10 Front-Wheel Drive Cars That Should Be Rear-Wheel Drive
We'd be obsessed with these if the power was turning the right wheels.
Image via Complex Original
On the most basic, generalizing level, rear-wheel-drive cars are fun, and front-wheel drive cars are not. Yes, there are some fun front-driven cars out there, like the VW GTI and the Mini Cooper, but they still don't hold a candle to your hearty rear-driven sports cars. Unfortunately, there are a few cars that we've driven that have been so close to being something we'd love, but ultimately failed on account of FWD and the understeer that comes with it.
If these cars were rear driven they'd be brilliant. Yes, we know that FWD is cheaper to manufacture, but that's not really our concern. Even if these were all given a $1,000 price hike, we'd clawing at the front door of the nearest dealer. Here are 10 Front-Wheel Drive Cars That Should Be Rear-Wheel Drive.
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Hyundai Veloster
We like the design of the Hyundai Veloster, but the truth of driving it is that it's not exceptional in any way. It's not bad, but it's certainly not super exciting. Even the Veloster Turbo fails to inspire a real gut feeling that makes you want to reconsider that VW GTI purchase. If the Veloster's power went to the rear-wheel, however, it could easily be tuned to be the more practical competition to the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ and the Mazda Miata.
We'd also be cool with a 300+ hp, AWD Global Rallycross Championship-inspired model. We'd be really, really cool with that.
Volkswagen Beetle
The classic VW Type 1 was a hit, and it was a cheap, rear-engined, rear-driven car. The new Beetle is one of VW's most expensive cars, it's front-engined, and it's front-wheel drive. It's basically just a Golf that's less practical and costs more. RWD would help make it awesome again.
Volkswagen CC
We do like the styling of the VW CC, but unfortunately, that's the only thing it has going for it over the much cheaper Passat. If this were a budget-conscious, stylish sport sedan we'd be recommending it left and right.
Volvo S60
Volvo tried really hard to create a proper alternative to the BMW 3-Series, and the Swedes came damn close. But there's no way a front-driver can ever keep up with a rear-driven car. Sorry Volvo, try again.
Cadillac XTS
The Cadillac ATS and CTS are loved by all who have drive them, because they are world class sport sedans. That nice crisp handling that only comes from RWD is the key to their brilliance. The XTS, which is Cadillac's big sedan that's meant to take the fight to the Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, and BMW 7-Series, is FWD though. Because of this, there's not much fight to take to ze Germans.
Lincoln MKZ
Some people like the way the Lincoln MKZ looks, but that's the only real difference between it and a Ford Fusion. This is a problem that nobody seems to really care about Lincoln any more and it's why everybody is buying Ford Fusions and nobody is buying MKZs.
If this were built on a RWD platform, it would be an interesting and unique car that would attract a wealthier buyer than the Fusion, and be worth spending more for. Why did Ford scrap the Falcon when a luxury version would make such a great Lincoln?
Audi A6
Yes, we know that Audi's thing is AWD, and we think that's cool. It's even been worked so that 60 percent of that is sent to the rear wheels. But a front-wheel version is still an option, which is kind of embarrassing. That car should either not exist or be rear-driven like a real sport sedan.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is a weirdly powerful and precise car. Given the rest of the market segment, it really is quite surprising. If the Altima spun the proper wheels, it would be a great sport sedan, but as it is, it's just a sporty sedan.
Every Acura Sedan
Acura suffers from the same problem that Lincoln does: All it offers is Hondas with a body kit and a couple of luxury doo-dads. The difference is that Lincolns come with a mustache and Acuras come with a beak.
Chevrolet Impala
Once upon a time, the Impala was a powerful, grand, and rear-driven sedan. It was the kind of car that made dads happy, because having a fun and cool car didn't have to be sacrificed to the practicality gods. The dadmobile of the '50s wasn't a milquetoast front-driven crossover, it was this.
But then it all went wrong.
When the Impala changed to wrong-wheel drive it lost its soul, and while the newest incarnation is a lot cooler than the last, it's still going to be too much power for the two front wheels to handle.