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.

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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