The car has many technical parameters - engine size, luggage capacity, clearance. Also one of the parameters is the wheelbase. Beginners often wonder - what is it, and why is this base needed? Today we will try to answer this question.
Characteristic
So, let's start with the definition itself. The wheelbase is the distance between the center of the rear and front axles of the vehicle. In other words, this is the center distance of the car. There is a different width of the wheelbase. Distinguish between long and short cars. They have different characteristics of control, maneuverability, terrain, etc.
Some novice car owners confuse this term with clearance. However, the latter means ground clearance. This is the distance between the lowest point of the car and the road surface. Values rarely exceed 20 centimeters (not to mention off
-road vehicles). The size of the wheelbase starts from two meters. And the larger the car, the larger this parameter.
Classes
Surely you heard that each car belongs to its class. The latter is in alphabetical order. What affects the car's belonging to a particular segment? It affects the wheelbase. It can be cars of the following classes:
- A is the smallest segment. The distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels does not exceed 2400 millimeters.
- B - wheelbase (mm) is from 2400 to 2500.
- C - from 2580 to 2750.
- D is already a business class. The length of the wheelbase is 2850 millimeters.
- E - no less than that of D, but no more than 2950 millimeters.
The distance may depend on the performance of the body. The longer it is, the higher the class. Accordingly, the value of the car is changing.
Resizable
In the 70s of the last century, American manufacturers practiced a variable base parameter. The figure depended on the chassis design. So, the suspension of cars was built on trailing arms. Often they were installed at the rear. The front wheels were motionless in terms of expansion. So, depending on the load, there was an expansion of the wheelbase or its narrowing. Now, such a design is used only in commercial vehicles.
Some French-made cars had an uneven wheelbase. This meant that the front side was already back a few centimeters. On Renault 16, this parameter was 6.5 centimeters. Do not confuse an uneven base with multi-wide drives. The latter are set for the purpose of aesthetics. In the standard, all parameters remain the same.
Long wheelbase
These are representative cars, as well as SUVs. What are the advantages of such cars?
A long base is the key to comfort, especially for rear passengers. The higher the setting, the more space in the cabin. On frame SUVs, thanks to a long base, up to seven passengers (in three rows) can fit. But free space is not the only plus of this design. Due to the long body, the car swallows pits and other irregularities better. On the highway, such a car is more stable, has a better weight distribution and is easier to enter into turns.
Recently, more and more manufacturers began to equip their long-wheel drive cars with front-wheel drives. And there are reasons for that. After all, laying a long gimbal through the entire cabin is quite difficult. Plus, it noticeably hides the free space. An uneven floor forms due to the tunnel.
Short base
This segment includes all A, B and C-class cars. Surprisingly, they are more popular and common than long-base counterparts. What highlight the benefits? First of all, it is maneuverability. Short-wheel drive cars respond better to the steering wheel, which gives confident handling in densely populated cities. Another plus is cross-country ability. Such machines are characterized by short overhangs, due to which they take a higher angle of elevation. Not always a short base - it's just cars. Crossovers also belong to this segment (for example, Opel Mokka).
The machine is characterized by high ground clearance and handling. And all-wheel drive modifications are able
to give odds to long-frame frame SUVs. But many can’t choose which class is best to buy a car.
Which is better - long or short base?
There is no single answer to this question. Both types of cars have both pros and cons. Consider first the long-base machines. Their main advantage is the availability of free space in the cabin. Also, owners note a roomy trunk, especially on station wagons in this segment. The car perfectly keeps the road on the track, enters into turns, like a "glove." But some manufacturers still use the rear-wheel drive layout, which is why the cost of such cars immediately rises by 30 percent. This is one of the significant drawbacks of the D- and E-class.
Also, these cars are difficult to pass off-road. On the primer, you can easily sit "on the belly." And if you manage to overcome the obstacle, then there is a risk of hooking the front or rear bumper due to the long overhangs. Buy frame SUVs with the goal of once a month to leave the city - it makes no sense.
Now let's move on to short-base cars. They are much cheaper than their long counterparts. Also, these cars are better managed. Another significant plus is compactness (especially for large cities). Finding a parking space on such a machine will not be a problem. You can also easily drive through the narrow streets. On the road, it is the short wheelbase that wins. VAZ Niva, for example, has been considered the best budget car for offroad for decades.
Among the shortcomings are the small capacity of the trunk and the lack of free space in the cabin. However, some cars are arranged in such a way that a 2-meter passenger (“Mercedes” C-class, for example) is placed inside without problems.
But on the track, this car behaves "sloppy" than the E- or S-class. More than 150 kilometers per hour on such a car will not work, because it is uncomfortable.
Track and Base Dependence
Today, manufacturers have adopted certain standards for the ratio of these two parameters. So, ideally, this figure is 1.6-1.8. For example, take the popular Japanese sedan Toyota Camry. The track is 1565 millimeters, the wheelbase is 2775. Divide the base into a track and get the figure of 1.77. This parameter is the key to the correct ratio of driving comfort and handling characteristics. As for trucks, tractors always use a short base.
This ensures the best maneuverability and weight distribution when towing a semi-trailer. But in general, on lorries the ratio of base and gauge also does not exceed 1.8. On dump trucks, on the contrary, a long base is a priority. This makes it possible to ensure high smoothness when loading the body. The load of each axis is also taken into account.