Does the 2021 Hyundai Sonata come with All-Wheel Drive (AWD)?
Unfortunately, the 2021 Hyundai Sonata does not offer all-wheel drive (AWD). This may sound disappointing, but before you write off the Sonata, let’s consider what it does offer and then let’s talk about the differences between the various drivetrains. You may find that AWD isn’t the best choice for you and your lifestyle. The front-wheel drive offered on all 2021 Sonata models still delivers a safe, smooth riding experience whether you're taking a long road trip or simply commuting to work. If you're still unsure, let's take a quick look at drive-trains, you may find that AWD is more than you need.
What is a Drivetrain?
This may seem like a silly question, but an Average Joe like myself may not be familiar with what a drive-train actually is, let alone what they do. So, what is it? The drivetrain is the part of a vehicle that delivers power to the wheels. Drivetrains consist of the; transmission, drive shaft, wheels and axles. All of these pieces work together to send power to the wheels. There are four types of drivetrains for our vehicles; Front-wheel Drive (FWD), All-wheel Drive (AWD), Four-wheel Drive (4WD) and Rear-wheel Drive (RWD). Each one is designed to enhance specific features of a vehicle to provide a powerful, practical and exhilirating driivng experience.
Front-Wheel Drive
FWD is the most common drivetrain for passenger vehicles which is likely because they’re cheaper to manufacture and more space-efficient. FWD does offer better traction for climbing hills because the weight of the engine is poised over the front wheels which helps push the vehicle up-hill. If it helps, think about horseback riding; when going uphill, you lean forward to help the horse maintain sure footing and when going downhill, you lean back, also to help the horse maintain its footing. FWD is the same. With more weight at the front where the power is, FWD vehicles are more adept to climbing hills – it helps them maintain sure “footing.”
Rear-Wheel Drive
RWD is common on pickups, older truck-based SUVs, sports cars and high-performance luxury sedans. For trucks, RWD allows the manufacturer to use high performance and bulky components in the engine and it provides better traction if the truck is towing or carrying a heavy load. For a high performance vehicle, either luxury or a sports sedan, RWD improves handling by balancing the vehicles weight more evenly from the front to the rear. On these sedans, designers can also optimize the vehicles suspension to enhance handling since the front wheels don’t have to drive and steer. RWD does provide less traction on slippery roads which is why many performance vehicles come with an AWD option more often than just RWD.
4WD
4WD is often used interchangeably with or misconstrued as AWD, but the two are in fact different. 4WD is optimized for severe off-road driving situations like hill-climbing, driving through deeper water and driving over terrain with loose, shifty surfaces like sand or rocks. A cardinal difference between 4WD and AWD is the 4WD ability to move the axles and tires independently. What does this actually mean? Well, the 4WD drivetrain allows each tire to move individually at different speeds which effectively allows the vehicle to maintain its traction and “crawl” over the loose or dangerous terrain. 4WD is ideal for dangerous conditions, especially for off-roading and areas with lots of snowfall, rain, sleet and ice.
AWD
AWD feeds power to all 4 wheels. Depending on the AWD system in the vehicle, it can provide maximum forward traction during acceleration. This is especially important in normal driving situations if there is ice or water on the road. AWD can also be effective if you have to drive over moderately tough off-road terrain like sand, mud or loose gravel. What is important to note with most AWD systems is that the power is almost never evenly distributed to all 4 wheels at all times like it is with 4WD. Instead, AWD systems tend to place 100% of their power into the front two wheels until they begin losing traction, in which case the power is then redirected tothe rear wheels. When slippage is detected on one axle, the drivetrain diverts the power to another in an attempt to find more traction. AWD is very handy in rapidly changing driving conditions. The 2021 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy (picutred below) comes with standard AWD and most Hyundai SUV's have the option of AWD rather than FWD.
It is also important to remember that the added traction on AWD and 4WD vehicles makes it easier to drive at a higher speed in dangerous driving conditions – always be vigilant!
Remember!
More important than your drivetrain, no matter what you choose, are the tires you plan to use. High-quality, all terrain and all-season tires can make more of a difference than your drivetrain so be sure to do your research when the time comes to get new tires.
While the 2021 Hyundai Sonata doesn’t come with an AWD option, it does come with several great features like full LED headlights, drive mode selections, an 8-inch screen (which can be upgraded to a 10.25 inch screen with select packages and trims) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration as well as Bluetooth.
Whether you decide the FWD drivetrain is right for you or not, be sure to check out the 2021 Hyundai Sonata in person with us here at World Car Hyundai South to get a feel for the power of one of the most impressive midsize sedans on the market. You won’t be disappointed!
Be sure to check out our pre-owned Sonata inventory and our 2020 inventory as well!
If you're interested in learning more about the 2021 Hyundai Sonata, be sure to check out Episode 5 of World Car's Roadside Reviews. John will be giving us an exclusive look at all of the new and exciting features of the 2021 Sonata. World Car. . .we'll see you soon.
2021 Hyundai Sonata Roadside Reviews