go to all four wheels. This may sound simple, but some systems, such as the 4MATIC® all-wheel-drive system offered by Mercedes-Benz, are quite complex and smart.
All-wheel drive can obviously help you in slick conditions, but these smart systems can also make your car perform better. With all four wheels putting torque to the road, you can experience quicker acceleration.
Read More: What is the difference between a V6 and an inline-6 engine?
Let’s take a look at an example from the 2022 Mercedes-Benz lineup. The E-Class has an E 450 Coupe option alongside an E 450 4MATIC® Coupe option, the latter of which, as its name would imply, gets Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC® all-wheel drive. It also earns an estimated 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds which is a full .3 seconds faster than the estimated 0-60 mph time of the E 450 Coupe without the 4MATIC® all-wheel drive. Remember, this is all with the same exact engine.
Were there any changes to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Are there disadvantages to all-wheel drive?
As with everything in a car, especially when you are operating on the cutting edge of technology and performance like Mercedes-Benz routinely is, there are going to be trade-offs. There are a few obvious ones for all-wheel drive right off the bat.
Firstly, all-wheel drive is going to be more expensive. That is a given, but it also typically consumes more fuel giving you lower efficiency. It also adds weight, which can harm performance. Usually, all-wheel drive only harms performance if the system is not fully optimized.
Many manufacturers may just shoehorn in an AWD system to add it to a spec sheet, and never take the time to ensure that it is the right system for the vehicle. If you are buying from Mercedes-Benz, with their 4MATIC® all-wheel-drive system, then you don’t have to worry about that.
Are alloy wheels better for performance?
