January 22, 2025 | Natalie Webber 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! Get in touch Got a question or want to send us a message? Let’s talk.