Front Wheel vs Mid Wheel vs Rear Wheel Powerchairs – Which is best for me?
When buying a bespoke powerchair, it’s important to understand how the position of the drive wheels affects a powerchairs performance and manoeuvrability.
There are 3 positions to choose from; front-wheel drive (FWD), mid-wheel drive (MWD), and rear-wheel drive (RWD), and in this article we will compare the benefits and drawbacks of each configuration.
Front-wheel drive (FWD) powerchairs
Benefits of FWD powerchairs
- Excellent obstacle clearance, due to the large drive wheel at the front
- Good traction for driving over various terrains
- Good manoeuvrability and easy navigation of corners
- FWD allows the user to get closer to counters and objects compared to other configurations
Drawbacks of FWD powerchairs
- FWD powerchairs have a larger turning radius compared to MWD powerchairs
- Some customers find FWD powerchairs harder to learn how to drive, due to much of the powerchair being behind the user
Mid-wheel drive (MWD) powerchairs
Benefits of MWD powerchairs
- Central drive wheel gives MWD powerchairs a tight turning radius and excellent manoeuvrability
- A pair of castor wheels on each side of the powerchair offer good stability
- MWD powerchairs are generally considered the easiest to learn how to drive
Drawbacks of MWD powerchairs
- Some users find MWD powerchairs less comfortable, as the 6 wheels mean the user can feel the impact of bumps more
- Users won’t be able to get as close to objects in front of them, compared to FWD powerchairs
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) powerchairs
Benefits of RWD powerchairs
- RWD powerchairs are generally considered the best for comfort and shock absorption
- The rear position of the drive wheels provides a very stable base
Drawbacks of RWD powerchairs
- RWD powerchairs have a large turning radius, which can make them difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces
- Due to the drive wheel being at the back, RWD powerchairs are less capable at navigating over obstacles such as kerbs
- Users won’t be able to get as close to objects in front of them, compared to FWD powerchairs
Comparison table – FWD, MWD, & RWD powerchairs
The table below gives each drive wheel configuration a rating for obstacle clearance, manoeuvrability, beginner-friendliness, and stability.
| Front-wheel drive | Mid-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | |
| Obstacle clearance/off-road capability | Excellent | Good | Average |
| Manoeuvrability/turning radius | Good | Excellent | Average |
| Beginner-friendliness | Good | Excellent | Average |
| Stability | Good | Good | Excellent |
I trust this article has given you a clearer understanding of the differences between powerchair drive wheel positions, and has helped you decide which is best for you. If you’d like to book a test drive of a powerchair, just get in touch with one of our expert advisors – we’ll be very happy to help!
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